Camps

*coming soon for 2023!* 

Sample themes from 2022: The Great Unicorn Search, Robot Takeover, Arctic Expedition, Circus Spectacular

At ZoomDance Camp, energetic, compassionate professionals are with your kids all day, every day. All our teachers are trained extensively and have worked in early childhood education for years. Our counselors are chosen carefully and trained thoroughly. From the entire team you can expect high-quality instruction, creativity and attuned energy. 

We value a respectful, empathetic connection with the children so that everyone is included and important. We strive to create a space for people of all bodies, abilities, races, ethnicities and genders to feel welcome and loved and celebrated. Our staff embodies this, too.

• Programming is from 9am-3pm daily, with early drop off at 8:30am ($6/day) and after care until 5pm ($18/day).
  
• When you enroll, you’ll select which weeks of camp to attend.
  
• Early and late care can be booked at the time of registration or can be added later, up until a week prior to your camp. You’ll be able to select which days you need extra hours; you don’t have to choose the same schedule each day. Any care booked less than a week in advance is only space-permitting, and is $7/morning, $20/ afternoon.
  
• Registrations are for a full week at a time. We do not offer drop-ins.
  • Exception: Younger siblings may enroll in half-day or partial-week camp if the older sibling has registered for the full week / full days. 
  • Half day: 9am-12pm (or extend to 1pm pickup for $10/day more).
  • Partial week: You’ll select which days to attend.

In order for us to properly prepare for each week’s group, registration will close the Monday prior to the start of each new camp week. We do anticipate filling up many if not all weeks this year.

Summer Camp

Siblings

At least one child per family needs to register for the full week rate above. Additional siblings can register for the full week at a discount, for fewer days per week, or for half days. Please register all children in advance; for everyone's safety, we can't accommodate drop-ins this year.

Payments plans are available as an option during registration.

Extended Care

* This can be added later after registration, up until one week prior to your camp week, then it is only space-permitting and is $7/morning, $20/afternoon.

Scholarships

We never want cost to be the reason a child isn't dancing with us and have again budgeted to make scholarship funds available. Contact us to work out an arrangement for your family.

Payment Plans

At registration you'll have the option to pay just a deposit for each week. The balance will be charged automatically on June 1st. Reach out if you need to establish a different payment plan with us.

• We have a scholarship fund available to families whose budget doesn’t match the rate we need to ask this year. Please reach out to our director, Sarah Camp. No application or financial information is requested.
• If you are in a position to help support our scholarship program, please also reach out!
• We send regular updates and photos of our camp activities so parents can see what we’re learning and playing.
• Our goal is clear, direct, accessible communication around any needed policy shifts or COVID-19 developments.
• We ask that camp families please not attend large-group gatherings or spend time indoors with multiple unvaccinated adults for a week prior to attending camp, and while their children are with us.
• Talk to your kids ahead of time about mask wearing, washing hands and not sharing germs. We’ll reinforce these topics in fun ways. 🙂
• If there are any specific things your child is working through right now, please tell us ahead of time so we know how to best support them. Everyone is always working on something, and that includes us!

Teachers are the heart of our program. To attract and retain the very best staff, we want to take great care of them so they take great care of your family!

• Competitive pay rates
• Providing daily fresh KN95 and medical masks
• Assisting with access to vaccines prior to camp as needed
• Paying for any testing needed through the summer
• Paying for days off if needed for quarantine to whatever extent possible
• Stocking daily snacks and drinks just for staff
• Providing lunch once a week
• Creating a safe and supportive work environment
• Paying (as always) for all time with ZoomDance, including training, set up, prep, cleaning, meetings, and any additional work outside camp hours. This will include extra training needed in order to make sure everyone understands and is able to comply with all health and safety policies.

• If your child has any disabilities relevant to our time with them, please let us know so we can prepare and make a plan in collaboration with you to best support them. 
• Do we need clear masks for lip reading or is there a reason your child can’t wear a mask consistently? (We will make the final determination on group mask-wearing in late spring, dependent upon current rates of COVID-19 in Philadelphia.)
• Does your child plan to attend with a direct service provider full or part time? 
• Our camp classrooms are on the second floor up a straight set of stairs. If your child uses a mobility device or for any reason cannot traverse stairs independently, let’s figure out a workaround. Our walk to the park or playground has curb cuts the whole way, though it is along Philadelphia sidewalk terrain.
• Does your family need our communications in a language other than English? Do you prefer verbal or written communication? If your child is not comfortable speaking or understanding information in English while at camp, please reach out and let's see what we can do.

ZoomDance has always been committed to creating a space for people of all bodies, abilities, races, ethnicities and genders to feel actively included and appreciated. Here's some of our current work:

• Decolonizing our bookshelf, providing an expansive vision of voice and representation
• Practicing listening, supporting and including all voices
• Recognizing, respecting and appreciating all genders, races, bodies and (dis)abilities
• Talking about community helpers (firefighters, social workers, nurses, scientists, climate advocates, etc.)
• Discussing gratefulness and how to show/share it
• Hiring staff who reflect the diversity of our community
• Putting in place a system of mutual accountability and growth around social justice and anti-racism for our team
• Building a robust scholarship program with easy access

ZoomDance will be adhering to or exceeding all CDC guidelines for working with young kids, as well as following any additional parameters in place in the city of Philadelphia. We will continue monitoring any changes to recommendations and adjusting as needed, always with clear communication here on our site and sent directly to enrolled families. 

• Children will need to show proof of vaccination to attend camp.
• We will evaluate the COVID-19 rates of spread and RSV risk in Philadelphia later in the spring to make a final determination on masking indoors. We will support any family who chooses for their child to mask. 
• All people (adults and children) entering the building will be required to have a health check each day, including having their temperature taken.
• We will engage in frequent hand washing for children and adults, especially on arrival, when using the bathroom, and before eating.
• We will be spending lots of time outdoors. We have chosen a location well-situated between local parks and playgrounds.
• Windows will be open when the weather permits and we will be using HEPA air filters throughout the space.
• We have specialized cleaning products as recommended by the CDC to comply with cleaning and sanitizing guidelines. Cleaning and sanitizing will happen throughout the day on high-touch surfaces, shared materials, bathrooms, etc. Thorough cleaning of the space will take place every evening as well. 
• We have clear policies, in compliance with CDC guidelines, on our response to COVID exposure, including isolating children or adults with symptoms, alerting all families, and shutting down for quarantine as necessary. Families will receive this information in their welcome packet.
• We will institute extra staff training as needed in order to make sure all staff understand and are able to comply with all health and safety policies.

The cost of ZoomDance camp includes a daily snack and any supplies needed. Families should pack their own lunch each day. 

Children should wear clothes for moving around comfortably in classes and playing in the park. We might get messy some days!

For all children we recommend a change of clothing, a water bottle, and a backpack to keep their things in.

If we make the decision to mask everyone indoors, please arrive wearing a mask and pack at least 3 extra.

You may send a blanket or yoga mat for rest time. 

**Anything they bring should be labeled with their name.**

• If we have to close due to pandemic restrictions, we give full refunds. 
• Families may cancel their registration up until June 1st and receive a full refund, minus $25 admin fee/week. 
• Cancelations up until 2 weeks prior to your camp week are eligible for 75% refund.