No, lunch is not provided. Students should bring their own lunch and snack each day. Please note that Dickson Valley is a peanut-free facility.

Drop-off begins at 8:45 AM, and the program starts promptly at 9:00 AM. Pick-up is at 3:00 PM. Please be on time so our day can start and end smoothly!

Drop-off and pick-up will take place at the Parking Lot Pavilion unless weather requires a change—in that case, we’ll let you know ahead of time.

As much as possible! Weather permitting, most lessons and activities will take place outdoors. We have several covered pavilions for rainy days and a large indoor space we’ll use when it’s too cold or unsafe to be outside. Kids should come prepared for all kinds of weather and expect to be outdoors often.

• Weather-appropriate clothing such as rain gear (jacket and pants), snow gear, and cold-weather layers as needed.

• Sturdy, weather-appropriate shoes or boots

• Lunch and snack (peanut-free)

• A backpack or bag to carry home art and papers

• A full set of clothes (can be left at camp in a labeled zip-lock bag)

All other supplies will be provided!

Yes! At DVLC, we intentionally use mixed-age groups. Research shows that learning and playing alongside children of different ages encourages growth in social skills, empathy, leadership, and collaboration. At times, we may separate into “lower elementary” and “upper elementary” groups for certain activities, but most of the day will be spent all together as one group.

If your child is placed on the waitlist, we’ll reach out as soon as a spot opens up. Deposit is still required to hold your spot on the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, we’ll contact you via email and give you 48 hours to confirm your registration. If we’re unable to place your child in the program, your deposit will be fully refunded.

 (Spoiler alert: Yes. In the best way!) We believe the best kind of learning often involves mud, leaves, paint, and a healthy dose of outdoor play. Your child will come home with full hearts, tired legs, and probably dirt on their clothes—and we think that’s a win.

 Yes, registration is per semester. This helps us create a consistent group dynamic and rhythm for learning and relationships. If you're unsure whether it's the right fit, feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to chat! 

A $100 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration to hold your child’s spot in the program.

• If you cancel before the first day of the program, we’ll refund your tuition, minus the deposit.

• If you cancel after the program has begun, you will be responsible for 50% of the remaining tuition. This helps us cover the cost of staff, supplies, and planning that go into each week.

We understand that life can be unpredictable. If your family is facing an emergency or unique circumstance, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.

 We use the Exploring Nature With Children curriculum, a year-long nature study guide that includes weekly topics, nature walks, readings, art, poetry, and seasonal activities. It’s designed to be flexible and engaging for a wide age range and fits beautifully with our outdoor setting.

Yes! We will Mighty Virtues from Tiny Theologians to guide our Bible time. Each week we focus on a different virtue rooted in Scripture. Families receive a set of virtue cards with registration to reinforce learning at home.