FAQ

Why are camps at a private location this year?

A huge reason for the switch to a private location is that it enables me to be in charge of registration. Otherwise,  I wouldn’t be able to switch around weeks, squeeze a person in, offer camp credits, etc.  I know KidRealm parents are accustomed to good service and flexibility. Another reason is I can begin registration early and offer discounts for early registration.  No early bird discounts option exist through county and non-Arlington residents are required to pay 15% more.  No way!  I’ve got lots of Falls Church and McLean campers. Also, the county increased fees to a point that I cannot run the camp I feel my campers deserve.
 
I’m also pleased to have a set location where we’re not sharing space with other camps.  A lot less confusing and crowded.  We also are helping out a local church and the community with my rent. All in all I am so happy to branch out and host at an awesome location.  The only downside is that I will not be in the catalog.  I’m hoping word of mouth will be strong and I appreciate any new families you can send our way. 

What precautions will there be for COVID this summer?

We’re not sure what the COVID climate will be this summer but Kidrealm will make sure we are compliant. We are also limiting our numbers by nearly 50%. This should help us have a safe environment! 

I have not received any email (either with my password or my registration confirmation) from Kidrealm. What can I do?

If you have not received any email from KidRealm, please check your Spam folder and settings and make sure that you have set up your email software to accept messages from rob@kidrealm.com.

How much screen time vs movement time is there?

As a parent and a physical education teacher I am a big proponent of movement and exercise. There are multiple rotations during the camp day. Two rotations would be screen time in MineCraft/SuperSmash. One rotation is movement time in the gym or outside. Two rotations are group games and face-to-face interaction with card games and the like (no devices/video games). I strive to make sure KidRealm has a good balance of activities (physical, hand eye, social and pure fun).

Are camps different each week?

All camps are single weeks and may have the same title but due to the nature of KidRealm they will be unique experiences each week. Odd and Even weeks will offer several different tournaments and activities! Many campers sign up for all 8 weeks and each week has a different feel. There will be new campers. There will be different tournament formats. We will offer different games and variants of the same games. Pokemon/Minecraft /SuperSmash week 2 will be different than Pokemon/Minecraft/SuperSmash week 8. There may be similar activities and all the fan favorites but there will be a different dynamic.

What is KidRealm's Cancellation Policy?

If a registration is cancelled more than 2 weeks in advance of camp, the customer will receive a refund of their total payment minus a $35 cancellation fee OR minus KidRealm's non-refundable registration processing fees, whichever is higher. If the registration is cancelled less than 2 weeks in advance, the customer will receive a refund of 50% of their total payment. No money is refunded if campers miss days during the camp. WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO PROCESS ALL REFUNDS WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF REQUEST. If you have not received your refund within 2 weeks, please email us.
Under all circumstances, a family may opt to receive credit equal to the full value of the camp they registered for instead of a refund. Also, if KidRealm is required to cancel camp due to health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or other national emergencies, all families will receive credit toward future camps.

Can I pay with Visa or other credit cards?

The answer is yes, you may pay with any credit or debit card. Our online payment processor is Stripe. A Stripe account is not necessary to make your payment.

Can my 12-year-old be a CIT?

The answer is sorry, No.

How is the day structured at KidRealm Camps?

The focus at KidRealm Camps is fun but we also want to offer many challenges in critical thinking, creativity and strategy. We also want a balance in social, physical and screen-time activities. We start each day with a morning meeting and 20 minutes of silent reading. During the morning we will also have tournaments and prize activities.

Our Core Hours are filled with 6 activity-packed Rotations a day. Campers will visit Jester's Jamboree (card games, group games, hand eye games, tournaments), Cool Coliseum (movement and PE activities), then lunch for 30 minutes. After lunch we will have 3 more rotations. The MineCraft Arcade (Campers will play MineCraft with their friends). Pokemon Center/Lego Legends/SuperSmash (this rotation has camp specific activities). Each rotation is packed with exciting games and fun activities.

We end the day with a short afternoon closing ceremony with big celebrations. No part of the day is unstructured other than some free time in the morning and afternoon for arrival and dismissal. Many campers enjoy this time because of all the exciting tournaments and tradition building activities. They can interact with campers in other groups as well.

What do kids do during Extended Day?

Our Extended Hours program is lots of fun. Since the camp day is so structured and there is very little "free" time, it's fun for the kids to unwind and relax. Extended hours begin with 20 minutes of Silent Reading. We have an Arcade Hour where the kids can play kid-friendly games like Minecraft, SuperSmash, and Mario Kart. We have Movie/Game Hour where we play great DVD movie titles (PG and G) and play lots of KidRealm favorite card and board games. We also provide some exercise time in the gym or outside. There will also be tournaments, creative play, and some arts and crafts.

Why is Adventure Gaming more expensive?

Due to the activities of this camp, we can only allow up to 8 participants. This means the profit margin is very small. To hire a counselor, we must have at least 4 participants.

What is the Code of Conduct of KidRealm Camps?

We expect all Campers to respect the staff and the other Campers. Campers must respect other camper's property as well as the location's and KidRealm's. We expect all campers to follow established Camp procedures of rotating with their teams, following activity directions, staying within camp boundaries and making safety a priority. We will not tolerate:
  • Intentional verbal abuse, teasing, bullying or profane language.
  • Physical harm to another person or staff.
  • Intentional damage to property.
  • Taking other people's property (Camper's, School's, KidRealm's).
  • Inappropriate behavior through touching or invading another person's personal space.
  • Harassing others for food, items or money.
  • Consistent disregard of Program Procedures. (Not following directions, habitually late picking up camper)

Staff will make every effort to encourage positive participation and strive to solve all problems in a calm, diplomatic fashion. In the event that all measures have been exhausted, we reserve the right to remove a Camper from the Program. Consequences will be relative to the degree of unacceptable behavior. Some consequences we may implement include:
  • Moving a Camper to a different Team.
  • Having Camper stay with our Director.
  • Suspension for remainder of day and next day.
  • Suspension for the remainder of the week.
  • Suspension from all future KidRealm Camps.

 

Our goal is to provide a safe, fun place for all students. We value our customers and understand that as parents you want to be confident that KidRealm offers a positive environment for your child. We are dedicated to this result.

Are there Outside KidRealm Activities or Field Trips?

We try to get outside as much as weather/programming permits. The Cool Coliseum may go outside in the morning but not in the afternoon for example. During extended hours campers go to the playground as well if the weather is good. We do not leave the site for any field trips.