2023 Summer Updates

 

COVID Protocols & Classroom Space

• • • We encourage all students to be COVID vaccinated.
    • All Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific staff are fully vaccinated.
    • Masks are currently NOT required for staff and students. However, we reserve the right to institute masks to be worn in class or to require COVID antigen testing prior to attending camps in the event of an upsurge in COVID  either in camps or in the SB Community.
    • We will take all precautions necessary to protect students and instructors based on our own assessment of local infection rates as well as Public Health guidelines .
    • Classroom doors and window will be kept open for air circulation.
    • Outdoor activities are regularly carried out at recess and lunch time.
    • Students will use hand sanitizer or wash their hands throughout the day.
    • PPE will consist of EPA approved alcohol disinfectant wipes, sprays, and hand sanitizer gels, to be used for cleaning equipment/materials.
    • Bathroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily.

 

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

• • • DROP-OFF of your child takes place in the SCHOOL parking lot. There will be signs and counselors to direct you. Drop off is between 8:20-8:55.  Families must use the car drop-off line to maximize the efficiency of drop off and pick-up. A counselor will be there to assist your child out of the car and escort campers to our check-in desk and morning group activities. We encourage you to carpool with other families to cut down on the amount of car traffic. EXCEPTIONS are for special needs children or if walking or biking to camp.
    • Drivers, please stay in your car. Once our staff gets your child or children out of the car, watch carefully for our staff to wave you forward to exit. We have 2 car lines, so be very alert and patient as the safety of every child is paramount.
    • Please be on time so that the the Camp Day starts on time at 9am.
    • No one is permitted with a temperature of 100 degrees or COVID related symptoms. If your child has allergies, ensure they take their allergy medication to prevent sneezing and coughing.
    • PICK-UP of your child will be in the same location at the end of your child’s camp day. K-3 camps are dismissed at 3:20 and Grades 4-8 are dismissed at 3:30. Families must use the car line to maximize the efficiency of pick-up. A counselor will be there to assist your child into the car. If you are carpooling and/or have children with different ending times, please pick up at 3:30pm.
    • If your child’s pick up is at 3:30, please do NOT arrive at 3:15, as that will block traffic. We will ask you to exit and come back at the designated time.
    • Aftercare is available from 3:20-5:00. Please sign up at the time you register for camp.
    • Campers not picked up on time will go to Aftercare and a late fee will be charged.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing your child in our programs!

Onolee Zwicke, Exec. Director/Owner

 

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2022 FALL AFTER SCHOOL STEAM Classes 

Held at Art Explorers Studio, 5330 Debbie Rd. Suite 100, SB.

 

Click on the REGISTER button to see class/camp descriptions, time, date, and price that are offered and to enroll in classes.

 

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

• • • DROP-OFF of your child takes place BEHIND our building in the parking lot. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of class. The instructor will be there to assist your child out of the car and escort campers into our warehouse classroom once all have arrived. No one is permitted with a temperature of 100 degrees or COVID related symptoms. If your child has allergies, ensure they take their allergy medication to prevent sneezing and coughing.
    • Due to our COVID restrictions, parents are NOT allowed in our classroom space.
    • PICK-UP of your child will be in the same parking lot at the end of your child’s class.
    • Please arrive on time for both drop off and pick up.

COVID Protocols and Classroom Space

• • • Our classroom space is a large warehouse. Inside, we have a Pop-Up Tent (Canopy) with lights, set up to make it a fun and funky environment for kids. The warehouse door is kept open, high ceiling fans are on, and an air filter is running for ventilation and air purification.
    • Masks are currently NOT required for staff and students. However, we reserve the option to institute masks to be worn in class or to require antigen testing prior to attending classes in the event of an upsurge in COVID. We will take all precautions necessary to protect students and instructors based on Public Health and CDC guidelines as well as our own assessment of local infection rates.
    • We encourage all students to be COVID vaccinated.
    • All Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific staff are fully vaccinated.
    • Students will use hand sanitizer or wash their hands upon arriving in the classroom.
    • PPE will consist of EPA approved alcohol disinfectant wipes, sprays, and hand sanitizer gels, to be used for cleaning equipment/materials.
    • Flat surfaces, computers, equipment, door handles, sink handles, light switches will be wiped down with disinfectants at the end of the day.
    • Bathroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily.
    • Since there is only one class occurring at a time, there is no crossover of students.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing your child in our programs!

Onolee Zwicke, Exec. Director/Owner

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September 16, 2020
Dear Families,

This fall, we are offering POP-UP Camps at our studio location, 5330 Debbie Rd. All COVID safety protocols are in place and remain the same as summer camps. Please click on the REGISTER button to see the program offerings. If you are interested in hosting a POD group of families for Art or Robotics in your neighborhood, please email or call to request information on the process. 

Thank you!
Onolee Zwicke, Director

July 21, 2020
Dear Parents,

Thank you for your wonderful partnership this summer in making camps happen for your children. I feel so gratified to see happy kids leaving camp at the end of their session each day. New friends, old friends, just being in the presence of other kids is invigorating for them. Even the wearing of masks is a non-issue for most campers and if there is a challenge, it is because the mask is not properly fitted to their face. Please make sure your child’s mask is tight enough to stay on and cover their mouth and nose. Chose masks that are cool and fun to wear!

With the recent news that K-12 schools in SB County are unable to open for direct on-site classes this fall, I wanted to convey that I continue to communicate directly with SB Public Health Officer, Henning Ansorg, M.D. There are NO closures of day camps and the July 17, 2020 Interim Guidelines for Camps (see link) reiterate the same safety protocols as well as specific procedures for handling a case of COVID if it were to arise. https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-daycamps.pdf  The Public Health directives continue to state social distancing, size of groups, mask wearing, hand washing, and disinfecting as the critical factors of reducing risk, as well as isolation of anyone who has come in contact with a person who has/had COVID.

In this partnership, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific meets all protocols on a daily basis to disinfect our camps, keep your children and our staff safe. We do that with staggered drop off and pick up, separate classrooms and outside areas for each camp, no crossover of camps, mask wearing and 6’ distance between kids in the classroom, sanitizing high touch areas and spraying each classroom with a fogger that uses atomized cold sterilant Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI nontoxic and EPA approved), to decontaminate surfaces and destroy pathogens at the end of the day. Our staff make camp safety a priority by carefully limiting what we do outside of camp, such as grocery shopping, NO social gatherings, always wearing a mask, and keeping our home bubble very small.

As a parent, your part of the partnership is to ensure you follow the guidelines we provide in our Parent Checklist, that you keep your child home if there is any possibility of a cough, fever, vomiting, sneezing, headache (non-allergy related) or contact with anyone with possible COVID symptoms or who has/ had COVID. We know from all the data around COVID that it is ADULTS who are spreading the virus, not kids at this point.  Please keep your social bubble at home very small and limit carefully where YOU go...with your MASK ON. Staying safe at home and limiting your exposure helps to ensure that kids in camp will not get exposed. At this point in time, if your work environment is such that you have contact with a lot of sick people or interact with large numbers of people you don’t know, then please cancel your camp with us. I am happy to provide you with Camp CREDIT.

We have passed the half-way mark for camp season! All camps are full, and we will not be adding any more campers. Together, we can ensure a safe, grand finale to camp season!

Stay well, stay safe!
Onolee Zwicke, Director

 

July 8th
Dear Families

As the COVID numbers in Santa Barbara county increase, some families are deciding to cancel camps with us. I understand and respect your decision.

However, I would like to reiterate what we do on a daily basis to disinfect our camps, keep your children safe, and the ongoing email communication that I have with the SB Public Health Officer, Henning Ansorg , M.D . This week I asked Dr. Ansorg about his view of our camps and the increase of COVID in Santa Barbara County. His response is that social distancing, size of groups, mask wearing, hand washing, and disinfecting are the critical factors, as well as isolation of anyone who has come in contact with a person who has COVID. Our camps do all of these things and have been approved by County. I have provided a detailed plan to Public Health as well as to each of you.

While I made a commitment to families that we would provide summer camps, you also made a commitment of trust and money to send your child to our camps.  At this point in our process, unless SB County or CA State shuts down or there is a COVID case, we will continue to run our camps following all protocols. As a parent, you always have the choice to send or not send your child. However, I cannot provide refunds to anyone who has registered for camps if you cancel now. I have committed scarce resources to staffing, materials, equipment, and facility payment for the use of Providence school. Your child has a committed space in our camps, therefore whether your child is in camp or not, we still have those expenses. Business is NOT booming folks! I am still struggling to survive with 1/5^th the amount of camp registrations and income from previous years, hold onto my staff and make camps happen; and unfortunately I have not been able to pay my office rent for 2 months.  While hopeful, I still have not received any decision from the SBA Disaster Relief Loan application that I resubmitted May 19th, it just keeps dragging on and on.

Going forward…for registered campers a minimum of a week’s cancellation notice is required in order to receive a credit to your ACTIVE account. If a camp is cancelled in less than a week, then the full charge for camp may be made.  If you need to change weeks and there is sufficient room in another camp, campers may transfer without charge. If your child is sick, prior to camp or during camp, your account will be credited for that week or transferred to a different week. Campers with any kind of cold symptoms cannot be in camp. If your child has seasonal allergies, be sure they are taking allergy medication so they are not sneezing or coughing.  In the event the state or county returns to a shutdown order or there is a COVID case, ACTIVE credit will be given to all families for their remaining camps. ACTIVE credit does not expire and can be used for any of our programs.

We ALL HAVE to be in this together in order to ensure we can offer camps and classes for your kids and the SB community of children in the coming years.

Thank you!
Onolee Zwicke, Director

Camp safety protocols we have in place daily.

• • • Limit our half-day camps to a total of 4 at Providence on staggered drop off and pick up times. A max of 8-12 children are in each camp, socially distanced.
    • Camp groups NEVER mix or interact with other groups.
    • Desks and tables are fixed so that campers are 6ft apart
    • Two doors are open in every classroom for ventilation and each classroom has their own outside area for snack and break.
    • Masks are required of children and staff, with a few mask breaks during a quiet/no talk time.
    • High touch surfaces including door handles, light switches, laptops, tables, desks, and bathrooms are wiped down through-out the camp time period with disinfectant wipes.
    • Kids wash hands or use hand sanitizer several times a camp period and upon entry and leaving of camp.
    • Custodians disinfect the bathrooms daily.
    • We use a fogger to spray HOIC in every classroom, at the end of every camp day. HOIC (Hypochlorous acid) is EPA approved, 100% safe as it is made from atomized salt and vinegar, kills 99.9% germs, viruses, bacteria including COVID. Think swimming pool with chlorine!

Parent protocols that need to be in place:

• • • Check your child’s temperature every day before sending to camp.
    • Keep your personal bubble SMALL with family and limit contact with friends. Remember friends have other friends, who have more friends and then partners and spouses with whom you cannot track their interactions.
    • Be very careful about your hairdresser, shopping, social gatherings and other non-essential contact.
    • WEAR MASKS outside of your home.
    • isolate immediately if you or family members have any symptoms of COVID and contact your doctor for testing.
    • Ensure that ANY camp you choose follows social distancing, mask wearing, sanitizing and hand washing procedures.
    • LIMIT where you and your kids go this summer.
    • If you travel by airplane or go on vacation out of our community, on return give yourself time at home to ensure you did not contact the virus and bring it back with you.

ADULTS socializing/working with many others outside of their family, lack of mask wearing, social distancing, sanitizing are the high-risk factors for COVID. Be safe this summer!

July 1st
Dear Families

We opened camp this week on June 29th! Our campers were amazing and so were ALL the families in following our strict COVID Protocols. We have 4 camps per week on a staggered drop off and pick up schedule. Camps have filled quickly. Here is what is left:

Grades 1-3 See descriptions on this page: https://terrificscientific.org/camp-grade-1-3/

• • • July 6-10 – Minecraft Adventures (2 spaces remain) 10am-2pm
    • July 20-24 – Minecraft Adventures (3 spaces remain) 1:30-5:30pm
    • July 27-31 – Young Robot Builder (6 spaces remain) 8:30am-12:30pm

Grades 3-6 See descriptions on this page: https://terrificscientific.org/camp-grades-4-6/

• • • July 20-24 Minecraft Supreme (3 spaces remain) 1:30-5:30pm
    • July 27-31 Minecraft Supreme (3 spaces remain) 9am-1pm
    • July 27-31 – Art Expedition (1 space) 1:30-5:30pm
    • August 3-7 Minecraft MODDING (3 spaces remain) 9am-1pm

Grades 4-8 See descriptions on this page: https://terrificscientific.org/teens-camp-grades-6-8/

• • • July 13-17 – Couturier: Artist or Engineer? (2 spaces remain) Kids sew a Baby Yoda! 10am-2pm
    • July 20-24 – RPG – The Ultimate role playing game, create your own world and play the game! (5 spaces remain) 10am-2pm
    • July 27-31 – Programming with Python & Java Script (2 spaces remain) 8:30am-12:30pm
    • August 3-7 – Manga Maker Comics (3 spaces remain) 8:30am-12:30pm

Thank you for your support!
Onolee Zwicke, Director

June 12th 
Dear Families…Great News!

 

June 9th
Dear Families;
We will be removing some Mini-Camps that did not fill and substituting others.  I will send out an email to the currently enrolled families FIRST about the new options and when they open.  Art Potpourri, Extreme Art will both run a second time.
 REMEMBER: Please get on the waitlist, even if a camp you want is full. That is the only way for me to know we need additional spaces or another camp time.

Below are some commonly asked questions:

My child wanted Secret Agent or Young Scientist or other science options …why are there no Science Camps? Unfortunately, we cannot run those as they are highly interactive and do not allow us to keep the social distancing requirement between campers.  We will miss offering those as well.

Do you need SB County Public Health approval to operate camps? Yes, we are required to provide an attestation form to the county to operate summer camps when they open Phase 3. I am in direct communication with a county official who says it should be this week (June 8-12). Keep your fingers crossed!!

Why are you advertising camps if you do not have Public Health approval? So that we and our families can make plans and be ready to start the week of June 29^th.

Why is my original payment for camps now in ACTIVE credit? The funds you paid originally for camps were moved into ACTIVE credit so that you had access to use them to register for Mini-Camps, Camps in a Box or afterschool classes this year. There is no expiration so you may use those funds next summer and beyond.

Why are we being asked to leave our funds in ACTIVE credit until next year? This is a very financially difficult time for Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific. Families that can use the credit this summer or leave for the future are helping us stay in business for kids next summer and future summers. Like all small businesses, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific has been severely impacted. During the past 4 months, we purchased camp materials and supplies, paid rent, expenses and payroll, and worked toward having a regular camp season. However, as COVID hit and registrations for camp came to a halt, so did our income. We then turned our business attention to generating camp options that could work in this current health environment. If you are financially unable to leave a credit, please notify me and I will put you into the queue for a refund.

Will I ever get a refund to my credit card? YES. However, there will be a delay. I have been refunding families since April 1^st as I can afford to do so. When you notify me that you want a refund, then I put you into the queue or wait list of families. The wait time can be up to 8 weeks.

Why does it take that long to get a refund?
I currently do not have the money to refund everyone at the same time, which is significant since there were 360 registrations as of March 15th. I applied for the SBA Federal Disaster Loan to assist me in refunding families and staying in business. Unfortunately, I am STILL WAITING for that loan to come through. All of our families have hard earned money invested with us: from $300 for a single registration to $4,000 for multiple registrations and everyone is having to wait their turn. Communications regarding our status and struggle have been sent in previous emails, all posted on https://terrificscientific.org/summer-camps-coronavirus-update/

My child is aging out of your camps or will be gone next summer, can I get my money back? Yes, please notify me and I will put you in the queue to receive a refund.

More communications to come!
Onolee Zwice, Director

June 7th Dear Families, One more set of SHOUT OUTS!  If you missed seeing this list in the Independent, here is one more set of SHOUT OUTS that I would like to do for our Black Owned Businesses in Santa Barbara.  From bakeries, restaurants, hair and nails, vets, pet sitters and groomers, dentists, printers, plumbers, electricians, mechanics,  tailors, cleaners,  locksmith TO clothing, toys, music, dance, art and exercise classes, books, galleries, and seed and feed, we have an amazing set of locally businesses in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Montecito! Thank you for participating and let’s give all these folks our business! Onolee Zwicke, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific

• Smart College Admission  www.SmartCollegeAdmission.com • Heath Montogmery, DMD Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, www.drmontgomerydental.com • Positively Electrical (local electrician) www.positivelyelectrical.com • PIP PRINTING MARKETING & SIGNS • Santa Barbara Pet Sitters www.SBPetSitters.com • Tony Becerra’s Koei-Kan Karate Kids and Adults (classes online now- Open Phase 3) • Santa Barbara Pet Sitters www.SBPetSitters.com • Dos Carlitos Restaurant & Tequila Bar in Santa Ynez • Cava Restaurant & Bar in Montecito • Anna’s Bakery • Draughtsman Aleworks (Goleta) • Peanuts Maternity & Kids • ESP Locksmith • Arigato Sushi • Ca’Dario Ristorante Italiana • Old Town Coffee (Goleta) • The Habit Burger Grill • Hair Therapy (ask for Chelsea) • Iron Horse Auto Body • Star Cycle (Kayla & Dani are amazing) • Yellow Bird Music) www.yellowbirdmusic.com • Scarlett Begonia (restaurant downtown SB) • Lilac Patisserie (all gluten free bakery & eatery, downtown SB) • Paseo Pilates (downtown SB —currently offering virtual classes) • Best Nails (when they can open, ask for Linda). • Chicken Little (Children’s store in downtown SB) • Broken Clock Vinegar Works (Solvang- artisan vinegars) www.brokenclockvinegarworks.com • Metropolis Fine Foods & Deli (Located in funk zone) • The Closet Trading Co, a women’s designer resale boutique) • VALHALLA MMA & Kickboxing: Kids’ Martial Arts Gym in Santa Barbara (Phase 3 opening) • Skin Deep (skin and hair care products) • Via Maestra 42 (restaurant) • Trimnasium (dog grooming) • Jeannine’s Goodland (in Goleta) • Chaucer’s Books • Crushcakes • Lena’s Pilates (when she can open again) • Shear Artistry (when they open, ask for Julie K.) • Lane Farm Produce Stand • Island Seed & Feed • LaCumbre Feed

June 4th
Dear Families:
Our Mini-Camps are now open! https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ArtExplorersTerrificScientific?season=2838902

Please remember you can only register the same child for one camp per week in order to meet our COVID social distancing guidelines. Multiple registrations for the same week will be removed. Camps are 4 hours in length and have staggered start and end times 8:30-12:30; 9:00am-1:00pm; 10:00am-2:00pm; or 1:30-5:30. Further guidelines will be provided to families. I am cancelling current full day camps for families and putting their payment into ACTIVE credit. From there you can use the credit to register for Mini-Camps.

Keep in mind, our camps are still subject to SB Public Health approval.  Since we have not entered Phase 3, We MUST OBTAIN approval by meeting the State and County guidelines when they are published for Summer Camps.  However, in order for our camps to be ready to open once approval is obtained, registration is moving forward. I will communicate the decision once I have it. Remember NO camp or school in Santa Barbara is currently authorized to open, only licensed childcare.

I recognize that the options provided to families are not perfect if you have more than one child to register and deal with drop off and pick up. However, in selecting camps to offer, we chose those that were not only most popular, creative and fun, but ones that provided us the best means of de-sanitizing for COVID -19. We are also offering some new coding camps for older campers. The majority of camps are for Grades 1-8.  We have limited entering Kindergarten campers to only 2 weeks of art camps. Our goal with Mini-Camps is to give as many families as possible the opportunity for their child to have a modified camp experience this summer.

Camps in a Box is our next project. We expect to have those available by August. More Communication will be coming!

Look forward to seeing you soon!
Onolee Zwicke

May 25, 2020
Dear Families,

I am sending best wishes and good thoughts to all moms, dads, grandparents out there trying to figure out what is the best decision for their child and family this summer. Having both my daughters at home from college since spring break has been my bright side of this COVID-19 crisis. My family is in good health and I hope that yours is too. While this Memorial Day weekend is the Phase 2 re-opening of restaurants and some businesses in Santa Barbara, please be careful and wear your masks. Although Santa Barbara has fairly low COVID-19 infection numbers, that in itself is a worry. Most of us have no immunity.

I was thinking I would like to do something to support other small locally owned businesses who like me are struggling to survive. Some of you have emailed me that either you have lost your business, or you are fighting to survive as well. Since my ACTIVE database of families reaches about 2500 people, I would like to start a shout-out to support our locally owned businesses in Santa Barbara & Goleta. The ones below are some of my favorites. Please email me the names of businesses (including your own) that you would like our families to support and I will send it out to everyone. This is a way that we can “all be in this together” and support each other.

 All of these below are local family owned or woman owned businesses…give them your business!

• • • Skin Deep (skin and hair care products)
    • Via Maestro 42 (restaurant)
    • Trimnasium (dog grooming)
    • Jeannine’s Goodland (in Goleta)
    • Chaucer’s Books
    • Crushcakes
    • Lena’s Pilates (when she can open again)
    • Shear Artistry (when they open, ask for Julie K.)
    • Lane Farm Produce Stand
    • Island Seed & Feed
    • LaCumbre Feed

SUMMER CAMPS in whatever form is mandated will be part of the Santa Barbara Phase 3 re-opening. While I have held onto optimism for our summer camps returning in full glory, I have come to the agonizing decision we cannot safely run them in their current format with large numbers of campers intermingling with each other.

In reading the RISE guide for SB County, reviewing the websites for businesses, https://recoverysbc.org/reopen-your-business/ and ReadySBC.org, State and CDC guidelines, as well as engaging in discussions with other camp directors and school officials, we have created a modified and re-imagined summer camp program that we can safely operate, be fun for your child, and be of service to our families. Parents must also decide whether they are comfortable with their child attending in-person programs or whether that child or someone in your family has an underlying condition and therefore should not be at camp.

Our Summer Camp Modifications are these 3 options:

• • 1. Half-day versions of our most popular camps, with staggered start and end times, and limited to 3 well ventilated classrooms at Providence School and a max of 10 campers per class. Each classroom will have an outside door that can be left open for fresh air. Staggered times to be: 9am-12noon; 10am-1pm, and 1:30-4:30pm. This option MUST be approved by SB Public Health. An attestation form will be completed specifying the safety protocols and plan for our program. Once approved, then I can post it for families to see. You should ask to see the Public Health attestation approval if your child is going to any camp this summer.
    2. Camp in a Box. These will take much more time to determine topics, put them together, videotape our instructors and make the kits available to families. They will be an option later this summer as well as during the upcoming school year. Given the unknowns as to how schools will operate in the fall, we believe these programs could provide support to reduced class time for children.
    3. Individual tutoring. We recognize that many children could benefit from reading or math tutoring either in-person or virtually. Some families have asked about coding/programming tutoring. We have certificated teachers available for reading/math, and professionals who can teach coding, art and other options.

Below are the safety protocols that will be in place for half day Mini-Camps. However, there may be others added once our plan is approved by Public Health.

• • • Perform initial assessment of camp classrooms and implement site specific COVID-19 protection plan.   Training of our camp staff will be done according to RISE and CDC guidelines and an attestation form provided to SB Public Health for approval.
    • Parents must monitor the daily health of their family and child who is coming to camp to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
    • Three (3) different half-day camps will run each week with a max of 10 students per camp at Providence School. Staggered times will be: 9am-12noon; 10am-1pm, and 1:30-4:30pm.
    • Campers may only register for one half-day camp per week. We cannot have children register for more than one camp each week as that would violate social distancing of our groups.
    • Campers will NOT intermix with other groups. They will stay in their own group with their instructor for all projects and have a short recess and snack together.
    • Socially distancing markers will be set up within the classrooms to assist campers in staying apart.
    • Instructors will be required to wear masks (Public Health will determine if children wear them).
    • For drop off, parents may drive onto the campus black top, follow the cones and wait for a counselor to come to their car. Everyone must remain in their car. The counselor will open the door for the child, do a temp check, and escort the child from the car to the check-in desk.
    • Parents will be asked daily to respond to questions asking about contact with others who have been ill.
    • Parents should wash their hands and ensure children wash their hands prior to dropping off for camp.
    • At the check-in desk, every child will use hand sanitizer and be walked to their classroom.
    • At dismissal for each group, parents may drive their cars onto the blacktop, follow the cones and wait for your child to be brought to the car. Campers will use hand sanitizer prior to leaving camp.
    • PPE will consist of EPA approved disinfectants, hand sanitizers, foggers, ultraviolet which will be used on equipment/materials and in all classroom spaces. Flat surfaces, door handles, light switches will be wiped down with disinfectants as required by CDC.
    • Campers will be escorted to the bathroom at specific times and counselors will ensure hand washing with soap. Disinfectant wipes will be used on bathroom faucets and handles after each use.
    • Supervised hand washing will occur regularly in the classroom.
    • Campers may NOT bring any personal items from home such as backpack, phone, stuffed animal or other objects. They may bring a jacket, water bottle, and a paper bag with snack, and face mask(s). The paper bag will be thrown away each day.
    • All campers/families must abide by specific drop off and pick up times. There is no extended care.
    • Temperatures of all campers and staff will be checked each morning and as needed during the day.
    • No child or staff will be permitted at camp with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, or any symptoms related to COVID-19. A specific list of symptoms will be provided.
    • In the event of a child or staff presenting symptoms of COVID-19 during the camp session, they must be picked up immediately from camp, tested and information reported back to our camp. In the event, the test is positive, all parents will be notified, that classroom shut down and Public Health will determine next steps.

Since this email has only gone out to the families who are currently registered for camp, you will have first choice of the Mini-Camp half-day programs. We anticipate these Mini-Camps will occur In July/Aug. An email will be sent out regarding Mini-Camps registration as soon as we have those set up.

Your current camp funds will be moved into ACTIVE credit. From there you may use them to register for Mini-Camps, Camp in a Box, Tutoring or keep for future credit. As explained in previous emails, there will be no cash refunds at this time due to our current financial situation, only ACTIVE credit. Like all small businesses, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific has been severely impacted. Since January, we have purchased our camp materials and supplies, paid rent and payroll, and worked toward having a regular camp season. As registrations for camp came to a halt, so did our income. In accordance with the COVID-19 Small Business Federal Legislation, we applied in March for funding to enable us to process all refunds and stay in business to provide future classes and camps to our families. We were successful in receiving the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) via the CARES ACT which will pays my employees and rent for 2 months. However, we are still awaiting the results of our application to the EIDL Economic Disaster Relief SBA loan program. Once a loan has been approved, then full refunds will be issued to families as requested. Many of you have already said that you will take a credit for next year and that is deeply appreciated. Any family that does request a cash refund will be put into the queue for reimbursement. Because COVID-19 is both a health and financial crisis, please help us keep our programs alive in Santa Barbara. We want to be here next summer and the summers after to play our role in rebuilding our community and create learning opportunities for children.

Thank you for your patience as we do our best to provide options to our families. Watch for our upcoming email about Mini-Camps this week and email me names of your favorite locally owned small businesses!

Onolee Zwicke, Director
Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific

May 21, 2020
Dear Parents, 

I am still holding out that we may be able to run some form of summer camp. I have a request into SB Public Health at this time to consider a modified summer program. In reviewing the RISE guide for SB County (see attachment) for reopening, the website https://readysbc.org , Phase 2 criteria by Governor Newsom, and the newly released CDC guidelines, we cannot run full day camps in their current format. Most other full day camps have cancelled in Santa Barbara as they cannot run full day either.

Thus, we have decided to modify our camp program to ones that we feel we can safely operate, be fun for your child, and be of service to our families. However, we will need to receive approval to open any in-person program from SB Public Health. We are awaiting a response.

We want to provide 3 options to our families:

1. Half-day versions of our most popular camps, with staggered start and end times, and limited to 3 well ventilated classrooms at Providence School and a max of 10 campers per class. Each classroom will have an outside door that can be left open for fresh air. Staggered times to be: 9am-12noon; 10am-1pm, and 1:30-4:30pm. This option will need County Public Health approval to open.

2. Camp in a Box. These will take much more time to determine topics, put them together, videotape our instructors and make the kits available to families. They will be an option this summer as well as during the upcoming school year. Given the unknowns as to how schools will operate in the fall, we believe these programs could provide support to reduced class time for children.

3. Individual tutoring. We recognize that many children could benefit from reading or math tutoring either in-person or virtually. Some families have asked about coding/programming tutoring. We have certificated teachers available for reading/math, and professionals who can teach coding, art and other options.

Since this email is only going out to the families who are currently registered for camp, you will have first choice of the Mini-Camp half-day programs once they are approved to open.

Your current camp funds will be moved into ACTIVE credit. From there you may use them to register for Mini-Camps, Camp in a Box, Tutoring or keep for future credit.

As explained in previous emails, there will be no cash refunds at this time due to our current financial situation, only ACTIVE credit. Like all small businesses, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific has been severely impacted. Since January, we have purchased our camp materials and supplies, paid rent and payroll, and worked toward having a regular camp season. As registrations for camp came to a halt, so did our income. In accordance with the COVID-19 Small Business Federal Legislation, we applied in March for funding to enable us to process all refunds and stay in business to provide future classes and camps to our families. We were successful in receiving the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) via the CARES ACT which will pay my employees and rent for 2 months. However, we are still awaiting the results of our application to the EIDL Economic Disaster Relief SBA program. Once a loan has been approved, then full refunds will be issued to families as requested. Many of you have already said that you will take a credit for next year and that is deeply appreciated. Any family that does request a cash refund will be put into the queue for reimbursement. Because COVID-19 is both a health and financial crisis, I am asking you to help us keep our programs alive in Santa Barbara. We want to be here next summer and the summers after to play our role in rebuilding our community and create learning opportunities for children. 

Thank you for your patience as we do our best to provide options to our families. 

Onolee Zwicke, Director
Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific

May 3, 2020
Dear Parents,
I am encouraged that Phase II of Governor Newson’s reopening plan includes schools and childcare and that we may reach that phase by early summer. My optimism is to plan for camps in July/August and hope that we might have a few weeks of operation in June. As stated earlier, there will be no cooking camps this summer.

Many parents depend heavily on our camps in order to go back to work or want their children to be able to interact again with other kids in an enriching learning environment, while other parents do not want their child in camp this summer no matter when they open. I understand and respect all of those decisions.

Assuming we will have some weeks of in-person camps this summer, we will abide by strict social distancing regulations, sanitizing protocols, fever testing and group size. In anticipation of what those health guidelines may be, we have reduced some of our summer camp offerings. We will run only 1 of most of our camps and 2 of some of our most popular camps, while limiting the number of children to 10 enrolled in any one camp, in their own classroom, and seated apart. We are structuring new procedures for drop off and pick up, recess and lunch times to limit the number of people in any one area, at any one time. Following all COVID guidelines for the health of your children and our staff will be a new challenge, but one I can assure you will be taken seriously and carried out as stringently as possible.

If you anticipate wanting full day camps in July-Aug, you may want to register now: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ArtExplorersTerrificScientific  

Other Options
As I have asked for your help during these difficult times, I also want to provide as many opportunities to families to meet your needs. The recent survey that I sent out indicates that Zoom and virtual classes are not a big interest. I get it!! Minecraft and Minecraft Modding were the only two Virtual Gaming camps that had significant interest. For Camps in a Box, the highest rated were Art camps, followed by Building Robots, Gadgets and Gizmos, Think Like a Detective and Radical Reactions. While Stop Motion was of great interest, many parents did not want to use Zoom or worried there would be too much help needed from a parent. We now have another option. We can run a Mini-Camp Series of 2-hour classes M-F at our studio location. We moved in December, so we are now in a commercial building with a warehouse (lots of space). Address: 5330 Debbie Rd. Suite 100, directly off Patterson. We could offer art, science and robotics/engineering/gaming/coding programs in a very small group setting of 10 kids max. Two-hour classes each day (M-F for 1 week) would give parents some much needed “sane personal time” and kids the opportunity to be with their peers.

Please click below and take this SHORT survey. Your input is crucial to our decision making.
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eh29afxnk9kbhjhv/start

Thank you!
Onolee Zwicke, Director
Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific

REVISED Camp Cancellation Policy 4/26
Due to COVID-19, all deadlines for camp cancellations have been removed.  This change in policy ensures there will be no penalties in order to allow families as much flexibility as possible. In the event, we must cancel camps, or a family cancels a camp, credit to your ACTIVE account will be automatically issued. Currently, there is a wait time for refunds as we are in the pipeline for assistance from the Small Business Association Federal grants. Credits to your ACTIVE account can be used for future classes or camps and do not expire. If you need to change weeks and there is sufficient room in another camp, campers may transfer without charge. If your child is sick for an extended period of time, we will credit your account or transfer them to a different week.

April 26, 2020
Dear Families:

I am reaching out to all of our valued families and wishing you the best for your health and well-being during this time of stress and uncertainty. Like you, I am checking websites, COVID models, Public Health Dept, news reports and any place else I can to get a clue to our summer’s future.

Currently, we fully intend to hold camps whether it be June, July or August and anticipate a need for children’s camps and childcare so that parents can go back to work. However, that decision will be based on CA state mandates, the SB Public Health Department and community re-opening criteria. We will comply with all regulations for sanitation and group size. As we continue to hold hope for summer camps, I have removed deadlines for camp cancellations at this time. Previously May 31st was the deadline but there will be no penalties of any kind in order to allow families as much flexibility as possible to make decisions. 

In anticipation of what those health guidelines might be, we have reduced some of our summer camp offerings. We will run only 1 of most of our camps and 2 of some of our most popular camps, while limiting the number of children to 10 enrolled in any one camp in their own classroom. We are structuring new procedures for sanitation, social distancing, and fever testing. Following all COVID guidelines for the health of your children and our staff will be a new challenge, but one I can assure you will be taken seriously and carried out as stringently as possible. 

In the event live camps are not possible, we are reimagining camp options such as Camp in-a Boxand Virtual Gaming Camps like Minecraft, Roblox, coding and a few others. More details will be released very soon about these options. Other changes include not offering any of our cooking camps (Bakers Delight, Foodie Camp, Teen Chef or Mini-Chef camps). Given the challenges of close proximity in a kitchen and necessity for EXTRA stringent sanitation requirements, we are going to postpone these camps until 2021. Please check our website pages by age group for camp changes. If you anticipate needing summer camps, you may want to consider registering for them now.

To address the health of our business, Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific, like all small businesses, has been severely impacted. In accordance with the COVID-19 Small Business Federal legislation passed at the end of March, we applied for 3 different grants/loans to assist us with payroll for our small number of staff and rent since we have no income due to school closures and the unknown status of summer camps. Sadly, we were not granted funding in the first round due to the volume of applications and inadequate appropriations. However, in discussion with Montecito Bank & Trust (where I applied for the PPP loan), I am hopeful that with the second round of SBA funding to be passed by Congress that we will be able to receive some financial help.

On a very personal level, this standstill is crushing. I started 18 years ago doing art camps and classes and then evolved over time to provide science and engineering programs. I am a 100% woman owned small business, determined to create the best enrichment STEAM camps for children in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Montecito. I started off teaching, creating curriculum, and developing camps. Then grew to where I could hire teachers, collaborate with other educators and create more programs. Over the last few years, I have loved being at camp, overseeing the delivery of what we do, watching children who started with us as Kindergarteners advance to be 6th graders. And have felt the warmth of a child who came back a foot taller each year, and said to me, “Ms. Onolee… I am back!” For some children, we were their last and best option. When kids have challenging behaviors, some programs turn them away. Our commitment is always to try our best to keep every child, work through strategies with the parent, and help turn things around in that child’s life. Lastly, I am deeply appreciative of the families who sign up their children with us for all 8 weeks and in awe of their commitment to us. I thank you for all the years of your support and the trust that you bestow on us by enrolling your child in our camps.

Because COVID-19 is both a health and financial crisis, I am asking you to help us keep our programs alive in Santa Barbara. We want to be here next summer and the summers after to play our role in rebuilding our community and create learning opportunities for children. My goal is to continue paying my small full and part-time staff (under 5) to be prepared in the event we do have camps and to come up with alternatives if we do not, as well as obtain the supplies needed to carry out live camps or build camps in a box. We rent a 3000 sq. ft. office/warehouse space and the property owner has generously waived our rent for the foreseeable future to help Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific survive this pandemic. Please support us through live camps, Camp in a Box, Virtual Camps or receiving an ACTIVE credit for next summer.

In the event that we cannot be together this summer and to maintain our programs for the future, I will put your camp payment into ACTIVE credit to be used at a future date. From there you can decide whether you will use it for Camps in a Box, Virtual Gaming or leave it for next summer. If your own financial situation is also dire, then please let me know that and I will put you into the queue to process a refund as soon as we are capable of doing that. Even selecting a combination of options would help us tremendously. Without receiving a federal Small Business Loan or CARE ACT stimulus, giving every family a full refund at this point in time is just not possible.

We remain hopeful, positive, and committed to creating and delivering programs for the children in our community. In closing, please take the time to listen to this beautiful song that I recently heard which says it all, “Swimming to the Other Side”. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcQPDQfOL8 

Stay Home, Stay Healthy… and we hope to see you in LIVE CAMPS soon! Look for our upcoming announcement about Camp in-a Box and Virtual Digital Camps.

Onolee Zwicke, Director
Art Explorers/Terrific Scientific

3/29
Dear Families,

Without a doubt, we are all feeling the impact of COVID-19. I am reaching out to all of our valued families and wishing you the best for your health and well-being. My family is home and well and I am thankful for that.

​At this time, we intend to offer summer camps, as we expect our host locations to be open for all sessions.  We are optimistic that, with schools now closed through April, families will be more than ready to provide their children with an enriching summer experience away from home once we are given the OK. When this time comes, we will be there for you, ready to provide fun, brain stimulating experiences to get them ready for the upcoming school year. We will rely on the recommendations and/or requirements of the CDC, State of California and Federal Government to further guide our actions. As we learn of any new developments, we will share them and act accordingly.

We have revised our cancelation policies giving families much more time for decision making: “Due to COVID-19, we have pushed back the dates of our camp cancellation policies. In the event, we must cancel camps, full refunds or credits will be issued. 

Our flexible cancellation policy allows you to make changes in your summer schedule or receive camp credit if your child cannot attend. Full refunds for cancellation will be made through May 31st. No refunds will be issued after June 1st, however if you need to cancel, we will credit your camp payment to your account for future use. If you need to change weeks and there is sufficient room in another camp, campers may transfer without charge with one exception. Changes or cancellations that occur within 7 days of the start of a camp, may incur a $35 fee to cover administration costs. If your child is sick for an extended period of time, we will credit your account or transfer them to a different week.” This policy is on our website: https://terrificscientific.org/summer-camps/

We are optimistic that if everyone follows the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control, we will get through this pandemic sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we encourage you to take care of yourself and those around you, wash your hands and practice social distancing. We are stronger and more resilient than we know and will get through this.

In Community,
Onolee Zwicke, Director

 

 

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