Spring Break Camps

• Morning Drop-off and Afternoon Pick-up are located at the SIDE of the building, where the planetarium is located. Doors will be open at 8 a.m.


• Special Camp Phone Number! The museum is closed on Mondays and before 10 a.m. Tues.-Fri. If you need to contact the SCSM Camp Team please text or call (803) 528-2706. For all inquiries regarding membership, payments, adding extended day or day-of camp, please call Group Visits at (803) 898-4999.


• Each day we will ask you to verify your camper’s security information for the day. Please give yourself a little extra time on your camper’s first day so we can make sure your camper is safe and secure with us here at the State Museum. We do our best to clear everything up before your arrival but there may still be some questions. 


• Late drop-off may cause your camper to miss activities. We’ll do our best to get them caught up but we may not be able to adjust our schedule every time. We are also unable to repeat activities missed due to absenteeism. We’ll do our best to send materials home so that you can still complete the activities! 


• Please avoid picking up campers between 2:30-3 p.m. as we are in the middle of activities at that time. If you arrive between 2:30-3 p.m. we will ask you if pick-up is immediate or if they have time to finish up their current activity.

 PLEASE NOTE:

Any child at the State Museum after 3:30 p.m. will be considered an Extended Day Camper and the Extended Day Camp fee will be charged. 

There is a $10 late fee for every 5-minutes a camper is late being picked up. 

The State Museum knows parents are very busy and sometimes picking up your camper right at 3 p.m. can be difficult. We are happy to offer a fun and entertaining Extended Day Camp where students can continue to explore the museum and participate in activities until 5:30 p.m. Extended Day is an additional cost. 

Each camper is expected to bring their own non-perishable, non-microwavable lunch and at least one snack (two if they are staying for Extended Day).

• The museum is not be able to refrigerate or microwave any meals.
• The museum will not provide snacks.
• The museum is not able to take campers to the café for lunch.
• Campers are not supposed to share food unless related and one lunch is packed for both of them.
•  If you are dropping lunches off late in the day you can take them to admissions. They’ll get in touch with camp and we will take the lunch to the appropriate student.
• All campers MUST have a lunch every time they come to camp. Even if your camper is “not a big eater” they must have food and will be provided the opportunity to eat.
• Please make sure lunch boxes are easily identifiable. The museum is not responsible for mixed-up lunch boxes.
• Please make sure your camper can distinguish between their lunch and snack. If they eat their lunch during snack and are hungry again during our actual lunch time, we will have to call you to bring additional food.

• Campers should all wear close-toed shoes.
• We recommend a light jacket because some of the exhibits can be cold.
• A free camp t-shirt will be provided every Monday. All campers must wear their camp shirts every single day for security reasons. Additional shirts may be purchased at the Front Desk for $10.

Lunch, a separate snack (two if staying for Extended Day), and an eagerness to learn! SCSM will provide all learning materials. Please keep all electronics (including cell phones), personal toys, stuffed animals, and blankets at home. Please keep large backpacks at home unless absolutely necessary.

Electronics and Cell Phones:

It is our policy that electronics should stay home unless medically necessary. Schools and camps across the country are always struggling with this issue and we know different camps have different policies. At SCSM, we are committed to each and every student and making sure they are valued and known. We believe in the importance of our shared community and engaging together socially and academically. In order to get the most out of camp, they need to engage with us and their peers. Access to cell phones, texts, and social media magnifies behaviors and attitudes that harm inclusion and acceptance which are key tenets of a healthy and joyful camp experience.

You will always have access to your child. Here are some ways we do that: 

• Present your photo ID and it will be checked against the Authorized Pick-up list.
• Camper will be brought out to you
• For the safety and security of other campers, adults who are not camp staff are not permitted to visit the classrooms.

If you’d like to speak with your child during the day:

• Call or text the camp cell phone: (803) 528-2706
• We’ll get to your camper as quickly as possible and give them the phone

If you’d simply like a midday update, please let us know and we will do our absolute best to do that when we have a moment.

If your camper is sick or you need to reschedule, the following applies: 

• A written cancellation request must be received two weeks or more before the scheduled camp in order to receive a refund. You must send this to group_visits@scmuseum.org  

• No refunds will be issued for cancellations made with less than two weeks’ notice.  

• If rescheduling is preferred, it is subject to space availability. 

• The South Carolina State Museum reserves the right to reschedule or cancel any activity. A refund will be given if the museum cancels a camp. 

• Any camper who vomits during camp will immediately be sent home. 

• Campers who test positive for Covid-19, strep, or any other communicable disease will be given the opportunity to reschedule. If there is no availability, a refund will be given. 

• The South Carolina State Museum is not able to issue a refund or reschedule partial weeks or single days of camp. 

For the safety of all campers, adults are not permitted to participate in SCSM camp activities. We recommend a quick hug at drop-off, an excited hug at pick-up, and avoiding “visiting” during the day, especially for new campers. Adults will not be permitted to visit classrooms during the day. Campers will be brought out to you once ID and authorization have been verified. Please see below for information on Educational Aids.

This does not only have to be disabilities. If a family member is away on a work trip it may cause a camper to be more emotional. If grandma is in town they may be staying up really late and eating tons of junk food, which might make them super sleepy at camp. Whatever it may be – there are times when campers are just in situations that make life different. We love to know what might be going on so we can best serve every child. We all handle things differently as well, so any tips you want to give us on how to work with your child are also welcomed.

The museum and its classrooms are equipped with many things to make sure everyone can explore and have a great time! Please let us know if your camper will have any special requirements prior to your visit. Some of the tools we have include wheelchairs, noise canceling headphones, sensory/fidget bags, sensory seat pads, family restrooms, first aid, and assistive listening devices for shows. All camp staff are CPR/First Aid certified and have first aid kits on them at all times.

Educational Aids are welcome! The State Museum is not setup for 1:1 care and we do encourage educational aids to attend camp for anyone who may need it. All educational aids and assistants must be approved at least 2 weeks prior to camp.

If you have a camper with an educational aid, the following must happen prior to attending camp:

• They must be able to show proof of certification in the state of South Carolina.
• They must also be able to show proof of having passed a background check in their organization and provide their certifying organization’s contact information.
• Must pass a state background check through the SC State Museum (this can sometimes take a few weeks).
• If they are also allowed to take the child home they must be listed on the Authorized Pickup List.

Individuals who count as an educational aide include:

• Personal care attendants
• Registered behavior technicians
• Behavior therapists
• Special Education Teachers
• Special Education Teaching Assistants
• Respite care attendants
• ASL interpretive guides
• Visual impairment guides

• Each camp age group (6-8yrs and 9-11yrs) will have a room dedicated to them.
• This year the museum we will be back in our regular classrooms.
• Both groups of students will be brought together as one large group at times. This includes: Lunch, Planetarium Shows, 4D Shows, and during our Extended Day Camp program.
• Rooms will be sanitized at the end of each day.
• Campers will be attending 4D and planetarium shows at the same time as general visitors this year. Campers will be separated on their own rows, but general visitors will most likely be in the same room.
• Campers will be exploring the museum while general admission guests are here. We will have signs letting people know campers are in the exhibitions and we will encourage them to visit the exhibition after we have left. However, we cannot control every area and campers may at times be in the same areas as general visitors.

SCSM Educators take professional development and training classes in the following areas:

• CPR/First Aid certification with the American Heart Association
• Autism 101 with SC Autism
• Accessibility Training with a focus on autism, ADHD, and anxiety with the Behavior Co. ABA Behavior Therapy
• Security and emergency safety protocols
• Exhibition Interpretation/Tours
• DSS/Mandated Reporter Training 
• Maintaining a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive classroom environment
• Classroom management with a focus on Montessori, Reggio, Maker, and Curiosity Approach learning styles