Frequently Asked Questions
How will Coronavirus (COVID-19) affect WhizKids camp?
Although we are hopeful and optimistic that the Coronavirus pandemic will resolve itself by the summer, we have decided to cancel our WhizKids summer camps at all locations for Summer 2020. Because of the rapidly changing conditions, organizing and advertising our camps has become too uncertain, difficult, and potentially costly for our small, local business for this summer. We are so grateful to our loyal campers and their families, many whom we consider to be like family. We offer our sincerest apologies to those who were anticipating WhizKids camp. We look forward to seeing you all Summer 2021!
Is registration based on the grade my child has completed or is going into?
Grade completed. So, for example, if a course is for "Grades 3-6" it would be for kids who are completing 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grades this year. That being said, if you have a child who is not in the specified grades and misses it by a year, you can email our office and we can make accommodations as needed for kids who are have the maturity to handle the subject matter.
What is the difference in the whole-day and half-day?
SAME
Do whole-day participants do more of the unit in the afternoon?
YES! This is one thing that differentiates us from a lot of enrichment camps. We provide a unit-immersive experience. This works particularly well for kids who love to "focus in" on a topic. Whole-day and half-day participants will do the same activities related to their topic in the mornings, and then the whole-day participants will continue learning about their topic in the afternoon as well. Sometimes, they will do extra activities related to the topic. At times, they have some less structured activities related to the topic (especially for our younger kids who need a little "brain rest" in the afternoon.). Additionally, they will create items for their Parent Presentation during this time since the half-day participants aren't there. We frequently have kids who are half-day participants BEG their parents to stay whole day once they get there and see the extra activities the whole-day participants are getting to do. We try to accommodate these requests if we have space.
Are all camps offered as whole-day and half-day?
All camps are offered as whole-day or half-day camps EXCEPT FOR Robot Olympics. Robot Olympics is only offered as a whole-day camp. Students will be rotating among a variety of robots throughout the day, and the whole-day camp will allow participants to use all of the robots available.
Do you offer recess?
Yes, we do. We have a morning break for snack and recess that lasts about 30 minutes, a mid-day break (for whole-day participants) for lunch and recess that lasts about an hour, and another afternoon break for snack and recess that lasts about 30 minutes. At all of our locations we have space for indoor recess and outdoor recess. Since it is HOT in Mississippi in the summer (can I get an amen!?!), we tend to do our morning recess outside, but the others inside. We offer both active (soccer, kickball, jump rope, etc.) and passive (checkers, pick up sticks, reading, sidewalk chalk, drawing) recess options.
What is done in Before-Care and After-Care?
We offer options that allow kids to relate, create, and evaluate. We want them to have an opportunity to learn how to play a new game, talk and work together, and be engaged, even during our Before and After Care.
We also offer a kid-favorite: The Take-a-Party! Electronics will be available for kids to disassemble. We will collect the parts as they are taken apart. Parts will then be used by participants to create something new!
We also have other building materials (Legos, Zoob, Magna-Tiles, etc.), brain puzzles (Rubix cubes, Tangrams, Pentaminos, etc.) as well as a variety of games (Clue, Suspend, Hedbanz, Checkers, Chess, etc).
FYI: We frequently hear parents say, "My kid wanted me to bring them earlier so they could have time to play the game," or "My child said for me not to pick them up until later because they wanted to stay and play!" So...I guess they like it!
What Robotics systems do you use?
This year, all K-6th graders will use Dash, Sphero, and Ozobot robotics systems. This variety allows kids to become comfortable coding, programming, and controlling a variety of robots. And, yes, even the Kindergarteners use the robots! They are great programmers!
Do any camps have additional fees?
The only camp that has an additional fee is our robotics camp. It has an additional $20 Robot Fee. This is to cover the extra costs of the robots and compatible devices needed for coding and programming them.
We also occasionally have additional items available for purchase at camp that go with our themes. For example, when we did a "Whizarding World" camp, we had Harry Potter robes available for kids to wear during the week, and then parents had the option to purchase them at the end of camp.
Does my child have to go to the school where the camps are held?
No, they don't. For example, for our camps at Eastside in Clinton, anyone in K-6th grades can attend whether they go to CPSD schools or not. We also have a large homeschool population that attends our camps.
Although we are hopeful and optimistic that the Coronavirus pandemic will resolve itself by the summer, we have decided to cancel our WhizKids summer camps at all locations for Summer 2020. Because of the rapidly changing conditions, organizing and advertising our camps has become too uncertain, difficult, and potentially costly for our small, local business for this summer. We are so grateful to our loyal campers and their families, many whom we consider to be like family. We offer our sincerest apologies to those who were anticipating WhizKids camp. We look forward to seeing you all Summer 2021!
Is registration based on the grade my child has completed or is going into?
Grade completed. So, for example, if a course is for "Grades 3-6" it would be for kids who are completing 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grades this year. That being said, if you have a child who is not in the specified grades and misses it by a year, you can email our office and we can make accommodations as needed for kids who are have the maturity to handle the subject matter.
What is the difference in the whole-day and half-day?
SAME
- Both whole-day and half-day participants can arrive early for the Before Care from 7:30-8:30 at no additional cost.
- Both whole-day and half-day camps start at 8:30.
- Whole-day and half-day participants are in the group together unless numbers dictate otherwise.
- Both whole-day and half-day participants do the same thing in the mornings.
- Both get a t-shirt, morning snack, and have morning recess together.
- The whole-day camps run Monday-FRIDAY. The half-day camps run Monday-THURSDAY.
- The half-day camps end at 11:30. Whole-day camp ends at 3:30, and participants can stay from 3:30-4:30 for After Care at no additional cost.
- Whole-day participants have a Parent Presentation on Friday at 3:00. Half-day participants do not since they are not at camp on Friday.
Do whole-day participants do more of the unit in the afternoon?
YES! This is one thing that differentiates us from a lot of enrichment camps. We provide a unit-immersive experience. This works particularly well for kids who love to "focus in" on a topic. Whole-day and half-day participants will do the same activities related to their topic in the mornings, and then the whole-day participants will continue learning about their topic in the afternoon as well. Sometimes, they will do extra activities related to the topic. At times, they have some less structured activities related to the topic (especially for our younger kids who need a little "brain rest" in the afternoon.). Additionally, they will create items for their Parent Presentation during this time since the half-day participants aren't there. We frequently have kids who are half-day participants BEG their parents to stay whole day once they get there and see the extra activities the whole-day participants are getting to do. We try to accommodate these requests if we have space.
Are all camps offered as whole-day and half-day?
All camps are offered as whole-day or half-day camps EXCEPT FOR Robot Olympics. Robot Olympics is only offered as a whole-day camp. Students will be rotating among a variety of robots throughout the day, and the whole-day camp will allow participants to use all of the robots available.
Do you offer recess?
Yes, we do. We have a morning break for snack and recess that lasts about 30 minutes, a mid-day break (for whole-day participants) for lunch and recess that lasts about an hour, and another afternoon break for snack and recess that lasts about 30 minutes. At all of our locations we have space for indoor recess and outdoor recess. Since it is HOT in Mississippi in the summer (can I get an amen!?!), we tend to do our morning recess outside, but the others inside. We offer both active (soccer, kickball, jump rope, etc.) and passive (checkers, pick up sticks, reading, sidewalk chalk, drawing) recess options.
What is done in Before-Care and After-Care?
We offer options that allow kids to relate, create, and evaluate. We want them to have an opportunity to learn how to play a new game, talk and work together, and be engaged, even during our Before and After Care.
We also offer a kid-favorite: The Take-a-Party! Electronics will be available for kids to disassemble. We will collect the parts as they are taken apart. Parts will then be used by participants to create something new!
We also have other building materials (Legos, Zoob, Magna-Tiles, etc.), brain puzzles (Rubix cubes, Tangrams, Pentaminos, etc.) as well as a variety of games (Clue, Suspend, Hedbanz, Checkers, Chess, etc).
FYI: We frequently hear parents say, "My kid wanted me to bring them earlier so they could have time to play the game," or "My child said for me not to pick them up until later because they wanted to stay and play!" So...I guess they like it!
What Robotics systems do you use?
This year, all K-6th graders will use Dash, Sphero, and Ozobot robotics systems. This variety allows kids to become comfortable coding, programming, and controlling a variety of robots. And, yes, even the Kindergarteners use the robots! They are great programmers!
Do any camps have additional fees?
The only camp that has an additional fee is our robotics camp. It has an additional $20 Robot Fee. This is to cover the extra costs of the robots and compatible devices needed for coding and programming them.
We also occasionally have additional items available for purchase at camp that go with our themes. For example, when we did a "Whizarding World" camp, we had Harry Potter robes available for kids to wear during the week, and then parents had the option to purchase them at the end of camp.
Does my child have to go to the school where the camps are held?
No, they don't. For example, for our camps at Eastside in Clinton, anyone in K-6th grades can attend whether they go to CPSD schools or not. We also have a large homeschool population that attends our camps.
