All cancellations must be submitted in writing.

Cancellations made before May 1, 2026, will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made on or after May 1, 2026, are non-refundable. 

MMA Memberships are non-refundable.

Transfer requests may be submitted before or after May 1, 2026, and are subject to availability and program capacity.

All approved transfers will incur a $75 transfer fee per camper, per session.

If the new session is priced lower, no refund will be issued for the price difference.

If the new session is priced higher, families are responsible for paying the difference.

Please note: After May 1, 2026, transfers cannot be guaranteed due to staffing, supply ordering, and enrollment limits. Requests submitted after this date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and approved only if they do not impact program operations.

If a camp session is full, a waitlist link will appear next to that session on the registration webpage. Families may add their child to the waitlist by completing the form for the specific session.

If a space becomes available, families will be contacted in the order requests are received. Families will have 24 hours to respond once contacted. If no response is received within that time, the space may be offered to the next family on the waitlist.

Placement from the waitlist is not guaranteed.

Age requirements are set intentionally to ensure a positive, developmentally appropriate experience for all campers. Because many of our camps fill quickly and often have waitlists, we generally do not make exceptions to age groupings. Allowing out-of-age placements could prevent age-eligible campers from enrolling.

That said, limited exceptions may be considered under the following conditions:

There is space available within one week of the session start date.

Staff conduct an age and group composition review to determine whether the placement is developmentally appropriate for the group as a whole. For example, a session primarily composed of 5-year-olds may be considered differently than one with mostly 6–6.5-year-olds.

Families understand that if a younger child is unable to keep pace with the program—due to difficulty following instructions, participating independently, or requiring significant additional support—the child may be withdrawn from the program. In these cases, no refund will be issued.

Requests for age exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

Unless specifically noted in the program description, campers do not swim during Discovery Camp.

For water exploration activities:

Ages 5–6 may enter the water up to ankle depth.

Ages 7–12 may enter the water up to knee depth.

For camps that include swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking, campers are required to complete a swim test in accordance with Massachusetts regulations.

Campers who pass the swim test may participate while wearing a less restrictive flotation belt.

Campers who do not pass the swim test must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life vest.

The Maria Mitchell Association provides flotation devices for all campers who require one. Campers may also bring their own flotation device if preferred, provided it is U.S. Coast Guard–approved and in good condition.

Pick up and drop off for the Discovery Camp Outbound programs (Wee-Explorers, Habitat Hopper, and Eco Investigators) is at the Nantucket Ice Rink on 10 Backus Lane.

Nantucket Nature Bound, Junior Astronomers, Junior Historians and Junior Ecologists Programs meet at the Vestal Street Courtyard, 2 Vestal Street and Junior Aquarists program meets at the MMA Aquarium at 32 Washington Street.  

Please check the weekly agenda and maps you receive by email the Wednesday before your session for exact details. 

Clothing & Footwear

Exploration can involve water, sand, and messy outdoor activities. Please dress your child in clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty.

Wearing a bathing suit under clothing or a UPF 50+ sun shirt is strongly recommended for water play and outdoor activities.

For safety, campers must wear close-toed shoes suitable for walking, running, and hiking.

Flip-flops are not allowed.

Campers may bring sandals or water shoes with ankle straps for beach and shallow water exploration.

Lunch & Snacks

For morning and full-day programs, please provide a lunch and snacks.

Refrigeration is not available.

Due to allergy concerns, food sharing is not permitted.

Water

Campers should arrive each day with plenty of drinking water, especially during hot or sunny weather.

We do not always have access to refillable water sources during the day.

Full-day campers should bring extra water.

We recommend sending at least two full water bottles each day.

Sun Protection

The Maria Mitchell Association prioritizes sun safety and environmental responsibility.

UPF 50+ sun shirts are recommended for both half-day and full-day programs, as they remain effective in water and do not require reapplication.

Additional sun protection such as wide-brim hats and sunglasses are encouraged.

Please clearly label all clothing and accessories.

If sunscreen is used:

Campers should arrive already wearing sunscreen (SPF 50 or higher recommended).

Full-day campers will have designated times to reapply their own sunscreen.

Campers may not share sunscreen due to allergy concerns.

Please send extra sunscreen if your child is especially sun-sensitive.

Insect Repellent

Some program sites may have biting insects.

Families may send non-aerosol insect repellent for their child’s comfort.

Ticks

While we take precautions to reduce tick exposure, campers may encounter ticks in wooded or grassy areas.

Staff will conduct general visual checks when possible, but families should perform a thorough tick check at home each day.

Please note that staff cannot check areas covered by clothing.

For more information on tick prevention and safety, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

To ensure a safe, focused, and positive experience for all campers, please do not send your child with the following items:

• Electronic devices (including phones, smart watches with calling or messaging capabilities, tablets, handheld games, and headphones).
• Toys from home (including stuffed animals, action figures, and trading cards).
• Money or valuables.
• Weapons or items that resemble weapons
• Aerosol sprays (including sunscreen or insect repellent).

The Maria Mitchell Association is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen personal items. Any prohibited items brought to camp will be held by staff and returned to families at pick-up.

Program locations during inclement weather depend on the severity of conditions.

• During light rain or mist, classes will continue outdoors as planned.
• In cases of heavy rain, thunderstorms, or unsafe weather, programs will move to indoor teaching spaces, when available. Indoor locations may vary based on space availability.

On overcast days or days with rain in the forecast, please send your child with a raincoat or poncho.

The Maria Mitchell Association reserves the right to cancel programs in the event of severe or dangerous weather conditions to ensure the safety of campers and staff.

Registration for Discovery Camp and Teen Nature Bound Programs can be completed online, by phone, or in person.

• Online: Register directly to view current availability or join a waitlist for full sessions.
• By phone: Call the Administrative Office to register; staff are available to assist from 6:00–9:00 a.m., and throughout the day.
• In person: Visit the Maria Mitchell Association Administrative Office at 4 Vestal Street.

Camp registration opens at 6:00 a.m., and staff are available to provide support during peak registration hours and beyond.

The Maria Mitchell Association encourages campers to make new friends, but we understand the comfort of being with someone they know—especially in a new environment.

To help us accommodate requests:

• List your child’s friend(s) or sibling(s) on the medical release/pick-up form completed during registration.
• We will make every effort to place children together, but due to session size and program structure, requests cannot be guaranteed.

In order to create a comfortable learning environment for our participants, we do keep camp groups small. The MMA always maintains a student to instructor ratio of no more than 5:1 or 10:1 based on the appropriate age. All camp groups have a maximum of 10 or 20 campers and minimum of two instructors to maintain the respective ratios.

Our Summer Discovery Programs are designed for hands-on outdoor learning and take place at a variety of wooded and seaside locations around Nantucket. Many of these sites are managed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Land Bank, and the Town of Nantucket. Locations may include:

• Sanford Farm
• Squam Swamp
• Windswept Bogs
• Masquetuck
• Jetties Beach
• Harbor Flats
• Dionis Beach
• And others

For beach activities, campers are primarily brought to north-side beaches, where the water is calm and shallow. Exceptions may be made for 10–12 and 13–17 year olds in specific programs.

When visiting south-side beaches, this is typically for special programs such as beach clean-ups, and campers are not allowed in or near the water.

No. Registration is for the full week, and fees are not pro-rated for partial attendance. This helps us ensure consistent staffing, planning, and program quality for all campers.

No. Discovery Camp and the Teen Nature Bound Programs do not run on Juneteenth (June 19) and July 4th. 

Weeks are pro-rated for these 4-day weeks.

All Maria Mitchell Association Discovery Camp interns meet rigorous safety and training standards:

• References & Background Checks: Each intern provides at least three positive references, and all pass criminal and sexual offender background checks.
• Certifications: Every intern is CPR, First Aid, and AED certified. Most are also lifeguard certified, and we limit the number of non-lifeguard-certified interns to two per summer. Those without lifeguard certification do not lead snorkeling or kayaking programs.
• Training: Interns complete an intensive two-week pre-camp training, including: 

 Certification as swim assessors to safely lead snorkeling programs

Training as health care supervisors, enabling them to assist with medications and administer EpiPens when needed

As a parent or guardian, you may call the Maria Mitchell Association at (508) 228-9198 to confirm that background checks have been completed and reviewed.

We encourage parents and guardians to share strategies for managing their child’s behavior. 

You may do this by:

• Speaking directly with instructors.
• Include notes on the medical release form during registration if applicable.

If staff encounter challenges with a child’s behavior, we will typically communicate with parents at pick-up to discuss strategies and request guidance.

Parents and guardians also have the right to request and review MMA’s discipline policies. For questions, please call (508) 228-9198 x105 or email programs@mariamitchell.org.

We welcome feedback from parents and guardians! You can share your thoughts by:

• Emailing us directly at the Maria Mitchell Association main office: info@mariamitchell.org or programs@mariamitchell.org.
• Calling the office at (508) 228-9198.
• Providing comments on any post-program survey you receive.

Your input helps us improve our programs and ensure a positive experience for all campers.