Summer Policies and FAQs

School Break Camps & Studio Days at Studio East

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Summer Camp Policies
Summer Camp FAQs

Absence & Illness

Please review our current Covid-19 Policy page HERE.

Please alert the Studio if your student will be late or absent by calling 425.820.1800 or email summer@studio-east.org

If your child is ill (flu/cold symptoms, stomach issues, coughing, sinus infections, fever etc), please do not bring them to camp until they are symptom free for 24 hours.

If your student has active lice or nits, please notify the Studio and do not send them to camp for 24 hours after treatment. Lice is very hard to contract and not dangerous to students, but because our campers share costumes, including hats and head pieces, all families at the camp location will be notified as a precaution.

If your student misses camp due to illness, the Withdrawal, Refund, and Transfer Policy applies.

Age Exceptions

All age exceptions must be approved through the with Studio East Education Director Kaysy Ostrom (425.820.1800 ext. 108) in advance of registration. If you register a student who is outside of the accepted age for a camp without permission, we will need to withdraw their enrollment. The withdrawal, refund and transfer policy apply in this situation. Please remember that the grades for summer camps refer to where the student will be in the upcoming Fall.

Can I stay with my student during camp?

Parents/guardians are only allowed to stay for the first 10 minutes of class and arrive 10 minutes before pick-up to observe the end of class. If inclusion of their designated aide will maximize your child’s success at camp, please communicate with the Education Director at least a week in advance of the first day of camp. This aide will need to pass a Washington State Patrol Background Check in order to stay at camp all day.

Can my child with special needs attend camp?

Studio East Instructors are usually able to create ways for children with special needs to succeed. Please write down all medications, physical, emotional or behavioral challenges your child may have on your student’s Medical Information Form, and discuss them with the Education Director prior to the first day of camp. This information will make our instruction more effective and your child’s experience more rewarding. All staff and instructors follow the Studio’s Confidentiality Policy, so your privacy will be protected. Please note that staff members cannot monitor or administer medications and that Studio East is unable to provide aides for individual student needs. Should your student require an aide, please contact the Education Director to discuss providing your own assistance.

Code of Conduct

We at Studio East value each and every individual. To create an environment where each student has the freedom to grow both as a performer and as an individual, Studio East maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the following:

Fighting with another student, staff, volunteer, or parent.

Destruction or theft of any property or materials.

Disrespect towards oneself or others.

Use of inappropriate language and/or innuendo.

Racial or sexual harassment (including inappropriate physical contact).

If a student breaks this code of conduct, their registration may be cancelled without refund or credit given. Thanks for working with us to create a safe and welcoming place for all our students.

Contact Information

For summer questions and queries, please e-mail summer@studio-east.org

Studio East encourages open communication between Instructors and families. Please feel free to reach the Instructors by leaving a message with Studio East Education Director Kaysy Ostrom at 425.820.1800 ext. 108.

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Do you offer Extended Care?

Due to our varied camp venues, capacity limitations, and staffing needs, we are unable to offer extended care for all of our camps. Our Extended Care camps will be available for the following camps for an additional fee:

Little Players
TaleSpinners

Note: Extended Care may be cancelled if we don’t get enough registrations in advance of the first day of camp.

Does my child need to be toilet trained to attend camp?

Yes, children should be toilet trained. We suggest that Little Players’ families send an extra set of clothes in case an accident happens at camp.

Dropping Off & Picking Up

Please do not leave your child unattended at the camp site before or after camp times. There is no supervision provided for campers before the official start time of camp. There is extended care available after some, but not all, camps, and you must be registered to participate.

Campers that are not picked up within 15 minutes of the end of camp may incur a fine to compensate teachers for their time. Campers that are continually picked up late may be withdrawn from the camp program. If you are running late, please notify the main office as soon as possible.

If there is a unique situation where your student will be arriving or leaving early, or has permission to walk, bike, or bus home by themselves, please include a note in registration or let the main office know as soon as possible.

Food at Camp

Please pack a non-perishable lunch and a labeled water bottle daily. Studio East does not provide lunch or snacks. If a student does not have food, we will call a parent.
Please do not send nut products on the first day of camp in case one of our campers has a severe allergy.
Instructors encourage campers to share everything at camp except their food.
Due to limited space and time, anticipated clean-up, and staff responsibilities, we cannot support any celebrations involving edible treats during Studio East programs. We will celebrate students’ birthdays with a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” when you alert us in advance!
If a student in your child’s camp has a severe food allergy, all families will be notified and asked NOT to send their child to camp with that food.If your family has no nutritional alternatives by which to avoid bringing along the potentially hazardous food in question, your student may be separated from the group while they eat.

How do I cancel my child’s camp registration?

How do I register for summer camps?

Using the “Summer Camps” menu, navigate to the age range your student will be in this upcoming Fall. Sort the camp chart by date, program type, or anything else you’d like, and explore the other tabs to learn more camp details. Finally, click the “Register Now” button to see tuition details and begin enrollment process. If you are having trouble navigating the online registration process, please call the Studio East office at 425.820.1800.

Medical/Emergency Information

Students cannot participate without completing registration. Please include all relevant Emergency/Medical information.

It is important that we be aware of any issues or challenges your child may face so we can create a successful and rewarding experience for your child. Please include any and all medications, disabilities, and any physical, emotional, or behavioral challenges your child may have.

All staff and instructors follow the Studio’s Confidentiality Policy, to protect your family’s privacy.

Please note that Studio East staff and Instructors cannot dispense medication to your child. If your child has medical needs, please plan to provide whatever care is required during camp hours or have your student self-administer. The only exception is for emergency-only medicines (epi-pens & inhalers) You must provide written instructions for emergency procedures, and medicines will be kept with the camp’s First Aid kit for the duration of camp.

Parent Observation

Parents/guardians are only allowed to stay for the first 10 minutes of class and arrive 10 minutes before pick-up to observe the end of class. If inclusion of a child’s designated aide will maximize your child’s success at camp, please communicate with the Education Director at least a week in advance of the first day of camp. This aide will need to pass a Washington State Patrol Background Check in order to stay at camp all day.

Payment Policy

Full tuition is due at the time of registration.

Financial Aid is available for all Studio East programs. However, an application must be submitted and approved before registering. Apply for a scholarship here.

You must apply promo codes before payment. If you’d like to use credit on file for payment, e-mail info@studio-east.org for a promo code.

We cannot grant, honor, or apply scholarships or credit after your payment has been processed.

What Financial Aid or Work Study opportunities are available?

We understand that not all families can afford full tuition for our programs. Studio East has a Scholarship Fund which allows us to give partial scholarships to students in need. If your family will require financial assistance to participate in our classes, apply for a scholarship here before submitting registration.

Students age 12 and older may also be able to earn Work Study for Studio East programs by assisting with classes and camps.

Contact Education Director Kaysy Ostrom for more information.

What happens if the camp I want to register for is full?

You can sign your student up for the waitlist and we will notify you if space becomes available. If you wish to be guaranteed that you will have a camp to attend, we can put your student on the waitlist for the originally preferred camp while also accepting a registration for another session.

What if I need to cancel or switch camps?

We understand that choosing the right camp option for your student is a highly personal decision and we support whatever choice you feel is appropriate for your family. Please contact the main office if you’d like to cancel your student’s registration by replying to the e-mail confirmation for your camp, emailing summer@studio-east.org, or calling at 425-820-1800. When emailing or calling, if you aren’t answered immediately, please leave a detailed message so we can best serve you. Please review the Withdrawal, Refund, and Transfer policy.

What if my children’s camps are in separate locations?

Studio East runs over 40 camps each summer and we typically start four to six camps each week. We know parents often like to have their children in camp during the same weeks, so we have structured our programs with staggered start and end times to facilitate drop-off and pick-up. We also stagger performance times so that parents can attend up to three different performances on the final Friday of camp.

What is your attendance policy? What if we’re late or absent?

We expect all students to be in camp every day, arriving and departing on time. If you foresee a conflict with a portion of camp, especially on the final day, please include a note in your registration or contact our Main Office in advance to talk through options. This will facilitate a successful experience for your student, as well as their classmates. Missing more than one day of camp could hinder the process for all campers and staff, and missing the final day affects the performance the students are working toward. In case of last-minute absence, such as illness, please call our Office as soon as possible. We need to notify the Instructors of your child’s absence so that they can make any necessary adjustments for the day. Our Office will be open during the summer from 8:30AM-5:30PM. If you call outside of office hours, please leave a message.

What should I bring & NOT bring to camp?

Campers should bring lunch and a snack, a water bottle, and a jacket or sunscreen depending on weather as we will be outside part of the day. It helps if campers bring a backpack to keep all their belongings safe and organized.

Prized possessions, especially electronic devices, should be left at home. The campers will be so busy with fun activities that they won’t have time to play video games or check their text messages!

What should I do if my child lost something at camp?

All items left at camp will be taken to Studio East at the end of each week. We hold these items until the end of Summer only, and then donate them to charity. You are welcome to come to the office between 8:30am and 5:30pm Monday through Friday to discuss lost items.

What should my child wear to camp?

We will spend at least 30 minutes outside each day, and we will have activities on grass, dirt and/or wood chips, so please prepare your student accordingly. We do not supply or apply sunscreen.

Comfortable clothing is a must for our campers; jeans or shorts, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes work very well. Please, no bare feet or flip-flops. We encourage campers to wear shorts under skirts or dresses. We will be doing a lot of active, messy things and we would hate to see a favorite outfit ruined.

Where are Studio East Summer Camps held?

Summer Camps are held at various locations in Kirkland at schools, churches, community centers, and in our space. Studio East is a secular nonprofit arts organization that welcomes students from any background, culture, identity, orientation, and ability. As part of our Summer Camp program, we have partnered with local churches as our camp venues for many years. These community partners make it possible for us to hold as many summer camps as we do, fostering our young actor’s exploration of the performing arts in spaces that often have beautiful performance stages and, most importantly, provide a footprint that suits our program needs.

Note: If you need wheelchair access to a camp venue, please contact our office for any special instructions. View our venues here.

Who are the Instructors?

You can find photos and biographies of our faculty here. All of our instructors are passionate about working with young people and sharing their expertise in the performing arts. Many of our instructors have been teaching for more than five years, some have Master’s degrees and/or teaching certificates, and all are Teaching Artists: performers as well as teachers. We run Washington State background checks on all staff, and all of our Camp Instructors are trained in first aid and CPR.

Withdrawal, Refund, and Transfer Policy

Registration canceled more than 7 days before camp begins will be fully refunded, minus a non-refundable $50 registration fee, or you can save your full tuition as credit on file*.

Registration canceled 7 or fewer days before camp begins will not be refunded and no credit will be given.

Transferring between camps is based on availability and must be requested at least 7 days before the first camp starts. There is no fee to change camps, though you will be responsible for any remaining balance based on cost differential.

If Studio East needs to cancel a camp due to low enrollment, you will be notified at least 7 days in advance and will receive a full refund.

If your student gets sick before or during camp, the withdrawal, refund, and transfer policy applies.

Sometimes a camp is not the right fit for a student! We work with families to resolve any complaints and issues that may arise during camp. If you choose to withdraw your student the withdrawal, refund and transfer policy applies.

Most of these camps happen at offsite locations. Some of our venue partners host other programs in separate spaces to where we host our programs. We have included all relevant venue information on our website, and you are welcome to research the venue as well. We will communicate with you about location venue more than a week prior to camp. If you choose to withdraw from camp due to the venue, the withdrawal, refund, and transfer policy applies.

*Credit on file can be used to pay for tuition for any Studio East class, camp, or production and is valid for up to one year. Credit on file can only be used to pay for Studio East programs and cannot be refunded at a later date.