What’s Tinkering School?

Tinkering School is a summer camp and after school program where kids use real tools to solve real problems. Tinkerers learn how to collaborate, design, and engineer different projects each week, from giant whales to massive marionettes.

We believe that learning comes from true engagement and organic investment in the creative process from design to implementation. To foster an environment that welcomes engagement, we co-create projects with the tinkerers.

Our counselors are called “collaborators” as they are truly collaborating rather than just supervising or counseling our campers. We also call our campers “tinkerers”.

Why does Tinkering School do what it does?

At Tinkering School, we believe that kids are more capable than they know, and to prove it, we give them real tools to solve real problems. We trust and empower tinkerers, knowing that when we give them freedom and responsibility, they can and will rise to the challenge. Supporting tinkerers as they push past their comfort zones builds critical thinking and problem solving skills. When (not if) things don’t work, failure and learning from failure is celebrated. Tinkering School is a place where youth build confidence, competency, and creativity to counteract the abstracted pass/fail world of traditional schooling. See Our Philosophy page for stories and more details.

What tools and materials do we use?

All tinkerers learn how to use our most common tools: power drills, “chop saws” (compound miter saws), and clamps. Tinkerers may also use screwdrivers, hammers, rulers, wrenches, box cutters, wire cutters, scissors, jigsaws, band saws, table saws, drill presses, and more. Collaborators are trained on safely using and supervising use of all of our tools. Tinkerers will complete tool safety training before using any tools and will be provided with appropriate eye and ear protection.

In addition to wood, tinkerers may use screws, nails, bolts, hinges, pulleys, springs, fabric, rope, bungee cord, tape, axles, wheels, wire, PVC pipe, and other miscellaneous hardware.

Who are our staff?

https://www.tinkeringschool.com/meet-our-team

Location

Tinkering School Day Camp is located at the Institute for Applied Tinkering campus, between Geary and Clement St. in the San Francisco Richmond District. We have three separate sites at Tinkering School, affectionately named the Yark, the Auditorium, and the U. These sites are on the same campus but have separate GPS addresses, so drop-off locations for families will be based upon the session tinkerers will attend.

We will be sharing information about our drop-off and pick-up information via our Welcome Email that will arrive in your inbox approximately 1-2 weeks before the camp session begins. For planning purposes, you can use 360 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118 for mapping. Note that it is possible that your actual drop off/pick up location will be a different physical address located on our campus.

What are our pickup/dropoff logistics?

You can drop off your tinkerer between 9:15 and 9:30am. Camp starts at 9:30am! Pickup is between 3:15pm and 3:30pm.

Tinkerers will be released only to adults listed as authorized pickups in our UltraCamp reservation system. We know that plans can go astray. If you must designate an alternative pickup that is not previously noted in UltraCamp, please send us an email at info@tinkeringschool.com or contact our camp director Brendon Bell at 530-417-3625.

We know that some tinkerers are able to get themselves to and from Tinkering School. If your child is 13 years old or older, you can give permission for them to arrive and leave on their own by emailing info@tinkeringschool.com and stating that you consent that your child can arrive/leave without an adult.

The last day of the session is a little different. Please join us at 2:30pm for a project show and tell to see what your tinkerers explored and created during the session. At 3:00pm, we will begin deconstructing the projects and families are encouraged to participate alongside their campers. This is always a lot of fun and often one of the highlights of the camp. The day will end at 3:30pm like usual, and families are more than welcome to continue helping afterwards if deconstruction is still going on. Don't worry if you can't join us for the show and tell on Friday, you can read all about it on the blog

Before and After Care

Before Care begins at 8:30 AM and After Care runs until 5:00 PM. During Before and After Care, tinkerers can hang out, build their own projects, play games, read, or participate in any number of fun activities. Tinkering on the large group projects will wait until the entire group is present.

Demographics

Tinkerers from ages 8 to 16 attend Day Camp. We respect the dignity and rights of all tinkerers and staff regardless of various abilities, races, cultures, religions, and genders, and strive for diversity within each session. Tinkerers come from all over the Bay Area with a wide variety of tinkering experience and backgrounds. We welcome tinkerers of all genders and gender expressions and have gender-neutral accommodations.

Can I bring a friend/sibling?

Sure! Sign up for the same week and optionally let us know that you are friends or siblings in your application. Note that we cannot guarantee that you will work in the same project group. While staying close to someone you know in an unfamiliar place may be comfortable, we also encourage tinkerers to step out of their comfort zone and make friends with new people, as well.

If tinkerers aren’t bringing a friend, Tinkering School is a great place to create new friendships. Collaboration is hugely important to Tinkering School, and friendships come easily from the team-driven nature of our projects. Collaborators are attuned to social dynamics on and off the build site and work to create a social environment where friendships form easily. Many of our tinkerers form friendships that remain long after camp ends and they will often return to camp together for many summers to come.

What should tinkerers bring to camp?

Please label everything with your tinkerer’s name! We can pretty much guarantee at least some campers won’t remember which water bottles or jackets are theirs by the end of the day. Layers: the weather in San Francisco can change quite easily. A jacket and long pants are strongly recommended. Lunch: please pack a large, portable, ready to eat lunch. Tinkering is hungry work! We will be walking to a nearby park and won’t have access to a microwave or stove. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide refrigerated storage for lunches. Snacks: we strongly recommend families pack lots of snacks. We will also have some emergency snacks on hand as well for hungry tinkerers. Refillable water bottle: Hydration is super important! Sunscreen: we will provide sunscreen, but if your tinkerer prefers certain sunscreen, please bring it. Closed toe shoes are a must. Sturdy tennis shoes are fine but sandals are not. Medications: Bring medication in its original packaging with the prescription (dose, timing) clearly visible. If you feel your child is able to self-administer medication, please provide your approval of such in writing by emailing info@tinkeringschool.com. Please see our other question about medications.

Can my child bring their phone and other electronics to Tinkering School?

Tinkerers will be busy collaborating, designing, and playing with new friends. Cell phones or other communication devices are allowed for the purposes of facilitating pick-up, but should not be used during the camp day. Other electronics are not allowed. We require tinkerers to store their cell phones in their backpack or a secure box we will provide.

If you need to communicate with your child during the day, you may contact the Camp Director, Brendon Bell, at 530-417-3625.

How does Tinkering School accommodate children with special health needs?

At Tinkering School we work with tinkerers and their adults on a case-by-case basis to accommodate special health needs. Please be sure that your child's medical health form [located in the document center of your UltraCamp account] is current at the start of your child’s camp session. The Tinkering School Camp Director, Camp Captains, and Health Supervisors will review this form prior to the start of the session and will be in contact with you to develop a plan for accommodation if need be.

You are always welcome to email us at info@tinkeringschool.com if you have any questions or concerns.

How does Tinkering School manage medications?

If your tinkerer takes medication during the hours camp is in session, then: Ensure the Medications Page in your UltraCamp account is up to date. Bring medication in its original packaging with the prescription (dose, timing) clearly visible. All medication will be collected at the start of the Session and kept in a secure location. Rescue medication (i.e. epi pen and insulin) will always be near the child and kept in the first aid backpack. The Health Supervisor(s) will administer the medication at the appropriate times indicated in your child’s UltraCamp medications and health forms. If you feel your child is able to self-administer medication, please provide your approval of such in writing by emailing info@tinkeringschool.com.

Bullying policy

Tinkering School Rule #1 is “Don't hurt yourself or anyone else.” This applies to emotional safety as well as physical, and bullying is never tolerated at Tinkering School. Collaborators are always paying attention to social dynamics. If a tinkerer is engaging in an antisocial way with other tinkerers, our trained staff will intervene and mediate any conflicts. If the issue persists, parents will be contacted, though this doesn't automatically mean the tinkerer will be sent home immediately as we strive to give everyone second chances.

See our other question on disciplinary action.

Drugs/alcohol/weapons policy

Drugs, alcohol, and weapons (excluding pocket knives) are forbidden at Tinkering School. Tinkerers found in possession of illegal substances will immediately be sent home.

See our other question on disciplinary action.

Animal policy

There are a lot of moving parts to Tinkering School, and the build site is generally not a safe place for pets of any shape or size.

Please contact us at info@tinkeringschool.com if your child requires the accompaniment of a service animal.

Disciplinary action

We work very hard to keep tinkerers at camp.

If a tinkerer has repeatedly shown that they are a danger to themselves or others, we will evaluate the situation on a case-by-case basis. Both physical and emotional harm are considered dangerous. Generally, our first step in addressing any harm or potential harm is always for a member of our staff to hold a conversation with the tinkerer detailing why and how the tinkerer’s actions are dangerous, strategize with them about safer alternatives, remind them about Tinkering School’s expectations of safe behavior, and confirm the tinkerer understands and agrees to meeting these expectations going forward. If the same emotionally or physically dangerous behavior keeps happening, we will contact the tinkerer’s parents to discuss the situation and determine if there are additional strategies that will ensure the tinkerer is able to participate safely. If the unsafe behavior still continues to persist, we will send tinkerers home. Depending on the situation, Tinkerers who are sent home may still be able to come back to try camp in subsequent years after our staff has a discussion with them and their family to determine if they are now capable of participating safely.

Non Disciplinary reasons for a Tinkerer to return home early.

While we encourage tinkerers to stay at camp, sometimes a tinkerer needs to go home early for non-disciplinary reasons. Examples include illness, severe homesickness, a family emergency, etc. In this case parents will be contacted (if they have not been already) to discuss a plan for the tinkerer.

How does TS communicate with adults during camp if it’s urgent? (ie disaster)

In case of emergency, we will contact the tinkerers’ parents and guardians via the parent/guardian and/or emergency contact information in the campers’ UltraCamp registration account. We will start with the primary contact, will leave a message if no answer, and will continue contacting all alternate contacts, leaving messages if no answer. This process will continue until a staff member has spoken with at least one contact for each tinkerer at camp.

What does a week at TS look like?

On the first Monday of each Tinkering School camp session Tinkerers get to know one another, learn about our camp guidelines and rules, complete our core tool training and have a chance to practice their new skills. The project theme is revealed after lunch and Tinkerers work together to design their group projects and begin building! We format each project theme to offer multiple entry points for the youngest to most advanced problem-solvers, to make sure Tinkerers stay curious and dedicated to the project as it unfolds throughout the week. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, we build, build, build! These build sessions are the heart of Tinkering School. Every day we also have lunch and unstructured play time at a nearby park within walking distance. On the last Friday of the camp session, we finish up building a little early so that friends and families can come and experience the project (in whatever state of completion the Tinkerers have attained!) During this time, we all appreciate each other's hard work and creativity, and then as a group, we disassemble the project! Taking apart the projects helps us all to reflect on and appreciate our week of teamwork, problem solving, power tool operation, and fun!

What’s the project? Examples of past projects/blog

What projects will we be building? No one knows! Each year, the Tinkering School team of collaborators plots and plans a number of riveting provocations. We run them through the “is this at the edge of possibility?” test to make sure the ideas are big enough, then doodle in our notebooks imagining possibilities - sometimes only enough to collect interesting materials. Then, the challenges are announced with great fanfare and plenty of mystery and it’s off to the races. If you’re asking about the specific provocation for an upcoming session, that’s a secret! The magical moment of a project reveal is best when everyone gets to collectively share in the discovery.

At Tinkering School, we value the process of collaboratively designing, building, and tinkering over the final product. Focusing on the journey enables us to deepen core problem solving skills and authentically co-create as a team. We all deconstruct the project at the end of each session, and do not allow individual take-home projects (aside from each tinkerer’s toolbox, which they can take home).

It is also important to understand that not all projects are “finished” by the end of the session. Tinkering and iteration-focused design means there’s almost always something else the tinkerers want to add on, and the genuine possibility of failing to complete the project rallies tinkerers to engage more fully. You can help your tinkerers reflect on the importance of the tinkering process by asking them questions about the process of building rather than the product of building, ex: “What challenges did you work on today at TS?” or “What was your favorite thing to work on today”

For examples of past projects check out our blog: https://www.tinkeringschool.com/summer-camp-projects

Can I see my tinkerer’s project in person?

Yes! There are several ways to see what your tinkerer has worked on. During the session, we use social media - follow us @tinkeringschool on Instagram and Facebook.

Show and tell is on the last Friday of the session starting at 2:30pm. You’ll get to see, experience, and maybe even ride in the project. Younger and older siblings may also attend the project show and tell, and barring safety concerns, can enjoy interacting with the projects with their siblings who attend camp. Although playing with or in the project is a lot of fun, our priority is really to enjoy the process of tinkering leading up to the final project.

After the show and tell is over, we deconstruct the project. Deconstruction is an authentic resolution to a session of hard work and hard play, and emphasizes that the memories and learnings from camp are more important than the actual constructed product. We welcome families to help with deconstruction, but please note that since the tinkerers have completed tool safety training, they’re the only ones who can use drills. Don’t worry, there is still plenty to do, and we will always appreciate help stacking wood and sorting screws.

We’ll be all finished by 3:30pm (like a normal camp day). Don't worry if you can't join us Friday at 2:30, you can read all about it on the blog

How can I find out what my child is doing at camp?

The best way to learn about your child’s time at camp is to ask them. Tinkering School uses social media to document the exciting and challenging aspects of the camp day. You can use these posts as prompts for your conversations, and to relive the summer with your child when they are not at camp. You can find us on Instagram and Facebook (@tinkeringschool) and on our blog. https://www.tinkeringschool.com/summer-camp-projects

If you want to know specifically how your child is doing or have a particular concern, please contact us at info@tinkeringschool.com, call our Camp Director Brendon Bell at 530-417-3625, or speak with a collaborator at drop-off or pick-up.

What if my child is afraid to use the power tools?

At Tinkering School,we work hard to create an environment where young people feel safe and comfortable to stretch their comfort zones. Sometimes, tinkerers are hesitant to use the larger and/or louder power tools. Collaborators are trained in several different strategies to help tinkerers feel comfortable taking that step for the first time. These might include providing a helping hand, giving them a chance to practice without wood (i.e. operating the chopsaw/miter saw before actually cutting the wood), or even just standing near the tool with them while another tinkerer is using it to get comfortable with the noise. All of these options and more are available to tinkerers, but we will never force a tinkerer to use a tool.

What are JCs?

Junior Collaborators (JCs) are folks who have past experience at tinkering school and are being trained to become the next generation of Tinkering School staff. JCs learn how to be collaborators by working alongside our staff as they support tinkerers throughout the design and build process. Camp Captains provide ongoing feedback and support JCs to meet their specific personal development goals. JC’s are an incredibly important part of the social fabric of any session at camp. If we identify a tinkerer who may be ready to become a JC, we will talk to them about it at the end of the session.

What’s the TS scholarship program?

Tinkering School is committed to making our programs available to everyone. We offer scholarships on a pay-what-you-can basis while funds last. All families will be asked their tuition assistance preference during the registration process.

How do I pay?

The best way to pay for a Tinkering session is to sign into UltraCamp, create an account if you haven’t already, and pay via debit card, credit card or e-check. Please consider paying with a debit card as it reduces our processing fees. You can email us at info@tinkeringschool.com if these options don’t work for you.

What’s the cancelation policy?

Standard Cancelation Policy:

Cancellations 30 or more days prior to the start of the session receive a refund, less the deposit.

Cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start of the session will receive a refund (less the deposit) only if we are able to fill the spot. There is no guarantee the spot will be filled and a refund will be available.

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Covid-19 Cancelation Policy Update:

In the event that you or Tinkering School need to cancel a reservation or close camp due to illness or circumstances related to Covid-19, we offer the following options below. When reviewing them, we encourage you to consider shifting your reservation to a future credit or donation. As a non-profit, this will help us ensure that we can continue offering high-quality programming as well as a generous scholarship program for dozens of children each year.

Transfer full tuition to a Tinkering School credit (redeemable toward any future Tinkering School program) Donate full tuition toward Tinkering School's scholarship fund Donate deposit toward Tinkering School's scholarship fund and receive a refund for the remaining tuition Receive a full tuition refund

Can I get a discount?

When discounts are available, they will show up at the time of check out. They will not always be automatically applied, so be sure to mark the checkbox next to them!

Credit from 2020

Many of our registered families from Summer 2020 opted to transfer their tuition to a credit rather than a refund. As promised, we will continue to honor these credits for any after school or summer program registrations through August 2022. If you have an outstanding balance you think won’t be used prior to August 2022, please contact us and let us know if you would like to have funds returned to your original method of payment or would like to donate it to our scholarship fund.

Waitlists - What if the session is full?

If a session is full, you can join the waitlist for that session. If registered tinkerers drop out before the session starts and a space opens up for you, you will be contacted via email. You will have three days to claim your spot before it is offered to the next tinkerer on the list.

What if my tinkerer is too young or old for a session?

Tinkering School is usually flexible regarding our tinkerer age ranges. Due to COVID restrictions in 2021, we unfortunately cannot allow tinkerers under our minimum age of 8 at Day Camp. If your tinkerer is under the age minimum or over the age maximum for a session, exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. Please email info@tinkeringschool.com if you have more questions.