MSEC Summer Camp

We have been well aware of the issues many camp parents have been facing with the TouchNet marketplace system in recent weeks. Camp administration and the Mason Marketplace owners have been working together to investigate the cause of issue since February. Although an official fix has not been issued, our experimentation suggests that it is a result of using a Gmail account to sign up for registration. Use a non-Gmail email address to register, if possible, and contact camp administration for your email confirmation if not possible.

⚠ UPDATE: ⚠ We have heard from the support team of TouchNet. Due to the inner machinations of the TouchNet marketplace, the email confirmations are marked as "Undeliverable" when using certain major email hosts, includingGmail.com. TouchNet, Mason Marketplace, and GMU IT are working together to fix this critical error.

 

To cancel your reservation, please contact camp administration. We can connect you with the TouchNet administrators to proceed with the cancellation and refund. Be advised that the refund will be subtracted of credit card fees from George Mason's payment card processor, Elavon.

On the SciTech Campus, we have a smaller max capacity per week. There is no access to the George Mason Observatory, but there are several other Department of Physics and College of Engineering Laboratories to visit! Additionally, we are planning for an activity unique to the SciTech Location... There is one option for Retail Dining there (that's appropriate for kids, anyway), Randall's Cafe. Meals there typically run around $15 per person.

On the Fairfax Campus, we have a larger max capacity per week. There is, of course, access to the George Mason Observatory as part of the camp experience. There are multiple options for Retail Dining. Our camp will be visiting the Johnson Center during the lunch period daily, and the full list of establishments can be found on Sodexo's site. Meals there typically run from $12 -- 24 per person.

The "Base Camp" is targeted towards elementary schoolers, Grades Rising 4th -- 6th. The "Advanced Camp" is targeted academically towards middle schoolers, Grades Rising 6th -- 9th. (There is overlap as FCPS places 6th Grade in elementary school, but all neighboring counties and cities do not.) Camp Administration references the VA SOL Standards for Science and Mathematics when developing lesson plans, as well as through contact with FCPS Faculty. 

Although your child may be "gifted" and feel unchallenged academically in the camp targeted towards their Grade Level, we do not recommend signing up for the age ranges outside of it. 

We currently are not open to registration for campers Grades Rising 1st through 3rd. We may be expanded in the future to accommodate "junior cadets", but we are not currently. For interested high schoolers, the observatory directors recommend the ASSIP Program and the SCHAR Astro-Scholars.

If you would like to change any details about your camper's registration, such as the date of the camper's registration, please contact camp administration at masonspacecenter@gmail.com. We request at least 48 hours of notice, if possible. 

If you want to register for a week that is currently sold out, consider other available weeks currently still in stock. A few exceptions to this rule are possible; if you are only able to have your camper attend a specific time frame, please contact camp administration. 

For campers on the Fairfax Campus, George Mason Parking Services has requested that MSEC Families make use of the Shenandoah Parking Deck. Floors 1, 4, and 5 are permitted for 30-minute intervals for MSEC Families during our listed Pickup and Drop-off times.

For campers on the SciTech (Manassas) Campus, we have not received formal instruction from George Mason Parking Services. At this time, the provisional parking area for Pickup and Drop-Off is Discovery Parking Lot A. This webpage will be updated once instruction is given from Parking Services.

Due to the combined policies of University Risk Managment and the Programs, Events, and Camps Committee, unless otherwise specified parents and families will not be allowed to attend the events of our camps (with one exception at the end of the week).

For commuting families, we recommend making use of the many study or dining areas of the Fairfax and SciTech campuses. Dining hours and location can be found on Sodexo's website, and academic buildings like Horizon Hall or Katherine Johnson Hall offer ample locations for remote work. However, we advise to move your vehicle from the Shenandoah Deck to the General K and J parking lots.

Currently, the camp is running a 15% discount for all Summer Camp and Space Saturday registrations for all George Mason University (and Northern Virginia Community College) staff and faculty. To receive the code, kindly contact camp administration using your @gmu.edu (or @nvcc.edu) email account.

Our staff are willing and able to accommodate your camper's sensory and neurological needs. Use the P.E.C. medical form to indicate your camper's needs. For things such as needing time out, fidget toys, etc., contacting the camp administration with your camper's needs is greatly appreciated.

(I'll add KC details once I finish the paperwork with them -Ian)

If your only email provider is Gmail, the Mason Marketplace administrators propose the following workaround:

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As displayed in the image, when arriving at the "Order Summary" screen, hit the "Print" button and download the .pdf of your camper's confirmation. 

If you have difficulty with the process and/or need more details (such as EIN), please contact camp administration.