Stem Camp FAQ

Register early! Our STEM Camp has limited space and will fill up very early, even selling out a month or more in advance. Please follow each of the three registration steps in order. It may take up to three days to receive confirmation that your student’s registration is complete. If you haven’t pre-registered, we recommend you call 509-372-7123 to see if there is a space available and avoid disappointment on the first day of camp.

If the camp fills up before the end of registration on May 31, we will create a waiting list and contact families if openings become available. If there are no-shows for the camp on the first day, we may contact families that are interested to come in and fill those spaces.

Consider your student’s interests when registering for camp. Our camp will feature a variety of STEM topics during the week. The content is designed to be age-appropriate for 3rd-5th grade boys and girls.

Our elementary school camps are targeted toward students who are entering 4th, 5th and 6th grade in the fall. Usually, these students are between the ages of 9 and 11 with some exceptions.

Camp activities are filled with hands-on experiences. They require students to have grade-level reading, comprehension, and math skills. They are taught in English by certified teachers.

Our goal is to ensure the highest quality learning experiences for our students.

Our teachers will be working with our College of Education faculty to design the curriculum using proven instructional strategies to educate students about the various STEM topics applying current and engaging practices based on research along with national and state standards.

Teaching at a summer camp is a highly sought-after opportunity, so we can be very selective in hiring our teachers. We seek teachers who have a passion for and experience in teachings hands-on STEM curriculum. They must also have a track record of success in managing a diverse classroom. 100% of our teachers have current teaching credentials in Washington. Our teachers all participated in professional development specifically for this camp in preparation for delivering the curriculum. All have passed rigorous background investigations.

There is typically one certified teacher and one camp counselor for every 15 campers.

• Teachers: First, we promote any teaching position openings within public and private schools in our region. Our teachers apply to participate in the professional development with our WSU College of Education faculty to prepare them for the camp. The teachers all come from elementary school backgrounds, and most have extensive STEM teaching experience, skills in problem-based learning, and enthusiasm for hands-on learning. In addition, once individuals are background and reference checked, instructors are required to participate in curriculum and safety training.
• Counselors: Our camp counselors are adult students at WSU Tri-Cities. Most are working on earning their education degrees to become teachers themselves. All counselors have passed a background investigation and are required to participate in curriculum and safety training.
• Volunteers: All potential volunteers must be at least age 16 and must complete an application/interview process. Volunteers typically include students from area high schools, teacher education students from WSU, industry professionals, and retired professionals. Volunteers provide valuable assistance for our camps are are wonderful role models for our campers. Volunteers are always supervised by paid camp staff when with our campers.

The Student Information Packet is the final and most critical part of the registration process. Once completed. it will contain important information that will help our staff coordinate the best possible camp experience for your student. Because we value privacy and some information we ask for is confidential, the Student Information Packet will only be shared with WSU staff on a “need to know” basis.

Instructions for downloading, completing, and submitting the Student Information Packet may be found here. We must have one Student Information Packet per student attending any camp(s) sent to us in order to reserve space for the,. We are unable to permit students to participate in camp if we do not receive it.

Yes, lunch will be provided each day of every camp. A healthy snack (including water) will also be provided. Lunch and snacks are included in the cost of the camp.

Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle clearly labeled with their name; water is the only beverage allowed in classrooms and only in transparent bottles. Food is not allowed in the classrooms and both food and beverages are not allowed in the computer laboratory.

We will consider your student’s special dietary needs during lunch as questions related to food allergies are included on the first page of the Student Information Packet.

Students are welcome to bring their own lunch marked with their name. We do not have refrigerated storage, but a microwave is available for student use.

Lunch breaks are 30 minutes long and snack breaks are 15 minutes long.

There is an option for parents of students bringing their own lunch and snacks each day of camp to receive a $30 registration discount. Please contact the Program Coordinator by email at STEMcamp@tricity.wsu.edu or phone at 509-372-7123 to make this arrangement prior to registering your student.

Under this arrangement, students will be unable to receive a meal ticket for the lunch line and will not be given a snack pack during break times.

Unfortunately, we do not have refrigerated storage for use by students, but a microwave is available for student use.

All supplies and materials students will need for camp will be provided for them. If there will be any exception to this, parents will be notified by email.

Students are allowed to bring a backpack or sturdy bag, clear water bottle, a hat, and sunscreen (all marked with your family name). Only clear water bottles are allowed in the classroom. Other beverages and beverage containers are allowed in lunch bags for drinking during the lunch period.

Your student should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes that are appropriate for active and sometimes messy camp activities. Short shorts, low necklines, dresses, open-toed sandals and flip-flops are not appropriate for camp participation.

We discourage bringing personal items such as games, toys, or electronics as these can be distracting to other students. Note that we are not responsible for the damage or loss of any personal item.

In today’s connected world, youth are accustomed to having a smartphone in their possession at all times. While this has its advantages for both parents and students, there are limitless possibilities for what may occur while a student is using their smartphone at camp. We allow students to bring personal electronic mobile devices such as a smartphone and tablet to camp, however, we also enforce a strict policy surrounding appropriate use for the protection and safety of all campers.

Students will not be allowed to display their phone or other mobile devices during the times camp is in session, usually while in the classroom and labs. This policy prevents students from being distracted during camp instruction and allows them to concentrate on their projects. Students should keep their devices in their pocket, either on silent mode or turned off. If the device becomes a distraction or if this policy is not being followed, it may be necessary for camp staff to confiscate the device for parents to claim at the end of the day.

Students will be allowed to use their devices during break times and lunch time. As a reminder to parents, students under the age of 13 should not use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and musical.ly. Students at least 13 years of age posting to social media should be reminded that if they include any other persons in their post, they should always ask for that person’s permission, even if they are friends.

WSU Tri-Cities Summer STEM Camps is not responsible for the damage or loss of any personal electronic mobile device.

It is important that campers are comfortable so they can concentrate on participating. Many experiments will have wet or messy or active components. We recommend casual clothes such as jeans or shorts. To ensure safety, we require that all campers wear closed toe shoes.

Students with open-toed shoes may be asked to not participate in camp activities until they make arrangements for other footwear to be delivered to camp and are able to change into closed-toed shoes.

WSU Tri-Cities Summer STEM Camps does not provide transportation to or from camp. Parents must provide transportation for their camper. Some families purchase bus passes from Ben-Franklin Transit; see https://www.bft.org/fares/.

Ben Franklin Transit serves the WSU Tri-Cities campus. The transit system allows children, age 6 and older, to ride the bus unaccompanied by an adult. Ben Franklin Transit’s bus operators are trained to assist riders and assure they arrive at their destination.

A covered bus stop is located on Sprout Road adjacent to the WSU Tri-Cities campus and Hanford High School. The stop is identified with a blue, gold, and white sign with the Transit logo and indicates Route 126.

The student will be responsible to walk to and from the bus stop to the camp unaccompanied by an adult.

Please check with Benton-Franklin Transit to verify routes and times.

It is the parents’ responsibility to purchase and arrange bus transportation. For information call 509-735-5100 or visit www.bft.org.

If your camper will be using the bus for any transportation to or from camp, you must indicate so on the Student Information Packet.

Please pick up your student promptly at the end of camp each day; no after camp care is provided.

For the safety of our campers, we require photo identification from each parent/guardian every day for their camper. While we might know you by name and have seen you a dozen times, please do not be offended when we continue to ask for photo identification.

Whomever comes to pick up a camper must be listed on that camper’s Student Information Packet and must also show photo identification; if he/she is not listed, we will not be able to release the camper to that person’s care.

Campers are released by a staff member only to those persons authorized by the parent/guardian on the Student Information Packet. Anyone checking out a student from camp must sign out the student and show picture identification each day.

The only exception to this policy occurs when parents/guardians provide written authorization for their student to be released from the above policy because of the student’s use of public transportation or transportation via bicycle; this is provided by the parent/guardian on the Student Information Packet. If your student will be using one of these alternative forms of transportation and will not be picked up from camp, you must provide authorization as noted above.

Parents/guardians may walk with their student’s group to the designated classroom on the first day to ensure their student is seated comfortably. Parents/guardians are always welcome to observe their student from outside of the classroom. However, we have found that giving your student enough space to allow them to interact with other students creates a better camp experience.

A weekly schedule describes the projects and activities for the week. Parents/guardians, grandparents, siblings, and other friends, are invited to come if there is a class event with your student with projects and activities he/she has been learning during the week (TBD). Instructors will notify campers and parents ahead of time of such opportunities.

You can reinforce what your student has learned each by asking questions about that day’s projects, when your student returns home after camp, or having him or her explain that day’s concepts to you and to other siblings.

Camper safety is our number one priority. For this reason, students do not leave the campus during camp hours until they are checked out of camp by an authorized parent or guardian. No off-campus field trips are associated with these camps.

Restroom use is encouraged at the morning and afternoon breaks and at lunch. Should a student need to use the restroom at any other time, precautions are taken to ensure camper security. Students must request permission to leave the classroom for restroom use; one camper at a time will be released during non-break periods as bathroom buddies are not allowed.

We do not provide care before or after camp sessions. Please arrange prompt drop-off and pick-up of your student.

We reserve the right to remove from camp any student who is disruptive. Inappropriate language and/or behavior will not be tolerated. If a student is unable to correct his/her behavior, we may call the parent/guardian to pick up the student before the end of the camp day. Any student who persists in disruptive behavior may be dismissed from camp without any refund of fees.

If this should occur, the student should seek out a camp staff member to check-in and catch up. Your student may miss important instructions so please make every attempt to be prompt each day.

While we appreciate advance notice, we know that the unexpected does happen. If your camper will need to miss a day of camp, please notify us as soon as possible by sending an email to STEMcamp@tricity.wsu.edu or giving us a call at 509-372-7123. We will inform instructors so they can help your student catch up when they return.

Missing a day of camp means that the student will miss an important part of the learning process which may not be able to be “made-up.” For projects that are team based, the student’s team will proceed with work. If you notify us in advance, we can have camp staff work with your camper on potential catch-up work.

A $125 fee per student per camp will be charged if you cancel after June 10th.

No refund will be given if you cancel less than five days prior to the start date.

Please contact our Program Coordinator at STEMcamp@tricity.wsu.edu or by phone at 509-372-7123 to address any registration questions.

Please indicate these needs in the Student Information Packet. If your student has special needs, some accommodations may be available so please let us know at least four weeks prior to the first class. To further address these accommodations, please contact us by email at STEMcamp@tricity.wsu.edu or give us a call at 509-372-7123.

We are unable to administer medication to students. If your student requires a dosage during camp hours, please make appropriate arrangements.

The Lead Teacher will document any situation that results in an injury and will contact the parent/guardian as needed or, in an emergency, will contact 911 and then contact the parent/guardian.

If there is an emergency situation and the parent must contact their student at camp they can call our Camp Registrar at 509-372-7123 or the campus general information line at 509-372-7000.

All of our teachers and counselors have received safety training from WSU. The campus also has an emergency response plan and an on-site Safety Manager.