Spark Summer Learning Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eligible?
Any student who has completed kindergarten through 5th grade and any student that has completed 6th-8th grade, can participate in the Spark Summer Learning program regardless of where they go to elementary school.
Camp Crew is also a program for students who have completed 6th – 8th grade. Camp Crew students will be able to learn alongside their elementary counterparts while also sharing their STEAM knowledge, helping teachers, and providing an extra set of hands for our engaging activities. For more information on Camp Crew or to apply, click here.
Students with special needs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure adequate staffing meets each student’s needs. Please get in touch with us to discuss your child’s specific needs.
Can I choose my weeks?
YES! We’d love to have your child(ren) every week of camp, but you can choose how many weeks - and which weeks - work for you.
Where is Camp Located?
Holmes Elementary - 5230 Sumner Street, Lincoln, NE
What are the days/hours of operation?
Typical camp weeks run Monday-Friday. The exceptions for summer 2026 are the week of May 27-29 (Wednesday-Friday), June 15-18 (Monday-Thursday) and June 29-July 2 (Monday-Thursday).
Students can arrive at Spark starting at 7:30am and be picked up as late as 5:30pm. A late pick-up charge of $10 will be assessed if a parent is late for pick-up. The core programming will begin at about 9:00am and will be complete by about 4:00pm.
The program will open on May 27, 2026, and run through July 24, 2026.
What does it cost?
Full-time enrollment will be $300 per week. We have a 10% discount for siblings.
We are working to secure funding to provide scholarships; check back after the new year for more information on scholarships.
What are my payment options?
- Spark only accepts electronic payments – ACH or credit card.
- You can pay the total amount or just the deposit when you enroll.
- A $100 deposit is required at enrollment for each child each week which is applied to the total weekly fee.
- Full payment is due four weeks before each specific camp week starts.
What if we have a change of plans and need to withdraw from camp?
In the event a family wishes to withdraw a student prior to the start of camp, the family must provide written notice to the Program Director at info@sparksummerlearning.org.
- If a written withdrawal notice is received at least six (6) weeks prior to the first day of the registered camp session, any weekly fees already paid will be refunded, minus the $100 deposit.
- Withdrawals received fewer than six (6) weeks prior to the start of camp will result in forfeiture of the $100 deposit due to staffing, licensing, and program preparation commitments.
- Withdrawals received within fourteen (14) days of the start of camp will result in forfeiture of all weekly deposit and/or tuition fees.
What will my student be learning?
Spark Summer Learning is filled with hands-on, age-appropriate lessons. Our curriculum is STEAM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). We’ll be exploring each of these areas through project-based lessons. Check out our weekly themes for more information on what we’ll do each week! But don’t worry...exploring and learning won’t be our only fun! Each Wednesday, we’ll head out for field trips and pool time!
What should my child bring to camp?
We provide nearly everything your child will need at camp. That said, we ask that all students bring:
- A water bottle with their name clearly marked
- A backpack with their name clearly marked
- A change of clothes
We also ask that students NOT bring any toys, books, electronics, or games from home. We cannot guarantee that other students will not play with these items. We cannot guarantee these items will not get lost or broken. Spark is not responsible for any toys, books, electronics, or games brought from home.
Where will my child go on field trips?
At Spark, we pride ourselves on providing students with fantastic learning opportunities… one of these is our weekly field trip. Each week (typically on Wednesdays), we head out to museums, nature centers, universities, and state parks to learn more about our weekly theme. In the past, Spark has gone to Platte River State Park, Arbor Day Tree Adventure in Nebraska City, The Kiewit Luminarium in Omaha, Schramm Education Center, Morrill Hall, and Adventure Golf.
Following our morning field trip, we’ll head to the pool.* We ask that students come to Spark in the morning with their swimsuits under their clothes. This saves significant time and gives students more fun at the pool. Be sure to bring sunscreen and a towel, too!
*Occasionally, field trips will last all day, and we will not head to the pool.
What is served for breakfast, lunch & snack?
Spark will provide nutritious and balanced meals and snacks. Before each week of camp, we will send out a menu detailing what we’ll serve each day. Of course, if your child prefers to eat breakfast before camp or bring their own lunch, that is fine!
If your child has a food allergy, please include that on the registration form within the Medical Information section. Families may also choose to send meals with students to Spark.
How can parents be involved?
We love it when parents or guardians come into the classroom when dropping off or picking up their child(ren). This provides an excellent opportunity to see what your child(ren) is doing, meet and get to know their teacher, and maybe even tinker with our STEAM resources!
If you work in a STEAM field and would love to share your expertise with all Spark students, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Parent guest speakers are some of our favorites!
Will my child have time to play and relax?
Our days will be packed with engaging activities, dreaming, engineering, and plenty of games. But we know some downtime is essential, too. As our day begins, students will have time to warm up with individual activities, reading, and small group activities. Throughout the day, we’ll explore STEAM lessons with plenty of breaks to head outside. Then, after lunch, we’ll take some time to relax before we resume our action-packed explorations. Finally, we’ll end the day with more downtime, where students can again work on individual or small group activities and read or play STEAM-based computer games.
How are behavior issues handled?
Our goal is to create a camp environment that is safe, welcoming, and fun for all children. We teach and support positive behavior through respect, clear expectations, and calm problem-solving. Discipline at camp is meant to guide behavior — not punish.
Children are expected to:
- Treat themselves, others, and staff with respect
- Use kind words and safe bodies
- Follow directions and camp rules
- Take care of camp materials and spaces
Staff model positive behavior, reinforce success, and help children practice better choices when problems occur.
Behavior Guidance Steps - Staff use the following approaches before consequences are given:
- Reminder & Redirection: The behavior is discussed and the child is reminded of expectations. Staff help the child choose a safer or more appropriate behavior.
- Second Reminder or Break From Activity: The child stays near the group while taking time to calm down and reset. Staff review expectations again and support problem-solving.
- Cool-Down / Time-Out
A brief, age-appropriate cool-down will be used so the child can regain control and return to the group. - Behavior Report & Parent/Guardian Notification
A written report is completed if behavior:- repeats after redirection
- disrupts the safety or learning of others
- causes harm or damage
- Parents/guardians review the report and discuss expectations with their child.
Immediate Parent Contact / Early Pick-Up
- Parents/guardians may be contacted to pick up a child if behavior includes:
- Physical aggression or unsafe actions
- Threatening or intimidating others
- Continual refusal to follow safety rules
- Behavior that significantly disrupts the program
Unless otherwise stated, the child may return the next program day.
Ongoing or Serious Behavior Concerns
- If unsafe or disruptive behavior continues after parent communication:
- First occurrence → child may be removed for the remainder of the day or week
- Continued behavior in future weeks → suspension from additional camp weeks
- Repeated or severe incidents → dismissal from the program for the summer
Decisions are made with safety, fairness, and program integrity in mind.
