Summer Policies and FAQ

School Break Camps & Studio Days at Studio East

Summer Camp Registration Policies

Payment: Full tuition is due at the time of registration. You will receive a confirmation email through our registration system after

Financial Aid is available for all Studio East camps. Please contact the main office before registering for more information.

Summer Camp Withdrawal, Refund, and Switching Policy

Please use the following schedule when considering withdrawing or switching camps for your student. Prepaid tuition may also be applied to your account as a credit for future use or donated to Studio East.

Camp cancelled by Studio East: Full refund.
Registration canceled more than 1 month before summer camp begins: Full cost of summer camp less the $50 registration fee will be refunded.
Registration canceled 2 – 4 weeks before summer camp begins: Refund or credit on file for 50% of the cost of camp less the $50 registration fee.
Registration cancelled less than 2 weeks before summer camp begins: 50% of the cost of camp less the $50 registration fee will be held as a credit*.
Registration canceled less than 72 hours before summer camp begins: No refund or credit.
Switching between camps more than 2 weeks before the first day of camp: no cost, based on availability.
Switching between camps less than 2 weeks before the first day of your camp: $25 fee, based on availability.

Dropping Off & Picking Up

Please see our Covid Response page for the most current pick-up/drop-off procedures.

Parents, please be aware that you must sign your children in and out of camp each day**. There is no supervision provided for campers before the official start time of camp. Please do not leave your child unattended at the camp site before or after camp times, **Parents of students in our Teen Camps may provide permission for their student to sign themselves in and out of camp. Late Pick-Up Campers that are not picked up within 15 minutes of the end of camp will be placed in Extended Care and charged for one day of Extended Care. Campers that are continually picked up late may be withdrawn from the camp program.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.

Emergency/Medical Information

Students cannot participate without completing Emergency/Medical information at registration.

It is important that we be aware of any special 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.

Absence & Illness

Please alert the Studio if your student will be late or absent by calling (425) 820-1800 or email info@studio-east.org. If your child is ill, contagious (stomach issues, coughing, sinus infections, etc) and/or running a fever, please DO NOT bring him/her to camp until they are symptom free for 24 hours. LICE- 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.

Code Of Conduct

We at Studio East value each and every individual. In order 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).

Food At Camp

Please pack a non-perishable lunch and a labeled water bottle daily. 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! Food Allergies If another student in your child’s camp has a severe food allergy, families will be notified and asked NOT to send their child to camp with that food. If your family has no other nutritional alternatives, your student may be separated from the group while they eat.

Contact Information

Studio East encourages open communication between instructors and families. Please feel free to reach the instructors by leaving a message with Kaysy Ostrom, the Studio East Education Director, at 425.820.1800 x108.

Frequently Asked Questions

+ How do I register for summer camps?

Summer camps are live for registration right now! Visit our Registration page to view all offerings and register for camps. If you are having trouble navigating the online registration process, please call the Studio East office for assistance during business hours (9:30am-5:30pm) at 425.820.1800. View full camp schedule.

+ 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 also register in another camp to be assured of a spot in one of our camps, we can put your student on the waitlist for the full camp and accept a registration for another session.

+ What if I need to cancel or switch camps?

Full tuition is due at the time of registration. There is a nonrefundable registration fee of $50 per child per camp for reservations canceled up to 2 weeks prior to the start of camp. Switching between camps is allowed, based on availability. There is a switching fee of $25 per switch. There is no refund or credit if you cancel your registration within 2 weeks of the start of camp.

Switching between programs is allowed up to 3 weeks before the first day of camp at no cost, based on availability. Switching between programs less than 3 weeks before the first day of your camp will result in an Admin Fee of $25. Please see our full Payment, Refund, and Switching policy above.

+ How do I cancel my child's camp registration?

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. Refunds or credits will be applied as outlined above. You can also choose to apply prepaid tuition to your account as a credit for future use or donate it back to Studio East.

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

+ I have more than one child and I want them in camp during the same weeks. How will this work when their camps are not at the same location?

Studio East runs over 40 camps each summer and we typically start 4-6 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.

+ Who are the Instructors?

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. Most of our instructors have been teaching for more than five years, many have Master’s degrees and/or teaching certificates, and all are Teaching Artists – active performers as well as teachers. We run Washington State background checks on all of our staff, and all of our Camp Instructors are trained in first aid and CPR.

+ What do I need to bring and 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 girls 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. It helps if campers bring a backpack to keep all their belongings safe and organized. Prized possessions should be left at home.

+ What should I NOT bring to camp?

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

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

Yes, children should be toilet trained. We do keep pull-ups at Little Players camps and suggest that families send an extra set of clothes in case an accident happens.

+ 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.

+ Can I stay with my student during camp?

Studio East wants to create a safe and comfortable environment for all our students and parents. We have found that students often participate more freely when parents are not there to watch camp, so we try to limit parent observation to the first 20 minutes of the first day of camp.

+ What is your attendance policy? What should I do if my student will be late or absent for a day of camp?

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, please contact the Education Director in advance to talk through options in order to ensure a successful experience for your student, as well as their classmates. Missing more than one day of camp could hinder the process for all of the campers and staff, so please check your calendar carefully. If something comes up at the last minute, such as illness, please call our office as soon as possible so that we can notify the Instructors of your child’s absence and allow them 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.

+ Do you offer Extended Care for working parents?

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:

July 12-23 Spamilton
July 26-30 Heroes & Villains
August 2-6 Myths & Legends
August 9-20 Snow White and the Black Forest
August 23-27 Pirates & Mermaids

Note: Extended Care has the possibility to be cancelled if we don’t get enough registrations in advanced.

+ What kinds of Financial Aid or Work Study opportunities are available for Studio East programs?

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. Limited Work Study opportunities are also available to parents who can offer administrative and transportation assistance during Summer Camps.

Contact the Education Director for more information.

+ 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 for one week 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 look through our lost and found collection.