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What is a Mad Science Camp?
Mad Science is the world's leader in fun science for children. We are an international franchise organization whose mission is to get kids excited about science. There are over 160 Mad Science locations in 26 countries around the world. The Mad Science Group has been providing fun, hands-on science programs since 1985.
Mad Science camps will help your child to touch, see, hear, smell and taste what science is all about. We offer a daily combination of in-class discovery, outdoor games, and hands-on applications of the scientific principles presented. We use an inquiry-based technique that allows even the youngest camper to enjoy our learning environment. Campers create a variety of take-home projects, participate in snack-tivities, and explore how science affects the world around us. Your kids will have so much fun, they won't realize that they're learning.
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What ages are appropriate for a Mad Science camp?
Most Mad Science camps are open to children entering grades 1-6. We leave discretion to the parents as to whether to enroll a rising sixth grader in school-aged camps. Our Preschool camps are for 4- to 6-year-olds. We also offer partner camps in combination with The Little Gym of KC for 3- to 8-year-olds. We urge you to check with specific camp locations, since some locations have their own age requirements.
All Mad Science activities are specifically designed to be conducted in an age- and grade-appropriate manner. Activities are comprised of large group discussion, small-team work and individual attention. Our instructors typically group the campers by age and/or grade, to ensure that the material is presented at an appropriate level. We use the buddy system if a camp has children of many different ages, so that an older camper can help a younger camper. For the most part, campers work in small groups with children of similar age.
Our camps usually have a good mix of age and gender. Your child will be paired with children close to his or her own age, and will make new friends. All kids have fun at Mad Science, and any activity can be more fun if it is shared with a sibling or a friend. Feel free to mention our camps to your family, friends and neighbors.
Mad Science strives at all times to provide fun and safe activities for all children participating in our programs. We ask that all enrolled children adhere to basic behavioral guidelines. Our instructors set clear boundaries and expectations for appropriate conduct, and we hold all children to these expectations. We emphasize these expectations at the beginning of each day of a camp. Should you be notified of discipline issues with your child, we ask for your cooperation. Our intention is to provide children with — not deprive them of — exciting and fun science activities. We will take action only when a child interrupts a positive learning environment.
Mad Science also has expectations of parents whose children are enrolled in our camps. Only children with a sincere interest in our programs, the ability to handle the time commitment, and the necessary social maturity to be part of a large group should enroll. Parents are welcome to observe any class, and to participate where appropriate. We ask that you limit your participation so that the hands-on nature of our programs is preserved. All parents should support the learning process until after the camp is dismissed.
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What is the camper-to-instructor ratio?
Our camper-to-instructor ratio will never be greater than 16-1.
The minimum number of campers necessary to hold a camp varies, but it ranges from 9-12. Mad Science tries to inform parents as soon as possible when a camp is not likely to reach it's minimum enrollment. We offer priority enrollment in other camps or a full refund when a camp has to be canceled. For additional information on camp cancellations, click here.
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Who are the Mad Science instructors?
Mad Science instructors tend to be college students pursuing a degree in science or education, former or retired teachers, or teachers on summer break. Most of our instructors have worked in the after-school programs that we have conducted in over twenty area schools. All of our instructors have experience working with large groups of elementary school children, have undergone an background check, and have received approximately 40 hours of summer camp training. All of our instructors enjoy working with children.
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How do I register my child for a camp?
Registration varies with the location of the camp, but you can generally register by mail, over the phone, in person, or online. The easiest way to register for the camps that we sponsor is our online registration system, which takes about five minutes. We accept Visa, MasterCard and checks.
Many of our locations process their own registrations. Please refer to our Camp Schedule for contact information. Note that registration requirements, start dates, end dates and minimum camp sizes may vary by location.
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Is payment due in full when I register?
Yes. You must submit payment in full in order to reserve a spot for your child. If you are enrolling in a camp sponsored by Mad Science and using the online registration system, you can pay by Visa, MasterCard or check. Payment by check must be received in our office within 10 days or your registration may be canceled. Our partner locations accept payment for their own camps. Their payment rules may vary.
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How soon do I need to register to reserve a space for my child?
Some camps and dates fill very quickly. We recommend that you register for summer camps by May 25 at the latest, in order to ensure that space will be available at your preferred date and location.
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Will all listed camp sessions run?
We create our camp schedule with the intention of being able to offer every session. We also ensure that we have the necessary equipment and instructors to manage our overall schedule. However, we cannot control how registrations for a given camp session will progress. If the minimum number of camper registrations is not met for a given session, we must cancel that session.
We are parents ourselves. We understand the unique challenges that arise during summer schedules, as families try to coordinate work, vacation, camp and everything else that goes on in our busy lives. If a week-long camp that we sponsor is not meeting the minimum registration requirement, we will notify you six weeks in advance. We will also give that camp two more weeks to increase the registration before we make a cancellation decision. We will wait until the week before one- and two-day camps to make cancellation decisions. Often we will need just one or two additional campers to meet the minimum. Parents can help us reach the minimum by calling friends, family or neighbors.
If we must cancel a camp, parents will be offered a list of alternate camp sessions. If we are unable to find an acceptable alternative, we will offer you a full refund of your registration fee. Mad Science reserves the exclusive right to run camp sessions under the stated minimum.
Our partner locations have their own policies for cancellation notification. Please check with your location for information about their cancellation policies.
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What is your refund policy?
If you cancel a registration that you have made through Mad Science:
- at least 30 days prior to the start date of the camp, there will be a $25 service charge;
- 8-29 days prior to the start date of the camp, there will be a $50 service charge;
- 7 days or less prior to the start date of the camp, there will be no refund.
You may transfer your registration to another child at any time prior to the start date of a camp. There is no service charge for this transfer.
If Mad Science cancels a camp due to insufficient enrollment, we will make every effort to provide alternate camp locations. If we are unable to find an acceptable alternative, we will offer you a full refund of your registration fee.
If your child is removed from a camp due to behavioral issues or consistent late pick ups, there will be no refund.
Mad Science camps are offered at a number of host locations, and the refund policy of the host location may be different than ours. In these cases Mad Science will adhere to the host location's refund policy. Please check with your location for information about their refund policy.
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Can I sign my child up for more than one camp?
 Yes. We encourage children to sign up for more than one camp. Each camp is completely different, so your child can enjoy them without repeating activities.
Last year many children registered for only one camp at first. When they discovered how much they enjoyed Mad Science activities, the children wanted to register for additional camps. Unfortunately several of them were disappointed to find that many of the themes were already sold out. Take our word for it — your child will love all of our camps. Save yourself the trouble and register for as many camps as you can.
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Are the locations in the schedule the only places where Mad Science camps will be held this summer?
Maybe not. We are in discussion with many locations to provide Mad Science camps, and we update our schedule as soon as additional locations are added. Please check the schedule on our website regularly throughout the spring and summer. If you have a particular location in mind, feel free to bring it to our attention.
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I am not familiar with the camp location. How do I find out where it is?
All of our locations have been carefully chosen so that they will be convenient and easy to find. Most of them are very close to major highways, and should be no more than a 20-minute drive away from the majority of the population. Our Summer Camp Schedule page and our Online Registration page have Map buttons that will show the location of a given camp.
If our schedule doesn't match your schedule, then bring a Mad Science Camp to you. Click here for more details.
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What is the difference between a half-day camp and a full-day camp?
Half-day camps are typically held from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to noon, or from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Full-day camps are typically held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Both half-day and full-day camps allow us to present demonstrations and activities that will highlight the scientific principles of each theme. The full-day camps allow us to spend more time on certain points, to go deeper into the subject, and to provide additional hands-on activities.
Half-day camps allow children and parents greater flexibility for other pursuits during the day, before or after the Mad Science camp.
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What should my child bring/wear to camp?
Mad Science provides all of the equipment and materials for both in-class activities and take-home projects. All that you need to provide is a child who is ready to have fun.
Children should dress comfortably for the day's weather. Children should not wear open-toed shoes — especially not flip-flops — to a Mad Science camp. We will often go outdoors, so please do not dress your child in any clothes that you do not want to get dirty. You may also wish to apply sunscreen or insect repellent to your child, or to send these items with with your child to camp. A hat and/or sunglasses may also be useful.
The snack-tivities that are part of each camp day are not a significant amount of food. If your child would benefit from some additional calories during the day, please pack additional snack items. Coolers and refrigeration will be available.
Please mark your child's name clearly on all of the items that he or she brings to camp.
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Do you offer t-shirts?
Mad Science offers a limited number of custom-designed t-shirts for all of our camps. Camp t-shirts are short-sleeved and made from 100% top-quality, preshrunk cotton by Fruit of the Loom.
T-shirts are available in three sizes: Child Medium (10-12), Child Large (14-16), and Adult Small. Shirts will be delivered to your child's camp.
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Do you provide lunch with the full-day camp?
No. You must send a bag lunch with your child. We will provide water, and a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon snack-tivity. The snack-tivities are not a significant amount of food. If your child would benefit from some additional calories during the day, please pack additional snack items. Coolers or refrigeration will be available. Please mark your child's name clearly on all items.
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What is your policy for early drop-off and late pick-up?
Most Mad Science camps cannot accommodate early drop-off or late pick-up. We must ensure that our instructors have time to prepare an exciting, stimulating and safe day for all of our campers. Our doors open promptly 10 minutes prior to the stated starting time of the camp. Please do not drop off your child and leave him or her unattended before the start time of the camp. Our instructors will not be responsible for your child until the start of the camp day.
An authorized parent or guardian must be at the camp site and prepared to assume responsibility for your child at the stated end time of the camp. The vast majority of our camps end on time. Sometimes, in order to ensure that all children complete the activities of the day, our camps may run a few minutes long. We ask that you do not enter the room until the instructors dismiss the camp.
If an authorized parent or guardian is not present at the end of a camp, Mad Science reserves the right to charge a late pickup fee of $10.00 per 10 minutes, beginning 10 minutes after the stated end time of the camp. This fee must be paid by to the Mad Science office. Your child cannot return to camp until the late fee is paid. A second late pick-up will result in your child being removed from the camp without a refund.
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Do I need to sign an authorization form?
Participating in the scientific process and handling scientific equipment has an element of risk. Mad Science of Kansas City takes every precaution to ensure the safety of our campers and staff. Campers and their parents must understand that certain equipment and materials can be dangerous if used improperly or without instructor supervision. Please print, fill out and sign the Authorization Form below.
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How do I get Mad Science to come to me?
If our schedule does not work with your schedule, then bring mad Science to you. All you need is 12 children and a place to hold the camp. We may even be able to customize the start time, the length of a camp day, the number of camp days, or the programming to match your needs.
The location needs for a Mad Science camp are simple:
- table or desk space and a chair for each camper
- a table for the Mad Scientist's equipment
- access to electricity and water
- the ability to darken the room
- a nearby outside area, approximately 100 square feet
Mad Science provides everything else.
For more information, contact our office at 913.888.8877 or email us at info@madsciencekc.org.
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Links to:
Camp Descriptions Camp Reservations
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