Children’s Program Frequently Asked Questions

A Few General Guidelines

Classes begin at 9am and end at 12 pm. At 12 pm, classes will be in front of the pole barn and ready for pick up.
Please do not drop off more than 15 minutes early in the morning or pick up late in the afternoon.
Please obey the parking and speed limit signs for the safety of the children.
Children will only be released to parents/guardians or authorized adults (listed in online account) unless they have a note.
Students MUST wear long pants and closed-toed sturdy shoes (no shorts or flip-flops please).  If you want to use bug spray or sunscreen, please apply them at home.
Pack a nut-free snack and water for your child. There is no drinking water available at the Workshop, and no facilities for keeping snacks cold, so please prepare accordingly.
If your child needs medication at the Workshop, we are required to have medical orders from your physician

Registration

What do the grades listed by the classes mean?
For the purposes of summer class registration, a child is considered to be in the grade they are going into that fall. For example, if a child is in 4th grade during the 2022-2023 school year, they would be considered a 5th grader for enrollment in summer 2023 classes.

When do classes meet?
Classes meet from 9 am to 12 pm.

How will drop-off and pick-up work for Summer 2023?

For both drop-off and pick-up, cars will proceed to the top of the driveway circle. Parents/guardians should remain in cars at all times. There will be four stations at the top of the driveway for students to get out of/into cars. For drop-off, staff members will be at each station to assist students in finding classes (all classes will have designated locations around or in the pole barn). For pick-up, cars will be assigned numbers. As cars approach the top of the driveway circle, staff will announce car numbers and students riding in those cars will leave their class areas and be assisted to cars by staff. Staff will be checking lists of authorized adults to be sure that students are dismissed only to authorized adults.

Absences: Please notify the Workshop via phone at 518-765-2777. Please note that emailed absences are not accessible during Workshop hours.

Early Dismissals: Please notify the Workshop as soon as possible via phone at 518-765-2777. Please note that emailed absences are not accessible during Workshop hours.

Late Arrivals: Please notify the Workshop as soon as possible via phone at 518-765-2777. Students will be escorted to their site with a staff member. Please do not bring students to their class area.

Cancellation Policy: There is a $50 nonrefundable fee for all registrations. For cancellations received 6 weeks or more prior to the start of the class for the registration being cancelled, 100% of the remainder (after the nonrefundable fee) will be refunded. For cancellations received 3 to 6 weeks prior to the start of the class registration between cancelled, 50% of the remainder (after the nonrefundable fee) will be refunded. For cancellations received less than 3 weeks before the start of the class, there is no refund.

Busing
Heldeberg Workshop will have busing available for two weeks this Summer (the weeks of 7/24 and 7/31). We are only offering transportation in Albany and Delmar. The confirmed location in Delmar is the Bethlehem Middle School. We are currently making arrangements for the specific bus stop location in Albany. We will share this information as soon as we have it. The bus fee is $40 per child per week.

Other Information

What should I wear?
Light-colored long pants, shoes or sneakers, and socks are appropriate for most classes; some classes, such as spelunking and blacksmithing, require special clothing.

Spelunkers should wear warm clothing (jeans, sweatshirts or flannel shirts) boots or sneakers and work gloves. Helmets will be provided. Bring a change of clothing for afterward as caves can be muddy. Spelunkers also need 3 sources of light.

Are there bathrooms on the Land?
Well-maintained outhouses are available; there is no electricity on the Land, nor is there potable water. We have an ADA compliant outhouse near the pole building

What should I bring?
Sunscreen and a hat are recommended. Insect repellent, if you choose to use it, should be applied at home. Spelunkers need to bring 3 sources of light. You also need to bring your own drinking water and a snack.

What happens if the weather is bad?
Classes will be held “rain or shine” unless we have really severe weather, i.e., thunderstorms. If classes are canceled, a message will be placed on our answering machine. You can access this at 765-2777. We will also try to post updates on Facebook.

Open Houses
We have not determined if we plan to offer open houses in 2022.

How can I leave a phone message?
The Heldeberg Workshop phone number is 765-2777. Leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Before the summer program begins, messages are checked on Saturday morning and Monday evening. During the regular summer session, the phone is checked daily. If your phone does not accept private calls, our return calls may be blocked.

Are Outdoor Education Intern (OEI) positions available at the Heldeberg Workshop? Yes! Submit your application

Is there a risk of ticks?
Yes. Ticks are common in Albany County in the spring, summer, and fall. It is a good idea to wear light-colored clothing. This will make ticks easier to spot. You should also tuck your socks up over the bottom of your pant legs. It is also a good idea to check carefully for ticks when you go home. Insect repellent, if you choose to use it, should be applied at home.

Please consult the Department of Health website if you would like more information about ticks and communicable diseases.