Education Information

reminder

All campers must have a filled out and signed Consent/Disclosure form. We have to have a new form for your child each year. Most of you have already turned yours in, but if you have not please bring it with you on Monday morning or the day of your Day Camp or email it to us. If you need another copy sent to you, please reply to this email or email our team at edu@twpark.com

Things to Know

If you will be dropping off or picking up campers outside of our designated times, please check-in with the giftshop first as they will direct you on where camp is and where to go!
The splash park will be open during camp weeks, and we will be visiting the splash park on Wednesdays and Fridays! We will be sending home a document on Thursdays with more information about the splash park and what you should bring with your camper.
Our meal plan add-on is $32 for the WEEK. If you are enrolled in a day camp please contact the Education Department for more information about meal options!
If you are wanting your camper to shop at the giftshop, we have changed this procedure! We will have the giftshop staffed from 4:00-5:30pm on Fridays. After you check your camper OUT in the camp room, you can go to the giftshop with them to pick something out! We will no longer be visiting the giftshop during camp.
If you wish to change your child’s enrollment to a different week, you may do so, provided that we have space available for the week you wish to switch to.
Any switching of registration MUST be done at least one week prior to the start of the camp for which your child is enrolled.
In the unfortunate event that you need to cancel your child’s camp registration, you may do so.
A full refund will be issued should you cancel one week or more prior to the camp’s start date.
A partial refund (50%) will be issued should you cancel up to 72 hours before the camp’s start date.
If you need to cancel please reach out to us via phone or email to discuss your options.

Directions to the camp room

If you haven’t been to our new classroom yet, get excited! The new classroom is in a location that is behind the scenes, which means your check-in route will look a little different this year. I have added photos and details to help assist you for this new process. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions!

– Instead of coming through the main/front gate, you will enter through our private side gate off 183rd street! If using google maps, type in this address (1037 S. 183rd St W. Goddard, KS) and that will get you to the gate! Click here for an aerial google map view and pathway to assist as well!

– Click here for a photo of the gate which is **automatic** to enter (your car needs to be fairly close). If closed when leaving, you will approach the gate as close to the RIGHT side of the road as you can! The gate will close automatically behind you.

– When you come to the first “intersection” stick to the RIGHT! Click here for a photo.

– Shortly after you will go off to the left when you get to the second “intersection” to get to the classroom door! Click here for a photo.

– There are parking spots on both the left and right side of the entry drive for you to park and come into the main camp door for check-in/out! Click here for a photo.

Frequently asked questions

What should parents do and/or fill out before camp starts?

Fill out Consent and Disclosure, Pick Up Authorization, and Photo Release Forms completely.
Notify the Education Department in advance of any special needs (including medical restrictions or food allergies) so that we can do our best to accommodate your child.
Every effort will be made so that your child avoids contact with things they are allergic to. However, parents should remember that Tanganyika is a public facility and some environmental factors will be difficult to control.
Contact us with any questions or concerns! We are happy to get you the information you need to make your child’s camp experience as positive as possible!

How do check-in and check-out work?

Check-in on Monday morning will probably take some additional time, so please be prepared.
Staff will be in the front area of the classroom to check in campers in the morning and to check out campers in the afternoon.
Regular check-in is from 7:45 am to 8:45 am.
Please make every effort to drop off your child on time.
Staff will not be able to accept camper check in prior to 7:45 am.
If you must drop off your child after 8:45 am, you will need to check in at the Events window adjacent to the Gift Shop. Please note: late drop-off can be distracting to both the other campers and to your child.
An adult will be required to physically sign in your child each morning with our staff. This ensures your child’s safety and it allows us to communicate with you regarding any changes for the day.
Regular check-out is from 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm.
There will be a $1 per minute late fee for campers picked up after 5:30 pm.
If you need to pick up your child outside of normal check-out hours, please make prior arrangements with Education Department staff.

COVID-19

As of this time, Tanganyika does not expect to close or alter programming due to COVID-19. Based on recommendations from the CDC and the Health Department, we are taking the following precautions in order to mitigate risk to the public that may be visiting us during this time:

Having all campers bring a mask with them to camp (we recommend using a lanyard to attach their mask around their neck to keep it close at all times)
Wiping down and sanitizing hard surfaces such as counters and doorknobs multiple times throughout the day
Increasing the frequency with which public areas such as restrooms are cleaned during the day
Encouraging our team members to increase the frequency with which they wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer
Encouraging all team members, volunteers, program participants, and guests to remain at home if they feel ill
Continuing to have hand washing stations and hand sanitizer available throughout the Park at animal encounter areas
In addition, for Education activities such as camps, field trips, and birthday parties, our Education Team will encourage frequent hand washing and continue to have hand sanitizer available at all programs.

Can I have someone else pick up my child?

Campers must be signed out every day by an adult who is 18 or older and is on their pick-up authorization form.
All adults that have permission to pick up your child should be listed on the Pick Up Authorization form, which must be turned in prior to the start of camp.
Any adult not listed on the Authorization form will be unable to pick up your child from camp.

I need to pick up my child early. Is that okay?

While we prefer that campers are with us for the full day, we also understand that sometimes appointments, sports games, and other family events may require you to pick your child up early.
If you do need to pick up your child early, please notify camp staff at drop-off that morning so that we can be prepared.
When you arrive to pick up your child, please check in at the windows adjacent to the Gift Shop. Staff in the Gift Shop will contact camp and give specific instructions for pick up. This is because you child may be in a different area of the park.
Please note: If you need to pick up your child during snack or lunch time (10 am to 10:30 am, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, or 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm), it may take extra time to check out your child.
If at all possible, please do not pick up your child between 4:30 pm and 4:45 pm. This is our “clean up time” when our staff and volunteers are busy getting campers ready to head home for the day and it can be very difficult to step away for camper check out.

What is a typical day like during camp?

Each week of camp has a unique theme, with each day designed to build on that theme throughout the week.
Most days will start with an interactive group lesson to introduce the day’s topic.
Campers will spend most of the day engaged in lessons, demonstrations, activities, crafts, games, animal encounters, and Park tours.
Campers will spend time outside during their camp adventure – snack, lunch, Park tours, and some games will take place outdoors, weather permitting.
Twice per day, campers will be provided with a snack and free time on the playground in the center of the Park (supervised by our staff and volunteers).

My child needs to take prescription medication during the camp day. How does that work?

If your child takes oral prescription medications or requires a topical medication that he or she can apply without adult intervention, our staff is able to administer those medications. On Monday morning, you will need to fill out a short authorization form detailing the name of the medication, the dosage, and what time(s) medication needs to be administered. Any topical medication that requires adult intervention or injection-based medication will be treated on a case-by-case basis. In most cases, we ask that a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult administer these medications during the camp day.

My child has some special needs. What kinds of accommodations are you able to provide?

Our Education Department strongly believes that each and every child deserves the opportunity to interact with and learn more about the natural world and we strive to bring a high level of inclusivity to our camp experiences. We have had students with a variety of special needs have extremely successful camp experiences. However, it is important to remember that your camper will be exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, and smells during the normal camp day – both inside the classroom and outside the classroom. We have a designated classroom space for campers that need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of camp and we’ll do everything we can to make sure your child is comfortable during the camp day.

If your child does have special needs that you believe may impact their stay at camp, please reach out to the Education Department to discuss these needs further with us. We want to give every camper the best possible chance to succeed and being aware of possible challenges and strategies to help us meet those challenges is crucial to providing your child with a positive camp experience.

What should campers bring and wear to camp?

Food items

Lunches (and any snacks) should be clearly marked with your child’s name.
Morning and afternoon snack are provided. However, if your child has particular dietary restrictions, you may wish to provide your own snack.
Refrigerators, microwaves, and eating utensils are not available.

Clothing items

Close-toed shoes are strongly encouraged.
Please make sure your child wears sunscreen daily. We will have sunscreen onsite for reapplication in the afternoon. If your child requires a specific type of sunscreen (due to allergies or other conditions) please provide sunscreen on the first day of camp.
Your child should dress in clothes that can get a little messy.

Personal items

Cell phones, mp3 players, other electronics, and toys are not permitted at camp. These items tend to cause distraction, and Tanganyika is not responsible for items being lost or stolen.
Stuffed animals are allowed at camp. However, counselors will request that campers leave stuffed animals in the classroom during Park tours, playground time, or other activities.

Money

Campers may not bring money to camp. On Friday you will have the opportunity to visit the Tanganyika gift shop.
If your camper wants to purchase lunch from the Pavilion Deli, please give you camper’s money to the staff member that is facilitating check in. The money should be in a Ziploc or envelope labeled with your child’s name.

Do you have any options for onsite lunch?

Yes! Our Safari Meal Plan is $32 for the week and includes lunch (entrée, chips, and juice) from our Pavilion Deli each day of camp. This plan price is for the full week only. Campers are not able to add individual days to the Meal Plan.

How do snacks and lunch work?

Snack time occurs twice per day, typically at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, though that exact schedule may vary slightly depending on other camp activities.
The majority of the time, campers will eat snack outside, then have a little free time.
In the event of rainy weather or if we are in an issued heat advisory, snack and free time may take place in the classroom.
Regardless of where snack takes place, campers are supervised by staff and volunteers both in the Pavilion and on the playground.
At each snack, campers are given the choice between two snack options. If your child has allergies or other dietary restrictions (or would just prefer to pack their own snack), you may send him or her with snack in addition to lunch.
Lunch typically takes place from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Again, that may very slightly due to other camp activities.
As with snack, the majority of time, lunch will take place outside, with free time on the afterwards.
In the event of rainy weather or if we are in an issued heat advisory, lunch and free time may take place in the classroom.
Regardless of where lunch takes place, campers are supervised by staff and volunteers both in the Pavilion and on the playground.
If your camper has a meal plan, camp staff will call out their name when their food arrives. They will need to grab their food and find a place to sit.
All campers are expected to clean up any trash they have from lunch before they may have free time.

Will Camp visit the Gift Shop?

Because not every camper may have the opportunity to purchase items from the Gift Shop, we will not be making a trip to the Gift Shop as a full camp class. Campers that wish to go to the Gift Shop will be able to visit the Gift Shop with a parent or guardian on Friday after pick up.

Will my camper be able to feed the animals?

During normal Park Tours throughout the week, campers will have the opportunity to feed several animals at our Animal Encounter stations. We aim for one encounter per day, but that may vary due to other scheduled activities, the weather, and even that day’s theme. Feeding stations are weather dependent.

How does discipline work at camp?

For the most part, our staff allows campers to set their own rules at the beginning of each week of camp. We do have some standard class rules designed to foster a safe learning environment, but we take direction from campers as much as possible in setting both rules and consequences. We believe that this gives campers a little more buy-in to their own behavior and we view our camp rules as a “contract” of behavior for the week.

While camp staff and volunteers try to maintain a positive atmosphere, occasionally behavior occurs that requires correction. Typically, our consequences for misbehavior are a warning, a time-out (a visit to our “Take a Break” corner), and a visit to the office/call home. We do our very best to help campers course correct their behavior before a call home becomes necessary. While we want every camper to remain in class with us, we also do not wish to disrupt the positive learning environment for other students.

Throughout the week, campers earn “stars” for their behavior. Each day, campers earn between 0 and 4 stars based on how well they listen to staff, cooperate with each other, and participate in the day’s activities.
Each day, one camper per group is also awarded a 5th star and is the Camper of the Day for the following day. He or she will be line leader, “it” first in most games, and have a few other special privileges. The Camper of the Day is the camper that did the most excellent job listening, following directions, or helping their fellow campers throughout the day.
On Friday, campers will have the opportunity to “spend their stars” at the Animal Encounter Stations. Staff will create a list of which animals campers want to feed based on the number of stars they have available to spend. We then spend most of Friday morning at the Animal Encounter Stations. Stations are weather dependent.

If my child attends camp for multiple weeks, will they get bored?

Not at all! Each week of camp incorporates a unique theme with its own demonstrations, crafts, games, and activities. However, all of our Safari Camps incorporate Park tours and animal visitors from the Education Department, and repeat campers will most likely see the same exhibits or meet the same animals over multiple weeks. Each week will emphasize different information about each animal, both due to the weekly camp theme and to help repeat campers remain engaged. Additionally, some camp activities (such as games and very occasionally some crafts) may be repeated throughout the course of the summer.

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to contact our Education Department (316-794-8954 ext 204 or edu@twpark.com) with any other questions or concerns that you may have!

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