Eli Whitney Museum

If you choose not to pay the fee in full, you can secure your registration with a 50% payment. Balances must be paid by May 1st. If we do not receive payment by May 1st, the balance will be charged automatically to your credit card. Your acknowledgement on the registration form will authorize this.

For all cancellations we retain a $75 clerical fee per child per camp.

Our Annual Appeal and our Leonardo Benefit, our Trustees and Friends support this principle: no child should be denied the opportunity to experiment and learn. This includes tuition and extended day costs.

These funds provide partial and full tuition assistance:

Please call the Museum at 203-777-1833 if your family needs assistance. We will work with you to maximize your child's experience.

Our programs are designed for 6 year olds, who are prepared for a long day, experienced in groups, comfortable with 7 and 8 year olds. Any doubt? Bring them in for a trial walk-in project during weekend walk-in hours Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-3PM. Please contact us to let us know you are coming. 203.777.1833

The Jack Viele Fund supports those who need an extra hand. His family and friends preserve his memory with a fund that helps us accommodate children who has faced hardship through any type of illness, distress, or misfortune. Apprentice leaders show empathy and inspiration that move young explorers brightly through difficult times. Talk to us if your child needs special guidance or support. We will accommodate children to the extent that we are capable of and able to safely.

If your child requires a full time Para in school, you will have to provide a full time Para during their week of camp as well.

REQUIRED FORMS
All health forms must be signed by your physician and you, and be dated within three years. Your child will not be able to start camp without these forms on file:

DAILY MEDICATION
If your child brings an EpiPen, Inhaler, Benedryl, or any other medications, we must have a Medical Authorization Form signed by the child's guardian and physician with dosage instructions. We also need your Emergency Action Plan for emergency medications. We are not permitted to administer ANYTHING without these signed forms on file.

QUICK LINKS:
Health Form- This can be any form from your doctor as long as it is current within 3 years and includes your child's vaccination information.
Medical Authorization Form

Please list all authorized individuals who may pick up your child including guardians, must be 18+years.

We cannot release your child without this permission on file.

Flexible supervision is available from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Extended day cost is $10 per hour per child.

The Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop is a safe space for all people. We play, we build, we explore, and we experiment. Campers are expected to listen to the Staff and Apprentices to ensure the safety and success for all during the camp day. We will not tolerate physical violence or horseplay, violent or adult language, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or destruction of property.

We understand that campers are learning impulse control and navigating social relationships. We will help them work through conflict and reinforce the positive behavior choices that they are learning at home and in school. We do not expect perfection; this is a place to learn and grow.

Camp Staff and Apprentices will mediate conflicts and/or disruptive behaviors within their camp. They will offer problem-solving solutions, alternate activities, and time and space to cool down. If disruptive behavior does not change, the camper will be brought to the Summer Camp Director for further intervention.

After an intervention, if a camper continues disruptive behavior:

Immediate Program Withdrawal

Certain behaviors may result in immediate removal from the program without the steps taken above. Behaviors that present a direct danger to the camper or others, significant and intentional property damage, or running away from the campsite and/or hiding from Staff and Apprentices will result in removal from our program.

Refund Policy for Program Withdrawal

If a camper is asked to leave the program, we will not issue a prorated refund for the week that they are removed. A full refund will be given for the remaining weeks (if any) the camper is signed up for, minus the clerical fee of $75 per camp.

Returning to the Program

We believe in personal development and second chances! If a camper was removed from the program and a guardian believes that the camper has matured enough to try again in upcoming Vacation or Summer Programs, we will welcome the camper back. If this is the case for your family, please contact the Museum at 203.777.1833 before registering your child out of courtesy to our staff.

Campers should bring a nut-free lunch and water bottle every day.

We will provide a nut-free snack everyday. If your child is a picky eater, please pack a separate nut-free snack for them and notify us at drop-off.

We will provide mesh bags (dishwasher and washing machine safe!) with your child's name on it on their first day of camp. Lunches must be brought in these bags to maximize space in our fridges!

If your child needs an additional lunch bag, or needs a water bottle there will provide this resource for $1, to be charged to your account.

In order to maintain a safe environment for children and staff with severe peanut/tree nut allergies, all lunches and snacks must not contain nuts or products with traces of nuts.

This means no peanut butter or sun butter sandwiches, nut snacks, trail mix bars, etc.

FOOTWEAR For the sake of safety, we require campers to wear sneakers or boots only! NO Flip Flops. NO Crocs. NO Keens.

HAIR Anyone with hair that falls below the chin must tie their hair up and in a bun if possible. Hair that covers eyes need clips to hold it back.

CLOTHES Dress for mess! Do not send your child in new or expensive clothing, we use lots of materials that can permanently ruin clothing.

Ticks and Mosquitoes borne diseases have been on the rise in the Northeast in current years. We have attached a PDF with guidelines to help you protect your children. We will be outside daily and if we hike in the park, we will only be on the paths. We urge you to look at your child each night at bath time to check for ticks. We cannot check them in this way.

The Health Department will not permit us to apply any medications or sprays on a child. You can send your child with repellant as long as they can apply it themselves. A solid stick repellent is definitely easier for young children to use but if you send them with a spray, please Do Not Send Aerosol Sprays.

How to Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes and Ticks

Each class requires a minimum enrollment. We must cancel or restructure classes that do not meet that minimum.

When classes reach their maximum enrollment you will be given the opportunity to sign your child up for the waitlist. Open spots will be offered based on a first come first serve basis. You will receive a call from one of our team if space for your child becomes available, and a window of time to accept or pass on the spot.