ENROLLMENT INFO
SALISH SEA FUND
We know that creating a viable future for this generation depends on all of us apprenticing to this beautifully diverse, wildly complex and nuanced being that is LIFE. It depends on us uplifting each other's stories - yours, mine, Elderberry, Deer, and all those who have been tending these very lands and waters since time immemorial. Our collective story of health and well-being is deeply woven together and we at VWP are devoted to tending reciprocal relationships for our mutual thriving.
We’re honored to announce that starting Fall 2023, Indigenous children will have the option to attend our programs for free.
Thanks to a generous donor, we have been gifted with seed money to establish the new “Salish Sea Fund”, and have committed to matching this gift, for a total of $10,000 this first year. We’ll welcome families from any Indigenous tribe whose ancestors or living kin are woven with the land and waters of the Salish Sea, as well as any Indigenous family who calls Vashon-Maury Island home. This is one small step in our ongoing story to heal the harm in our work and to walk in right relations.
To learn more, please contact Stacey Hinden, Executive Director: stacey@vashonwilderness.org
EQUITABLE ACCESS FUND
Since our inception, we have provided financial assistance to ensure access to our programs. We are currently transforming our policies to actively realign our economic priorities with our commitment to justice. The Equitable Access Fund will help us to transform the landscape of our nature connection programs by honoring the history of Indigenous peoples and prioritizing those traditionally excluded from nature connection and/or furthest from economic justice. Stay tuned for more details!
For now, if you would like to access financial assistance, please complete the form found within the enrollment forms. The maximum tuition assistance offered is typically 50% of tuition for each enrolling youth. When the need is greater and funds are available we make exceptions!
We ask all families to carefully consider their need in light of our limited resources and their positionality. Below is one economic framing to help you locate yourself (adapted from The Sliding Scale: A Tool For Economic Justice created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk).
Please note: Submission of a request for Equitable Access Funds does NOT automatically register you for a program or reserve a space in that program. You will receive notification of your tuition discount by email and have two weeks to call/email to accept or to decline. Should your allocation be less than you need to enroll, your deposit will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee.
Wait Lists
Our weekly and monthly school year programs are very popular and fill quickly, typically by May/June for the following program year. Please be sure to place your child on our waitlist. If spots become available, we will be in touch with you. There is typically a 3-5 day window to register before we offer the spot to the next family on our wait list.
Please note: we do not carry names on our waitlist forward from one year to the next.
POLICIES
Deposits
All deposits are non-refundable.
Payments
For school-year weekly programs:
Quarterly payments are due on the 1st of August, October, December and March. Our payment plan does not mean that enrollment is on a quarter by quarter basis. Enrollment requires a commitment to the entire school year.
Mail quarterly payments to VWP, P.O. Box 712, Vashon WA 98070. Hand-delivered tuition payments will not be accepted.
For monthly/special programs: Deposit upon registration + August 1st balance due
For summer camp programs: Full payment due upon registration.
Late Payments
We have a five-day grace period, including the due date. After this grace period, there is a $25 charge for late tuition payments.
Each time a payment is late, the late fee needs to be paid; and each time a payment contract is made and then changed, the late fee applies.
For school-year weekly programs:
Should your payment extend past 20 days, we reserve the right to ask that your child not attend any classes until payment is made.
Payment must be made, or plan to pay must be worked out, within 30 days of payment due date or VWP will consider the student “de-enrolled.”
Current year’s program tuition must be paid in full no later than March 31st in order to be able to re-enroll in the next year’s program.
Cancellations
For school-year weekly programs:
In the event that a student withdraws from the program before the end of the year, tuition through the current quarter will be retained.
We plan on having 33 weeks of class during the school year. In the case of severe weather (ice storm, blizzard, etc.) we will do our best to hold class, perhaps at an alternate location if possible. We are unable to offer refunds if any duration of a program is cancelled due to inclement weather, or circumstances out of our control.
For monthly and other school-year programs, if you cancel, or leave a course for any reason:
15 or more days prior to the course starting date; you are entitled to a full refund, minus the deposit.
Between 8 and 14 days prior to the course starting date, VWP will retain 50% of the course tuition.
Fewer than 8 days prior to the course starting date and once the course has begun, there will be no refunds.
For summer camp, if you cancel, or leave a course for any reason:
30 days or more prior to the camp start date: 75% refund
16-29 days prior to the camp start date: 50% refund
15 days or less prior to the camp start date and once the course has begun: no refund
If VWP cancels a program before it gets started, VWP will refund the full tuition.
Severe weather: In the case of severe weather (ice storm, blizzard, fire/smoke, etc.) we will do our best to hold class, presuming it is safe to do so. If class is cancelled due to severe weather, we are not able to make up that day, and refunds will not be given for these cancellations.
Transfers
If you transfer from one program to another:
15 or more days prior to the course starting date – no additional charges. Tuition is fully transferable.
14 days or less prior to the course starting date, regular cancellation and refund charges will apply.
Scholarship requests are non-transferable and a new request would need to be submitted with the transfer.
GEAR
Gear List
There are a few essentials for each student to bring each day in order for them and everyone else to remain happy and healthy during our adventures. Some programs will have additional recommended gear.
Clothes: Wool, fleece or polypropylene underwear that will stay warm when wet; wool socks; warm hat and gloves; waterproof rain gear; NO cotton; earth tones or camouflage colors are great colors for sneaking/hiding.
Shoes: Closed-toe shoes (not sandals/tevas/etc.) are required; boots for rain/mud recommended; barefoot play is encouraged!
Food/Water: Lunch, snacks, water all inside a comfortable backpack that they can carry.
Journal/Books: Journal and writing implement; field guides (optional)
Lost & Found
We strongly recommend writing names on everything! We will attempt to collect lost items and have them available at sign in the following week. Unclaimed items will be donated to consignment at the end of the month.