Hello UAS families,
Thank you for registering your Squad member for a school year 2023-24 full-day program! We are looking forward to joyful outdoor learning in Washington, DC's beautiful green spaces. Our programs include stream science, art and design projects, engineering challenges, local history, daily hikes, and lots of time to play and explore.
DROPOFF: 8:45-9:00 AM
PICKUP: 3:55-4:00 PM
Please be on time. There is no aftercare.
If you're running late in the morning or afternoon, please call or text to let us know.
HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR ADVENTURE:
WEATHER CANCELLATIONS. We run programs year-round, however if there is relentless rain, lightning, or otherwise dangerous weather throughout all or part of the day, we may have to shorten or cancel that day's program. If rain is in the forecast, your child should be prepared with an umbrella and/or rain jacket. If we need to cancel, delay our start, or end a program early, we'll text the Primary Contact on your account.
NO ELECTRONICS. Please do not send your child with electronics. We will be busy all day hiking, birding, drawing, measuring, designing, and playing, and cannot keep track of expensive electronics.
ALLERGY PROTOCOL. If your child has an allergy protocol, please email that to our staff (emails listed below). UAS educators carry Benadryl but will only administer it if we see the signs and symptoms you indicate in your allergy protocol. If a child with no known allergies exhibits a mild to moderate allergic reaction, we will call you to get permission to administer Benadryl. If a child with no known allergies exhibits a severe allergic reaction, we will call 911 and then call you. All UAS educators are First Aid/CPR/AED certified and trained in Epi-Pen administration.
Meet our educators by checking out our UAS Staff Bios page.
BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS
A few important things to remember that will help make it a great day of learning and adventure:
Safety is our highest priority. Safety comes before anything else at the Squad. We maintain a respectful, safe atmosphere throughout the day in which everyone--children and adults--is welcomed and accepted. We do not tolerate physical aggression, inappropriate language, or repeated failures to follow basic safety rules regarding street crossings, bullying, or the use of electronic devices. We do our very best to help each Squad member adjust to these expectations. We foster an environment of mutual respect and safety, and we are firm on our expectations. The family-UAS relationship is critical; we rely on families to reinforce our expectations.
If, after repeated reminders, a Squad member fails to comply with our rules of safety and conduct, UAS reserves the right to dismiss a student from our program.
We are a very small organization and we do as much as we can with limited resources. We are not a camp, but a small and growing year-round outdoor education organization with a mission to support families and schools with community-based, experiential learning programs. We do our very best to make communication easy, and to be accessible to you. Our program educators are a smart, warm, engaging group of people, and we are trained in making our atmosphere a welcome and accepting one.
If we fail to do that, we want to hear from you. Please note these important addresses and save them to your contacts. And please check your spam filters if you're waiting to hear from us!
General email: [email protected]
Christy Brock, UAS Director of Programming: [email protected]
Elana Mintz, UAS Founder and Executive Director: [email protected]
Those are the basics. We want to ensure everyone has the best possible experience, so we’re available for any questions or concerns you may have--please don't hesitate to ask! We can help ease Squad member (and family!) nerves, discuss allergy concerns and protocols, or anything else that may come up.
Please direct your questions to [email protected]
We’re looking forward to an adventure-filled school year together!
Thank you for registering your Squad member for a school year 2023-24 full-day program! We are looking forward to joyful outdoor learning in Washington, DC's beautiful green spaces. Our programs include stream science, art and design projects, engineering challenges, local history, daily hikes, and lots of time to play and explore.
DROPOFF: 8:45-9:00 AM
PICKUP: 3:55-4:00 PM
Please be on time. There is no aftercare.
If you're running late in the morning or afternoon, please call or text to let us know.
HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR ADVENTURE:
- BACKPACK WITH A LARGE WATER BOTTLE AND LUNCH. UAS will provide morning and afternoon snacks, but we ask that you send your child with a lunch each day. Squad members should bring their lunch and a large water bottle in a comfortable backpack. Be sure to label all items with your child's name. NOTE: UAS snacks do not contain nuts, but you are welcome to pack nuts and nut products in your child's lunch. We have each child's allergy information and allergy protocol.
- WEAR WEATHER-APPROPRIATE CLOTHES. We recommend a hat and light, breathable layers in warmer months, hats and gloves in cold weather, and rain jackets, boots, and umbrellas if the forecast is wet. We do go out hiking in the rain. Most weather is good weather when you're dressed for it! Light-colored layers and tall socks help for tick prevention in warm months--Ticks come out any time it's above freezing. For UAS tick protocol, click here. Comfortable hiking shoes are a must. We do not recommend flip flops or Crocs.
WEATHER CANCELLATIONS. We run programs year-round, however if there is relentless rain, lightning, or otherwise dangerous weather throughout all or part of the day, we may have to shorten or cancel that day's program. If rain is in the forecast, your child should be prepared with an umbrella and/or rain jacket. If we need to cancel, delay our start, or end a program early, we'll text the Primary Contact on your account.
NO ELECTRONICS. Please do not send your child with electronics. We will be busy all day hiking, birding, drawing, measuring, designing, and playing, and cannot keep track of expensive electronics.
ALLERGY PROTOCOL. If your child has an allergy protocol, please email that to our staff (emails listed below). UAS educators carry Benadryl but will only administer it if we see the signs and symptoms you indicate in your allergy protocol. If a child with no known allergies exhibits a mild to moderate allergic reaction, we will call you to get permission to administer Benadryl. If a child with no known allergies exhibits a severe allergic reaction, we will call 911 and then call you. All UAS educators are First Aid/CPR/AED certified and trained in Epi-Pen administration.
Meet our educators by checking out our UAS Staff Bios page.
BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS
A few important things to remember that will help make it a great day of learning and adventure:
Safety is our highest priority. Safety comes before anything else at the Squad. We maintain a respectful, safe atmosphere throughout the day in which everyone--children and adults--is welcomed and accepted. We do not tolerate physical aggression, inappropriate language, or repeated failures to follow basic safety rules regarding street crossings, bullying, or the use of electronic devices. We do our very best to help each Squad member adjust to these expectations. We foster an environment of mutual respect and safety, and we are firm on our expectations. The family-UAS relationship is critical; we rely on families to reinforce our expectations.
If, after repeated reminders, a Squad member fails to comply with our rules of safety and conduct, UAS reserves the right to dismiss a student from our program.
We are a very small organization and we do as much as we can with limited resources. We are not a camp, but a small and growing year-round outdoor education organization with a mission to support families and schools with community-based, experiential learning programs. We do our very best to make communication easy, and to be accessible to you. Our program educators are a smart, warm, engaging group of people, and we are trained in making our atmosphere a welcome and accepting one.
If we fail to do that, we want to hear from you. Please note these important addresses and save them to your contacts. And please check your spam filters if you're waiting to hear from us!
General email: [email protected]
Christy Brock, UAS Director of Programming: [email protected]
Elana Mintz, UAS Founder and Executive Director: [email protected]
Those are the basics. We want to ensure everyone has the best possible experience, so we’re available for any questions or concerns you may have--please don't hesitate to ask! We can help ease Squad member (and family!) nerves, discuss allergy concerns and protocols, or anything else that may come up.
Please direct your questions to [email protected]
We’re looking forward to an adventure-filled school year together!