Summer Camp FAQs

Lunch and an afternoon snack are provided daily for all campers. We will provide a daily menu at least one week before camp starts. There will be no substitutions available. If your child cannot or will not eat the provided food, please pack food for them that does not need to be heated but can be refrigerated. Food must be contained and clearly labeled with camper name.

Each week-long camp includes field trips to other Fair Park Partners, like the Dallas Children's Aquarium.

Each day will include mindfulness activities like breathing exercises and stretching. We will incorporate mindfulness into everyday activities like eating, walking, listening, and interacting with others.

Example schedule:

8-9:20am              Pre-care activities- Free play: color/draw/read
9:20-9:30am        Check-in
9:30-10am            Circle Time: Camper intro and feelings check
10-11am                 Camp specific activities
11-11:45am            Free play at the Natural Playscape
11:45am-12:15pm Lunch
12:15-2:45pm       Camp specific activities and/or Field trip to Fair Park Partner
2:45-3pm              Snack
3-3:30pm              Clean Up and Wind Down
3:30-3:40pm        Pick up
3:40-5:30pm        After care activities- Free play: color/draw/read

• Pre-care drop off starts at 8am for an additional $30 per week
• Post-care pick up is until 5:30pm for an additional $40 per week. Please pick up campers promptly by 5:30pm due to facility closing.

What to wear to camp:

• All programs take place rain or shine. Most programming will take place outside, so please dress campers accordingly. Please wear closed-toed shoes since we will be walking around quite a bit.
• Wear clothes that campers can get dirty both outside in the dirt and mud and with craft materials.

What to bring to camp:

• A re-usable water bottle with the camper's name clearly labeled on it. Although not necessary, we recommend one that is insulated so that their water stays colder longer while outside. Adding some ice in the morning helps.
• Apply bug spray and sunscreen before camp if you choose to do so. Pack bug spray and sunscreen if your child can apply it themselves in the afternoons.
• A jacket if your child gets even a little bit cold. Some activities may take place indoors with air conditioning.
• A change of clothes. Just in case. Accidents happen sometimes.
  A bag clearly labeled with your camper's name to contain things they've brought with
  them.
• No personal items will be left at TDG overnight. Everything goes home with them at the end of the day.

What not to bring to camp:

• No unnecessary electronics. If your child needs a phone, please put any phones on silent during camp. Phones and other electronics will be stowed away during camp hours.
• Do not bring anything irreplaceable. TDG cannot be responsible for damage to or loss of items.
• No animals.
• No weapons of any kind.

Please call the Education Director at 214-428-7476 x270 during camp hours. If you do not get an immediate answer, please leave a voicemail as they may be in the middle of a camp activity where they are unable to answer the phone. They will call back as soon as possible. 

In an extreme emergency, please contact the Front Desk at 214-428-7476.

Ages are camper's age at the time of camp. No age exceptions. Activities are developmentally age appropriate.

We record attendance each day, so please call or email as soon as you know if your child will not be attending camp because of illness or other reasons.

Be on time: We expect campers to arrive by 9:30 daily. If your child is dropped off late, not only do they miss parts of camp, but a staff member then must coordinate to be away from camp to receive your child, and we are not always on TDGs grounds in the event of visiting a Fair Park Partner. If you know you will be late or need to pick your child up early, please give us as much warning as possible so we can coordinate staff to keep the camper-to-student ratios appropriate. If we are not on TDGs grounds, you may have to wait until we are back on grounds to drop off or pick up your child.

Behavior expectations: Campers are expected to follow staff instructions, respect one another, and respect TDG property at all times. Violence is not tolerated at camp, and intentionally hurting another person on-site will result in automatic dismissal from camp without a refund. Other forms of disruptive behavior will be handled on a case by case basis. TDG reserves the right to contact parents directly or dismiss a camper from the program if offenses are observed as appropriate.

After enrolling and before camp begins, you will receive an informational email about pick-up, drop-off, and parking information.

All participants must be completely toilet trained. This means requiring no assistance in the restroom and being fully able to manage their clothing in the restroom. If your child is still wearing pull-up style diapers, they are not completely toilet trained.

Health and special illness: Please keep children home if they have a fever of 99.9°F or more, skin rash, and/or discharge from the eyes, ears, nose, or any other visible signs of illness. Children may return to camp after they have been free of fever for 3 days, free of other symptoms for 24 hours, and/or have been to the doctor and the doctor has cleared the child to return. If you have visited the doctor, please bring a note from the doctor stating that your child is cleared to come back to camp. If an issue arises we will do our best to reschedule days as appropriate if possible. In the end, there are no refunds.

Camps will have no fewer than 5 campers and no more than 20 campers. We will maintain at least a 10-to-1 camper to counselor ratio. Campers will be supervised at all times during camps.

If the camp you want is sold out, please email [email protected] to reserve a spot on the waitlist. We will not take anyone's waitlist information over the phone, as we need the emailed timestamp to know when each person signed up for the list.

Include the following information with CAMP WAITLIST as the email subject:

• Your name
• Your phone number
• Which camp date you are interested in

Camp fee is due at least two weeks before first day of camp. You are not fully enrolled in camp until the fee is paid. Camps are contingent upon a minimum of 5 children per session. Texas Discovery Gardens reserves the right to cancel a camp at any time up until one week prior to the start of the camp. All camp sales are final. No refunds will be issued for any reason after camp has begun, unless camp is cancelled by TDG. TDG vouchers for other programs or events may be issued on a case by case basis. TDG reserves the right to cancel or change any program for reasons we deem appropriate. In the event that we cancel your program, a full refund will be issued and individuals will be contacted directly.

While my child is participating in Texas Discovery Garden Camp, I agree to assume full responsibility for such participation and release Texas Discovery Gardens from liability for any and all personal injuries and/or property damage or loss which I, or my child, may sustain thereby. In the event of an emergency, I give my permission for the staff and/or volunteers of Texas Discovery Gardens to obtain emergency medical treatment for my child. I understand that, if necessary, my child will be transported by ambulance to the nearest emergency medical facility. I agree that any cost incurred for any transportation and/or treatment will be my responsibility. I give my permission to TDG staff to provide my child minor first aid treatment should the need arise until I can be notified and/or other higher level medical care is available.