with Miss Jen

Join me for Outdoor Play & Learning!

Please email TGwithMissJen@gmail.com with questions!

Spring Season Registration

Price: $75 for 6 weeks for Bloomfield residents (additional fees for out-of-town residents), register at Bloomfield Parks and Recreation

Class Policies and FAQ

(Note: These policies apply to all 9-week seasons booked directly through Tinkergarten with Miss Jen. Any classes booked via Bloomfield Parks and Recreation are subject to their policies and regulations.)

What ages does the program serve?

The Tinkergarten program is designed for children ages 18 months-8 years. The Tinkergarten Homeschool class has extensions and modifications making it perfect for children 5-9 years.

Children younger and older than that age range are welcome to enroll and families are encouraged to try a free class to see if it is a good fit for their explorer.

How many children are in a class?

Classes have a minimum enrollment of 4 and maximum of 15. If a family registers for a class that does not meet minimum enrollment, you will be notified 24 hours prior to the start of class and will receive a refund or credit toward a future class.

Can siblings come for free?

Siblings under 12 months of age may join at no cost. Siblings over one year should enroll in the class, and they will receive a 25% sibling discount.

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 asked to notify the teacher if an extra child needs to attend for a session so they can prepare any necessary materials.

Are refunds offered?

If a refund is requested BEFORE the season of classes begins, families can receive a full refund (less any processing fees) or credit towards a future class.

If a refund is requested AFTER the season of classes begins, families can receive a refund for half of the value of the remaining sessions in the season.

Are credits or refunds offered for missed sessions?

Credits and refunds are not offered for classes missed by families. If classes need to be canceled by the teacher, they will be rescheduled at the end of the season. If more than two classes are canceled/rescheduled by the teacher, families are eligible for a refund or credit for those canceled sessions.

What happens in inclement weather?

Decisions about whether it is safe to hold class are determined by the teacher using local weather guidance. The teacher will update families at least 90 minutes prior to class by email. If class needs to be canceled due to unsafe weather, they will be rescheduled for the end of the season (up to 2 classes). Note that classes will not be canceled due to rain only.

Safety Information

There are ways we keep everyone safe at Tinkergarten classes. This includes:

• 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 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.
  

The approach to health/COVID-19 safety in classes:

• We design our classroom spaces and activities so that we limit participants' sustained close contact with people outside of their family/pod.
  
• Eating or drinking should be done in “nests” with distance from anyone outside or participants' household or pod.
  
• When temperatures are above 50-60 degrees, Leaders provide a soap + water mixture for participants to wash hands as they arrive.
  
• If you or one of the people who join you in class test positive or are exposed to someone who is positive before class, please follow the current CDC Guidelines for isolation or quarantine. While in isolation or quarantine, stay home from Tinkergarten.
  
• If you or someone in your household who attended your Tinkergarten class test positive for COVID-19 after participating in a session, reach out to us.