Camp Participants

• Campers with any of these symptoms are asked to refrain from visiting the Museum.
• All campers must wear a mask. If a camper does not have a mask, one will be provided for them.
• All parents/guardians must Check-In at the front desk before dropping off campers with a staff member.
• Nut-free lunches and labeled water bottles must be packed and placed in designated cubbies in the Museum’s coat room.
• No food, gum, or drinks are allowed in the Museum galleries, except water bottles.

Check-In & Check-Out

• 9:00-9:30 a.m.: Arrival & Check-In
  • Takes place in the Museum’s front lobby area.
  • All parents/guardians must sign a waiver on the first day of camp before dropping off their child(ren) with a staff member.
  • Playtime is limited to the front gallery until all campers have arrived.
• 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Camp Activities & Gallery Playtime Breaks
• 12:00-12:45 p.m.: Lunch
  • Campers must pack a nut-free lunch and water bottle.
  • Lunch will take place outside at a designated spot near the Museum.
  • In the event of inclement weather, lunch will take place inside the Creation Station camp room.
• 12:45-1:00 p.m.: Pick-Up & Check-Out.
  • Parents/Guardians are asked to wait in the lobby area, and the camper will be walked up by a staff member or volunteer.
  • Campers and their families may stay and play in the Museum galleries as long as they wish following the camp day, but parents/guardians must first check-out their child at the front desk so that staff knows the camper has been picked up.

Exhibits & Amenities

• VDM’s Amazing Airways and Flight Lab exhibits are currently closed due to COVID restrictions.
• VDM’s public drinking fountain is currently shut down due to COVID restrictions.

COVID Concerns

Will VDM be open for general admission during camps?

Yes, VDM will be open for general admission visits at 65 percent of normal capacity during camp days, but the Creation Station camp room will only be open to campers.

Who else will be in the camp room during camps?

At least one VDM staff member and between two and three volunteers will be present during every camp. All staff members and any volunteers who will be in the building have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will be wearing masks.

How often is the Museum cleaned?

A crew will be on site daily after the Museum closes to clean and sanitize.

Registration & Waitlists

What is required to be eligible for camp?

Children must be at least 4 years old and fully independent in the bathroom by the start of camp.

What if the camp I want to participate in has filled?

All 2022 Summer Camps have a maximum capacity of 16 children. If you have an interest in a camp that is full, please contact Director of Operations Lindsay Jones at operationsdirector@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x102 to add your child’s name to the waitlist. In the event of a cancellation, those on the waitlist will be contacted in the order their requests were received.

Financial Assistance

Does VDM offer financial assistance for camps?

In accordance with the Museum’s mission, VDM does offer scholarships for educational programs, including Summer Camps, on a limited basis. For information about applying for a scholarship, contact Director of Operations Lindsay Jones at operationsdirector@vadm.org or (434) 977-1025 x102.

Annual Members

How do I apply my 10% annual member discount?

To apply this discount to camp registrations made online, you must have an active annual membership and will need to create a Website User Account and link it to your membership record by following these instructions. If you have already created a Website User Account, click the registration link for the camp you wish to register for and sign in using the link at the top of the registration page. If you need help applying your 10% discount when using our online order forms, please contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at marketing@vadm.org.

How do I set up my Website User Account?

You can follow the instructions here or contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at marketing@vadm.org.

Did I successfully link my Website User Account and membership?

Contact Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman at marketing@vadm.org, and we’ll make sure everything is all set.

Cancellations & Refunds

What is VDM’s cancellation and refund policy for camps?

A minimum of 6 campers is required for a Summer Camp to run. If a camp is canceled by the Museum due to insufficient enrollment or other extenuating circumstances, the registration fee will be refunded to all registrants.

Individual cancellations must be made at least 2 weeks before the start of the camp to be eligible for a refund. If an individual cancellation causes the camp roster to fall below the required minimum, the refund will be contingent upon the vacancy being filled. If an individual cancellation is made within two weeks of the camp or a camper exhibits any of these symptoms and cannot attend camp, a deposit of $50 will be forfeited. No refunds will be issued after a camp begins.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Does VDM provide food or should I pack a lunch?

Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, the Museum does not provide any food or snacks. Families are asked to pack nut-free lunches each day to help us maintain a nut-free environment for our friends with food allergies and encouraged to pack a labeled water bottle for their child(ren).

Where can I park to drop off and pick up my child?

VDM validates parking for class registrants at the Market Street Garage and Water Street Garage. Both locations provide the first hour of parking for free, and event guests receive an additional hour of free parking – for a total of two hours – when they request a validation ticket at VDM’s front desk. The Museum is also located next to the Downtown Transit Station, and Charlottesville Area Transit offers a Free Trolley that stops at the station as it travels through Downtown and the University of Virginia. Click to learn more about parking downtown or more about public bus routes and fares.

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