How do I complete the class registration/waiver before attending class?

If you were not able to complete the registration at checkout, click the button below to complete your registration and waiver. This must be completed before attending class. Thank you!

Do I have to pay for siblings?

Any child who is18 months or older or 8 years old or younger for the majority of the season (5 or more classes) must be enrolled to attend and participate in class. When enrolling two children, siblings are 30% off. Use the discount code SIBLING30 at checkout when purchasing both enrollments.

If siblings are younger than 18 months or older than 8 years old, they can accompany you for free. If there is a school break or other childcare disruptions for a sibling who does not usually join, they can join up to 2 sessions for free due to these circumstances. Please notify me if an extra child needs to attend for a session so that I can prepare any necessary materials.

Do you offer refunds?

If a season refund is requested by the Friday BEFORE the season begins, families can receive a full refund or credit towards a future class.

If a season refund is requested AFTER the season begins, families can receive a refund for 80% of the value of the remaining sessions in the season.

For drop-in classes, you are eligible for a 50% refund if you are able to provide at least a 24 hour notice of the absence. If you must miss class and cannot give a 24 hour notice, you will not be eligible for a refund. You will still receive all class communication, however, and be able to complete the lesson at home with the pre-recorded video lesson.

Are credits or refunds offered for missed sessions?

Credits and refunds may be offered for classes missed by families under the following circumstances -

• If travel planned prior to the start of the season will result in missed classes, you can have up to 3 classes fully refunded when you notify me at the time of purchase. You will be charged full price for missed classes beyond 3 if you still want to enroll in a full season and would miss more than 3. However, one of the benefits of these classes is the community created through consistent meeting, so if you must miss more than 3, I encourage you to consider waiting for drop-in classes and a future season.

• If travel or illness results in missed classes during the season, up to 3 classes can be refunded 50% if you give at least 24 hour notice. If you must miss more than 3 classes, we will discuss if you would like to continue for the rest of the season at full price, hoping those scheduling issues have been resolved, or if you would like an 80% refund for the remainder of the season and try again for a later season.

When signing up for a season class, you will also be given a discount code to purchase Tinkergarten Anywhere for $5 per month. If you must miss class due to prior plans or illness, you can complete the lesson at home by watching the pre-recorded lesson in your Tinkergarten Anywhere page.

If I must cancel and class and am unable to offer a make-up time, you will be fully refunded for any cancelled classes.

What happens in inclement weather?

We will try to hold class rain, snow, wind, or sunshine. However, if conditions are unsafe - determined by using local weather and road conditions guidance and weather charts including wind chill, lighting distance, air quality, or heat warnings - class will be rescheduled or cancelled.

I will update families no later than 90 minutes prior to class by e-mail and text. Whenever possible, the session will be offered at another time that week.

How do you (the teacher) foster a safe learning environment during class?

Each explorer (child) is accompanied by a guide (parent or caregiver). I support guides and do all that I reasonably can to provide a learning environment that allows for safe risk-taking.

I bring a First Aid Kit to class, which can be utilized by guides (attending adults) if needed.

A few, simple rules help to address most situations:

Explorers (children) can explore on their own as long as they can still see or hear their guide or me.

If explorers are taking physical risks, we check in to make sure that they feel sturdy and safe in their risk-taking. 

We encourage children to engage in risky play, but give clear redirection if or when safety and the safety of friends in the class could be compromised. For example, we celebrate that sticks are the #1 toy of all time, but we make sure that our sticks have plenty of space so they do not touch our friends' bodies. Ultimately, over time, we want to help children learn how to learn their limits while still playing in a way that keeps them and their friends out of true harm.

We encourage children not to put nature treasures in their mouths. If a wee one is doing so as a natural part of exploring the world, I work with their guide to try to honor that need in the safest way possible.

What is the approach to health/illness safety in classes?

Before class: All participants, teachers included, are asked to self-assess for symptoms of contagious illness. If an explorer or guide has any of the following symptoms, they must stay home and utilize the Tinkergarten Anywhere video to follow along.

• Fever (100 degrees F or higher), chills, or shaking chills. Family must be symptom fever free at least 24 hours before joining in-person classes.

• Vomiting or diarrhea (unless known temporary cause such as car sickness). Family must be symptom free for at least 48 hours before joining in a class.

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as a chronic or lingering cough). Cough must be dry and at least 7 days from onset of cold symptoms to be considered “lingering.” Please wait for coughing to resolve or become “lingering” before returning to class.

• Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

During Class: All participants follow an In-Class Safety Checklist with 6 simple strategies that enable us to play safely together!

• Eating or drinking should be done in “nests”

• When temperatures are above 50-60 degrees, I provide a soap + water mixture for participants to wash hands as desired 

I have purchased my enrollment. What happens next?

1. Look out for a text from me! Make sure you provide an accurate number. Communications before and after class will be sent via text and e-mail. These will include reminders of times, locations, and any special announcements about that specific class. You will also receive a google photos album of pictures after each class as well as a few other resources to keep the learning going all week long.

2. Make sure you are receiving e-mails from me. One week prior to our first class, you will receive a season overview e-mail with a rundown of the season and links to the registration form, TG song lyrics, and more.

3. Make sure you have signed and filled out the registration form before the start of the season!

If you have signed up for a drop-in, make sure to fill in the registration form before class. You will also receive a text reminder before class, as well as a text after class with the shared google photos album and any further information for future classes.