If your child will not attend camp on a specific day for which he or she is registered, please notify the camp as soon as possible by calling 626-2308. Absences during our school break day camps may be “made up” by having your child attend another camp on a different day if space is available. During summer camp, there are not substitutions available, nor will refunds be given for any missed days.
Parents will park in the parking lot on the north side of the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium and and drop off campers through the glass double doors on the north side of the building. There are two 20-minute parking spots in this parking lot. There is also a yellow painted curb on Hawthorne Street, just to the north of the parking lot, where parents can park briefly as they drop off campers. Camp drop-off is from 8:30-9:00 AM unless your camper is in early care from 7:30-8:30 AM. Our camp day is from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM with half hour grace periods at the start and end of camp for drop-off and pick-up from 8:30-9:00 AM and from 4:00-4:30 PM. There is an entrance door on the North side of the building that will be signed ‘UA Fusion Camp’ where camp staff will be waiting outside each morning to greet parents and sign in campers. A parent or other authorized person must accompany campers to the designated camp entrance every morning and sign them in with the camp staff. If you would like to accompany your child into the classroom for any extended period of time during morning drop off we recommend that you park in either the Cherry Avenue Garage, the 2nd Street Garage or at the metered parking spots surrounding Flandrau.
Comfort is key. Campers should wear t-shirts, shorts, and shoes that will allow them to be active (i.e. sneakers, not flip-flops.) Campers may also want to bring a sweater/sweatshirt as the science center can be chilly. Please place the camper’s name on the tag of all clothing items. Additionally, campers may use materials like clay, food coloring, glue and paint. It is in their best interest to wear clothes that can get dirty, wet or messy and/or bring a change of clothes.
Good behavior is a key component to a successful camp experience. In an effort to provide all campers with a safe and fun-filled camp experience, it is important that all campers exhibit proper behavior and self-control. Campers are expected to respect their counselors and fellow campers at all times. Inappropriate, disruptive and/or violent behavior while at camp will not be tolerated. Examples of inappropriate behavior include, but are not limited to, fighting, name-calling, bullying, foul language, arguing, and disrespectful or illegal actions.
UA Fusion Camp reserves the right, upon notification of parents, to dismiss any student during any session for conduct that is deemed detrimental to the well-being of other students, staff, or to the overall operation of the camp.
All UA Fusion Camp staff that will have one-on-one contact with minors have undergone and passed fingerprint background screening. This screening requires that fingerprints are submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for state processing and to the UA Police Department to perform a background check through local law enforcement agencies. Any unscreened staff, volunteers or guests (i.e. special content experts, speakers at field trip locations) do not have unsupervised contact with campers.
Camp activities will be specific to the session. However, each class will feature science experiments, literacy activities, creative arts, interspersed with time to explore the museum galleries and fitness activities. Some classes may include on or off campus field trips, in which case parents will be notified via email and/or a printed announcement at the check-in/check-out table.
Our camp counselors consist of a combination of UA students, majoring in a variety of subjects including Elementary Education and Science Education and also early career teachers and education specialists. All have had experience working in classroom, camp settings or with minors in general. Counselors participate in a training session prior to the beginning of camps that includes training in first aid and CPR, high occupancy vehicle driving, curriculum content and classroom management strategies.
The regular camp day ends at 4:00 PM. There is a grace period from 4:00-4:30 PM for parents to pick-up campers. Parents should pick up at the north side door signed ‘UA Fusion Camps’ where there will be a camp staff member waiting inside the building to greet you and help you find your child's camp group. If your child participates in extended care, you will pick them up at the same door anytime before 5:30pm. For safety and security reasons, campers will only be released to the individual(s) provided during registration. Until we recognize you, please be prepared to present a photo ID when you come to pick up a child. Campers who remain after 4:30 PM will be placed in After Care and charged accordingly of $5/day.
If you need to drop your child off prior to 8:30 AM, early care is available from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM for $5/day. You may add early care during registration and pay online prior to camp.
In the event that a camper will need to be picked up early, please come to the Flandrau front desk. If possible, please notify the counselors in advance so that we may plan accordingly. You will need to sign your child out when they leave camp. If they are going to return to camp later that same day please let us know, and you will need to sign them back in before re-joining their class.
Some of our camp sessions may include field trips in which case parents will be notified via email and/or a printed announcement at the check-in/check-out table. For on-campus trips, campers will walk or will be transported by the UA Cat Tran.
If you’re not already a Flandrau member, consider purchasing a family membership for $115.00. A Flandrau Membership will give you a 10% discount on Flandrau programs including birthday parties, camps and other programs; a 10% discount on all store purchases; and also provides free admission to exhibits and discounted prices for planetarium shows for two adults and four children for one year from the date of purchase. As part of the ASTC Passport Program, a Flandrau membership will also give you free or discounted admission to over 250 science centers, museums, zoos and aquaria across the country. A list of participating institutions can be found at www.astc.org. If you are interested in purchasing a Flandrau Membership, please add it to your cart during registration, inquire at the front desk, or call 621-4516.
If you need to reach camp staff or your child during the day, please call 621-4516. The person at the extension will help get you in contact with the appropriate camp staff.
If you need to pick your child up after 4:30 PM, after care is available from 4:30-5:30 PM for $5/day. You may add after care to your online registration. If you are not signed up for After Care but are running late, your child will be taken to After Care and you will be charged accordingly. If children are picked up after 5:30 PM, you will be charged $10 for each 15-minute increment.
All classes have a 30-minute lunch break, sometime between 11:30 and 12:30 PM. Please send food that does not require a microwave. When possible lunches will be placed in a refrigerator unless we are going on a field trip, but please include a cooler pack in the lunch box for added food safety. Place the camper’s name on his or her lunch box/bag so that it is easily identifiable.
In general, we have no food restrictions; however, if there is a child enrolled in a particular session of camp that has severe food allergies we may restrict certain food items during that session. We will always set up a ‘nut free table’ as that is the most common food allergy we experience. We will notify parents via email prior to the start of that camp with any food restrictions.
We do not provide campers with snack but each morning and afternoon, there will be designated snack times. We ask the parents attempt to provide healthy snacks as frequently as possible (fresh fruits & vegetables, string cheese, yogurt, etc.), but we will on occasion provide campers with a special snack related to camp content or special events.
By registering your child up for camp you can authorize the UA Fusion Camp to photograph and/or videotape your child for publicity purposes. Please note that these materials will not be sold or loaned and will be used only to promote the UA Fusion Camp education programs. If you do not want your child to be photographed, please indicate on the Parental Authorizations page of the Camper Information Form.
Additional paperwork may be required for children who have medical or other special needs. We appreciate the disclosure of any information that will help us have a safe and happy experience where your child can thrive in an environment that is supportive of their needs. We would love to discuss your child’s needs further in order to determine what additional steps are necessary.
The science center makes every reasonable attempt to safeguard our campers’ possessions. However, we suggest that students leave personal items, especially electronics and toys, at home. If camp staff determines that the presence of these items are disruptive to the class, they will be held until the end of the day.
Please understand that Flandrau cannot be held responsible for the loss, destruction, or theft of any personal items (i.e. clothing, book bags or purses, toys, games, electronic devices, cellphones, or money) your child may bring to camp.
All fees should be paid at the time of registration through our online registration system with credit card (American Express, Discover, Visa or Mastercard are accepted).
If you must withdraw a camper from a week that he or she is already signed up for, please note that refunds are issued for camp classes on the following sliding scale: Before May 6, 2022: 90% refund, credited back to your method of payment. The remaining 10% is a non-refundable fee to cover administrative costs. After May 6, 2022: A science center credit for 90% of the total value will be issued. This credit is good for one year from the date of issue and may be applied to any UA Fusion Camp program, other Flandrau programs such as birthday parties, Flandrau admission, or towards a Flandrau membership. The credit cannot be used for gift shop purchases.
Some camp activities take place outdoors. Please remember to prepare campers with plenty of drinking water and sunscreen for weather protection. Be sure to clearly mark water bottles with your child’s name.
We may use various technology applications throughout the course of the summer. Examples of the use of technology include: The use of iPads for research & activities related to camp themes; the viewing of educational videos with content related to camp activities; the viewing of shows in the Planetarium theater.
If you would like to be added to the wait list for a camp, please register your child(children) through our online camp system and choose "Waitlist Registration". This will ensure your position in our waitlist line.