FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FEES & DISCOUNTS:

Base cost for SMLI Summer Camp is $550 per week/per child for non-members.

Early bird discount if you register before March 15th!
SMLI members receive a 10% discount off their entire registration.
Additional discounts include:
- $15 off per week if registering for ALL 8 weeks of camp
- $10 off per week if registering for at least FOUR weeks of camp.

Registration for members begins on January 15th, and Feb 1st for the general public.

HOW ARE CHILDREN GROUPED?

Campers are split into groups based on their age & grade they’ll be entering the following school year. Each group has their own unique, age-appropriate activities related to the week’s theme. General breakdown is as follows:

TINY EXPLORERS: Children ages 4-5 who have not yet completed Kindergarten.
JUNIOR ADVENTURERS: Children entering 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.
SENIOR SCIENTISTS: Children entering 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.
SMLI CIT PROGRAM: Designed for children who have completed at least 8th grade. This program is a transition point between camper & SMLI summer staff member.

WHAT DOES THE TYPICAL CAMP DAY LOOK LIKE?

8:30 - 9:30am: AM Extended hours
9:30 - 10:00am: Drop-off (staggered times based on groups)
10:00 - 11:30am: Morning science activities/experiments/projects
11:30 - 1:00pm: LUNCH & RECESS
1:00 - 2:45pm: Afternoon science activities/experiments/projects
- Note: Tiny Explorers group will have a short snack during 2nd half of the day
2:45pm: Pick-Up Begins (staggered times based on groups)
3:00 - 4:00pm: PM Extended hours

CAN I VISIT SMLI TO SEE THE SPACE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMP?

Yes! We will be hosting a Camp Open House on Saturday, February 3rd from 12-4pm. Families are welcome to visit our facility to see our classroom spaces and ask any questions they may have regarding the SMLI camp experience.

MY CHILD HAS NEVER BEEN TO AN SMLI PROGRAM. HOW DOES REGISTRATION WORK?

SMLI uses Amilia for all program/workshop/event registration. It is recommended that you create an Amilia account before you register for summer camp. Once your account is activated, please add all children you wish to register to your account by going to the 'Members' section of your account.

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP:

We recommend your child bring the following items to camp with them (please remember to label all items)

Sunscreen & bug spray (SMLI will provide if your child does not have their own)
Extra change of clothing
Bathing Suit & Towel*
Reusable water bottle
Any necessary medications

*Campers will have access to sprinklers during recess each day and also make trips to the beach during Week 3 of camp. Due to limited changing space and time, we request that campers come to camp with their bathing suits on underneath their clothing if possible. Towels should be labeled and will be hung up to dry each day. Towels will be sent home every Friday even if a camper will be returning the following week.

MY CHILD HAS ALLERGIES HOW WILL THEY BE CARED FOR?

SMLI has educators that are certified in First Aid and CPR. If your child has an EpiPen/Auvi-Q, or other epinephrine injector, please provide it in a labeled plastic bag for their educator to keep on hand during the day. Any specific instructions should be included. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions regarding allergens, dietary restrictions and other medical concerns.

WHAT FORMS ARE REQUIRED?

Physical Examination

Parents/guardians will be required to provide SMLI with basic information about their child when registering for camp. This information includes; child’s age/date of birth, known allergies/medical issues, emergency contact information, list of persons authorized to pick up their children, etc. Physical forms must be submitted via email (campforms@smli.org) or mail by June 1st for campers attending Weeks 1-4 of camp, and July 1st for campers attending Weeks 5-8.

MY CHLID'S ANNUAL PHYSICAL ISN'T UNTIL AFTER THE DUE DATE. WHAT DO I DO?

Parents/guardians may submit a physical examination form from the 2023-2024 school year if their child has not yet had their annual visit.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FORMS ARE LATE?

All medical forms are due by June 1st (campers registered for Weeks 1-4) or July 1st (campers registered for weeks 5-8 of camp). Families with missing medical forms will be charged a $25 fee per week that they are late. No camper will be admitted to attend summer camp if they have missing medical forms. No refunds/credits will be issues for missed days/weeks of camp due to missing forms.

WHAT IS THE POLICY IF I NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL A WEEK?

Cancellations made prior to the start of camp are subject to administrative fees and will receive partial refunds or credits. Please see the full refund policy for more details. Cancellations made after June 1st are not eligible for a refund or credit of any type, except in the case of an emergency. These situations are considered on a case-by-case basis by SMLI.

IS LUNCH PROVIDED?

All campers should be sent to camp with a packed lunch Monday - Thursday. SMLI will provide pizza lunch on Fridays at no additional cost to families. You can provide authorization for SMLI to give your child pizza lunch when registering for camp.

IS THERE AN EXTENDED DAY OPTION?

SLMI offers both AM and PM extend hours Monday-Friday. Early drop-off begins at 8:30am and late pick-up ends at 4:00pm. Options for purchasing including:

Single AM or PM session: $10 per child
Full week of AM or PM: $50 per child
Full week of AM AND PM: $75

*Parents can pay for extended hours on the day of by cash, credit card or Venmo.

HOW DO I GET A CAMP T-SHIRT?

All campers receive one complimentary SMLI t-shirt per summer and tie-dye them on their first day of camp. Additional t-shirts* can be purchased when registering your child. Although preferred, campers are not required to wear their shirts to camp every day. Returning campers are encouraged to bring other materials to tie-dye on Mondays as well.

*Please note: if you purchase your additional camp t-shirts prior to May 15th, they will be available to pick up at our Camp Kick-Off on June 15th

ARE THEIR SNACKS OR FOOD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE?

SMLI’s snack shop is open every day of camp and is made available to campers during lunch & recess. Campers may pay with either cash or by using their camper cash account. Campers will also have the opportunity to visit the SMLI gift shop every Friday.

WHAT IS A CAMPER CASH CARD?

Families may create camper cash accounts for their child to use towards in-camp purchase, including snacks and gift shop items. To learn more, click here.

CAN I TIP MY CHILDS TEACHER & COUNSLERS?

Gratuities are not required but are extremely appreciated. Our staff works hard to make every camper’s experience special. Your child may not have the same educator or counselor each week if they are attending multiple sessions. It is recommended that families interested in offering gratuities do so at the end of each WEEK. The staff appreciates your sentiments and thanks.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CIT?

SMLI’s CIT program is designed for students have completed at least 8th grade. Ideally, they have attended SMLI’s summer camp program in the past. For more information, click here.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A COUNSELOR?

High school students who have completed at least 11th grade or higher are eligible to apply for a position as either a Camp Counselor or Summer Staff. For more information and to apply, please contact Caitlin Orellana at corellana@smli.org.

*Please note: student must apply themselves for these positions. SMLI will not accept emails/calls/applications sent in on the behalf of a student by their parent or guardian.