Nature Adventures at Home FAQs

Classes FAQs

For FAQs on camps, click here.

What do classes cost?

There are different cost schedules for the 8-week class session, depending on the age groups. Please see our offerings at https://camps.sbnature.org for further details. Partial scholarship opportunities are available. Inspire participants may use their funds for the classes. Please request and submit the enrichment certificates as soon as possible.

What is included in the price?

Live, interactive, and engaging Zoom meetings with trained instructors and other students, plus a Class Kit including pertinent materials and supplies. Class Kits will be available for curbside pickup at the Museum starting one week before the class session begins. To avoid waste and keep tuition reasonable, some common supplies will be provided by you (such as markers, scissors, or empty egg cartons); we’ll send you an email listing those prior to each class.

When and how long are the Zoom meetings?

Class is in session each week for a one to two-hour period; depending on which class you enrolled. We will open the class with introductions, expectations, and any housekeeping items. There may be times when we do not need to be Zooming for the whole time, so we’ll do check-ins periodically.

Is my Class Kit safe?

We are taking precautions when assembling our Class Kits. The staff who assemble the kits are equipped with gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer, and work in a large space that ensures proper social distancing. When you receive your kit, please evaluate the contents so you’re aware if any small items may be a choking hazard for your child.

What will my child be doing?

Activities are based on each class theme (read descriptions at camps.sbnature.org). Although instructors and participants will interact via Zoom, hands-on activities will take place in your home and will require some supervision! Our goal is to offer what guidance and support is possible via Zoom, but this is NOT a sit, watch, and listen exercise that will babysit the child.

How familiar with Zoom will my child have to be?

Not very. We will walk you through it and make sure you are comfortable. There may be times where we will discover a new feature together.

We only want to do the audio and not video, can we still participate?

Yes!

How many students will be in each class?

Classes are capped at 15 students, so that instructors can see all of their faces at once and we can provide a high-quality child-to-instructor ratio.

What if I don't have some of the supplies that I’m expected to provide?

We will do our best to get you what you need or suggest substitutes.

What do I need to do to prepare for class?

Download Zoom to your device and provide an appropriate working area for the child.

Prepare the supplies listed in the email we will send you.

Refund Policy

Full refunds are available if any class is cancelled by the Museum. A partial (90%) refund will be offered if 1) the Museum cancels the class, but you have already picked up your Class Kit or 2) you opt out of the class one week prior to the start date regardless of whether the Class Kit is picked up or delivered. If class has not been cancelled and you have picked up your Camp Kit, no refund is available.

Can we bring a friend or sibling to class?

Sure, but each child needs to be registered and have a separate Class Kit. Just as you wouldn’t send an extra child to class unannounced, please don’t ask children to share Class Kits or instructor attention with unregistered children. We can only provide the personalized attention that is our standard if we have an accurate count of registered participants and adequate supplies for all.

How much do I, the child’s guardian, need to be involved?

You are requested to be nearby (within hearing range) to secure your child’s safety. You may be asked to help with cutting pieces, dispensing hot water, or helping with a chemistry experiment, and making sure your child returns from a bathroom break. If your child leaves the meeting and does not return, we will call you on the phone number provided with your registration, as a safety check.

Class Expectations

We expect students to be kind and engaged, and to offer constructive suggestions. Most children have been socialized to understand the positive energy of those qualities. If there is an issue, we may call you to help ease a situation. At the beginning of each class, we will discuss expectations and answer questions about the Zoom format. (So that instructors can issue their first explanations clearly, participants may initially be muted and will need to raise their hands if they want to ask a question.)

Each session is designed as a one to two-hour segment, depending on the age group. We will open the class with introductions, expectations, and any housekeeping items. There may be times (e.g., while your child is coloring a craft project) where we do not need to be Zooming for the whole time, so we’ll do check-ins periodically. If your child needs to step away from our meeting, please ask them to let the instructor know. If they do not return in a reasonable time, we will call you to check in to see that the child is OK.

Recording and Privacy

As is the case with our on-site classes, we will request your permission for us to photograph your child, so we can help future virtual students and their parents know what to expect. You are free to decline. We may also record sessions for evaluative or technical reasons. If you do not want your child to be recorded, we may ask you to “Stop Video” on your end so that your child will not be seen on the screen. You will still be able to see the instructor’s video.

What is the Museum's tax ID number?

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Tax ID number: 95-1643378

Camp FAQs

What do camps cost?

A five-day camp session (morning or afternoon) costs $225 for Members, $250 for non-members. A five-day camp with both morning (9:00 AM–noon) and afternoon (1:00–4:00 PM) sessions costs $450 for Members, $500 for non-members. Scholarship opportunities available: sbpal.org/campership-alliance Inspire participants may use their fund for the camps. Please request and submit the enrichment certificates as soon as possible.

What is included in the price?

Live, interactive, and engaging Zoom meetings with trained instructors and other campers, plus a Camp Kit including materials, supplies, and a camp t-shirt. Camp Kits will be available for curbside pickup at the Museum starting two weeks before the camp session begins (pickup only, no shipping). To avoid waste and keep tuition reasonable, some common supplies will be provided by you (such as markers, scissors, or empty egg cartons); we’ll send you an email listing those.

When and how long are the Zoom meetings?

Camp is in session five days a week (there may be an exception for holidays). You can choose a morning and/or an afternoon session (the material will be different) at the time of registration. Each session is designed as a three-hour segment. We will open the camp with introductions, expectations, and any housekeeping items. There may be times when we do not need to be Zooming for the whole three hours, so we’ll do check-ins at the top of the hour.

Is my Camp Kit safe?

We are taking precautions when assembling our Camp Kits. The staff who assemble the kits are equipped with gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer, and work in a large space that ensures proper social distancing. When you receive your kit, please evaluate the contents so you’re aware if any small items may be a choking hazard for your child.

What will my child be doing?

Activities are based on each camp’s theme (read descriptions at camps.sbnature.org). Although instructors and campers will interact via Zoom, hands-on activities will take place in your home and will require some supervision! Our goal is to offer what guidance and support is possible via Zoom, but this is NOT a sit, watch, and listen exercise that will babysit the child.

How familiar with Zoom will my child have to be?

Not very. We will walk you through it and make sure you are comfortable.

We only want to do the audio and not video, can we still participate?

Yes!

How many campers will be in each camp?

Camps are capped at 15 campers, so that instructors can see all of their faces at once and we can provide a high-quality camper-to-instructor ratio.

What if I don't have some of the supplies that I’m expected to provide?

We will do our best to get you what you need or suggest substitutes.

What do I need to do to prepare for camp?

Download Zoom to your device and provide an appropriate working area for the camper.

Prepare the supplies listed in the email we will send you.

Refund Policy

Full refunds are available if the camp is cancelled two weeks before the start date or if the Museum cancels camp, and you have not picked up your Camp Kit. A partial refund will be offered if the Museum cancels the camp, but you have already picked up your Camp Kit. If camp has not been cancelled and you have picked up your Camp Kit, no refund is available.

Can we bring a friend or sibling to camp?

Sure, but each camper needs to be registered and have a separate Camp Kit. Just as you wouldn’t send an extra child to camp unannounced, please don’t ask campers to share Camp Kits or instructor attention with unregistered children. We can only provide the personalized attention that is our standard if we have an accurate count of registered campers and adequate supplies for all.

How much do I, the camper’s guardian, need to be involved?

You are requested to be nearby (within hearing range) to secure your child’s safety. You may be asked to help with cutting pieces, dispensing hot water or helping with a chemistry experiment, and making sure your child returns from a bathroom break. If your child leaves the meeting and does not return, we will call you on the phone number provided with your registration, as a safety check.

Camp Expectations

We expect campers to be kind and engaged, and to offer constructive suggestions. Most children have been socialized to understand the positive energy of those qualities. If there is an issue, we may call you to help ease a situation. At the beginning of each camp, we will discuss expectations and answer questions about the Zoom format. (So instructors can issue their first explanations clearly, campers may initially be muted and will need to raise their hands if they want to ask a question.)

We ask that campers wear their camp t-shirts (provided in your Camp Kit). Wearing a special outfit gives the campers a sense of being part of camp! Instructors will wear their camp shirts or relevant costumes to add to the special feeling of being part of a team focused on learning about the camp theme.

Each session is designed as a three-hour segment. We will open the camp with introductions, expectations, and any housekeeping items. There may be times (e.g., while your child is coloring a craft project) where we do not need to be Zooming for the whole three hours, so we’ll do check-ins at the top of the hour. If your child needs to step away from our meeting, please ask them to let the instructor know. If they do not return in a reasonable time, we will call you to check in to see that the child is OK.

Recording and Privacy

As is the case with our on-site camps, we will request your permission for us to photograph your child, so we can help future virtual campers and their parents know what to expect. You are free to decline. We may also record sessions for evaluative or technical reasons. If you do not want your child to be recorded, we may ask you to “Stop Video” on your end so that your child will not be seen on the screen. You will still be able to see the instructor’s video.

What is the Museum's tax ID number?

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Tax ID number: 95-1643378