What ages does the program serve?

The program is developmentally designed for children ages 18 months through 8 years old.

Children younger and older than that age range are welcome to enroll and families are encouraged to join a trial class to see if it is a good fit for their child(ren).

Learn more about mixed-age play.

Where do classes meet?

Every class meets at beautiful Crestwood Regional Park, unless noted otherwise. This location provides families a wonderful, immersive nature experience, and offers a playground, picnic tables, community pool (seasonal), nature trail, wildlife and creek. This park is operated and maintained by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. There are restrooms onsite, however, they are only open May through October. If you are an enrolled family or coming to a trial, exact location details will be provided in your pre-class email.

Can I drop my child off?

No. Each child must be accompanied by and in the presence of their parent or caregiver for the entire class session. If you are not able to attend, your child may attend with another parent or caregiver.

Can siblings come for free?

Siblings under 18 months of age may join at no cost. If any siblings 18 months or older are attending regularly*, they must be enrolled in the class and will receive an automatic sibling discount. After enrolling your first child at regular price, the sibling discounts are as follows:

• 1 Sibling = 30% discount

• 2 Siblings = 40% discount

• 3 Siblings = 50% discount

• Contact me to enroll 5 or more children

* If a sibling needs to attend due to scheduling change (eg. day off at school), they can attend up to two sessions without enrolling. Families are require to notify the teacher if an extra child will be attending a session, so they can prepare any necessary materials. 

Can families try a class for free before enrolling in the program?

Families are invited to attend one pre-season trial session for free, This will be available during the dedicated “free trial week,” and registration is required.

Families are also invited to try a class once the season has started, for a $10 fee and $5 per any additional children. Registration is required. Families may utilize this option a maximum of one time, and not in conjunction with a free trial class. If a family chooses to enroll after their trial class, the $10+ fee will be credited. Once you have registered for a trial, the teacher will email you promptly to confirm the date and time of your trial class.

There will also be free, pop-up play dates, events and a “bring a friend” week during the current season.

Are refunds offered?

A refund may be requested a minimum of 10 days before the current season of classes begins, and families can receive a full refund (minus a 10% processing fee) or credit towards a future class.

If a refund is requested 9 days before the season starts and before the second scheduled class, families can receive a refund or credit for half of the value of the remaining sessions in the season, minus 10% for credit card processing fees. No refunds will be an available after the second session, however, a credit towards a future class (in the amount of the remaining classes) will be offered.

If you enrolled in any of the FLEX class packs, a refund may be requested a minimum of 10 days before the season of classes begins, and families can receive a full refund (minus a 10% processing fee) or credit towards a future class. If a refund is requested outside of this above time frame, but before the season starts, only a credit toward another class or season will be offered. No refunds or credits will be offered for FLEX class packs after the season has begun.

Are credits or refunds offered for missed sessions?

Credits and refunds are not offered for classes missed by families. They may choose to attend another scheduled class as a make-up. Make-up sessions can be used a maximum of 3 times per season, per family. In the event of a missed or cancelled session, please contact your teacher directly to schedule a make-up session. Enrolled families can also purchase a deeply discounted subscription to Tinkergarten Anywhere for $5 per month, and can utilize that content if they miss a live class session.

In the rare event that more than 2 sessions in one season need to be canceled by the teacher without rescheduling, families are eligible for a refund for those canceled sessions.

Refunds are not available for paid trials. If you enroll and then cannot make the scheduled class, you may attend a different session, excluding the last class of the season.

How do Flex Class Packs work?

Flex Class Packs are offered to families who’d like to participate in a season, but cannot commit to 9 consecutive weeks and/or the same day and time each week.

One Flex Pack must be used per child, and may not be shared amongst multiple children. Flex Class Packs are not eligible for sibling discounts, but special offers/discounts may be used when applicable. Families who purchase a Flex Class Pack, may choose from any of scheduled classes during the current season. If not all classes are used within a season, they unfortunately cannot be carried over into the next.

If you have enrolled for a Flex Class Pack, you must notify your teacher AT LEAST 24-48 hours before attending your class of choice. This allows the teacher to have enough materials for each participant and provide proper class communication.

In your welcome email, you will receive a class schedule with all of the planned lessons for that season. Please note, this schedule is subject to change, so be sure to note your expected lesson when confirming your class day with the teacher.

How do I purchase Tinkergarten At Home?

If you are an enrolled family, you can purchase a deeply discounted subscription to Tinkergarten At Home for $5 per month. You will be provided with a special discount code in your welcome email.

If you are not enrolled and you would like to subscribe to Tinkergarten At Home for $9 per month or learn more about it, visit here.

What happens in inclement weather?

Classes are intended to be held outdoors in rain or shine, with some exceptions. For this reason, participants should always prepare by dressing for the weather and bringing along necessary items such as water, sun protection, insect repellant, layers, etc. Classes will be canceled or rescheduled for extreme weather including but not limited to extreme cold, extreme heat, storms, or very uncomfortable conditions. The guiding resource for these decisions can be found in this weather chart.

The teacher will update families at least 90 minutes prior to class by email and text message.

Whenever possible, the session will be offered at another time the same week.

What if I need to miss a session?

If your family is unable to attend for whatever reason, please notify the teacher as soon as possible and at least 90 minutes prior to class. This allows the teacher to make adjustments to what materials will be needed, prepped and brought to class.

How are photos used?

We use photographs to illustrate learning concepts and promote outdoor play and playful learning on our website or in other materials/media. Before we would use any photo in that way, we secure your permission upon enrollment or ask directly to the parent/caregiver of the child(ren) in the photo.

Parents often choose to share pictures of their kids at play across social media, as they do with many other kids activities. We respect that those choices are up to the individual, parent and/or caregiver.

How do teachers foster a safe learning environment during class?

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

Leaders 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 the Leader.

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

Leaders 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, we work with their guide to try to honor that need in the safest way possible.

Learn more about risky play. 

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

BEFORE CLASS: If you and/or your child(ren) are feeling ill, please stay home. We want to model and keep a respectful, considerate and healthy environment for all attending families. Families will receive a health checklist in the pre-class email, the day before each of their scheduled sessions.

DURING CLASS: When temperatures are above 50 degrees, there will be soap and water provided for all participants to wash hands before class and as needed. Eating and drinking is only permitted in our circle and individual nests. If your child has any serious/anaphylactic reactions or allergies to foods, please let me know so I can notify the other attending families to avoid bringing those foods.

Where can I find a copy of the liability release/waiver form?

You can download and print-out my liability release/waiver form here. This waiver form is required for anyone participating in any type of class or event.

You’ve enrolled! What happens now?

1. Right after you enroll, you will receive an order confirmation email and a thank you email. 7-10 days before your scheduled session, you will receive a welcome email from your teacher that includes all class information and any actions you need to completed prior to our first session—program details, the class schedule, a link to complete the required activity waiver, what we’ll be focusing on for the season, community opportunities for you and how to get exclusive at-home resources.

2. If desired, purchase your Tinkergarten Anywhere subscription, for a deeply discounted $5 per month. I will include the discount code to you in your welcome email. This is a great resource to have if you miss a class or if you and your explorer(s) want to dive deeper into a well-loved lesson. This subscription gives you access to read-aloud books, suggested activities, and tips for guides each week. It also provides your child with a keepsake skill-badge at the end of the season, to honor all of their growth and efforts!

3. Two to four days before your first session, you’ll receive a short questionnaire, so your teacher can learn a little bit about you and your child before the season begins.

4. 24 hours before each session, you will receive a pre-class email, which will outline everything you need to know—location details, a lesson preview, what to bring, health checklist, etc. The day after each session, you’ll receive a post-class email, which will contain a recap, a link to your class’ private photo gallery and any additional resources and announcements the teacher wants to share.

*All policies and procedures are subject to change and will be shared with participants if significant changes are made. Please reach out with questions or feedback by emailing rootedinplaylearning@gmail.com