• A packed lunch

• Two nut-free snacks

• Warm outerwear, as lunch breaks may include outdoor recess (weather permitting)

• A refillable water bottle

• Doors will open at 8:45am each morning for drop-off. Please make sure your child arrives on time. Late drop-offs are disruptive to the program

• Pick-up begins at 4:00pm. The Program Manager should be notified, in writing, of any early pick-ups. Children will only be released to an approved adult.

• Participants may only self dismiss from the program if they have permission to do so via the Information Form. They cannot leave with participants who do not have permission to self-dismiss.

• The first time a parent/guardian is late to pick up, they will receive a warning, after which they will be charged an additional $20/participant for every 10 minutes they are late to pick up their child.

General Vacation Program Refund & Withdrawal Policies

• It is not possible to withdraw directly through our website. Please contact our Program Manager at youtharts@motherbrook.org to withdraw.  

• All refunds are subject to a $20 processing fee from our payment platform. 

• Registrations made within two weeks of program start dates are considered “late registrations” and are ineligible for refunds. 

• Please refer to the individual programs below for relevant withdrawal deadlines to qualify for full and/or partial refunds. 

• If a serious illness, major injury, or death in the family means you need to withdraw from a class outside of our normal time allowance, please speak with our Program Manager to make special arrangements.   

2027 February Vacation Week Deadlines 

• Full refunds given up through Wednesday, January 13, 2027

• 50% refund given up through Monday, February 1, 2027

• No refunds given after Tuesday, February 2, 2027

2027 April Vacation Week Deadlines 

• Full refunds given up through Tuesday, March 23, 2027

• 50% refund given up through Tuesday, April 6, 2027

• No refunds given after Wednesday, April 7, 2027

2027 Summer Program for Children 

• Full refunds given up through Tuesday, May 11, 2027

• 50% refund given up through Tuesday, June 8, 2027

• No refunds given after June 8, 2027 for any Summer week

• Any registrations made after June 8 are considered “late registrations” and are ineligible for refunds

If your child is experiencing any symptoms of illness, do not bring them to the program. Symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Fever

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Sore throat or swollen lymph glands

• Undiagnosed skin rash

• Head lice or scabies (until properly treated)

• Earache or eye drainage 

• Upset stomach

Participants are not required to wear masks at summer programming. We encourage participants to make decisions about masking at their own discretion and respect the decisions of others. 

Thank you for keeping our community safe and healthy!

Medication Policy

MBACC can only administer medication if given permission via a Medication Authorization Form. All medications, including Epipens and inhalers, should be dropped off with a staff member during check-in and picked up on the last day of the program. Please place medications in a clear, zip locked bag, labeled with the child's first and last name and any special instructions.

Weather permitting, lunch and recess will be held outdoors. We recommend applying sunscreen before the program and bringing extra for the child to reapply later in the day if needed.

It is tick season in Massachusetts, so we recommend checking your child for ticks after pickup each day.

Illness During Program

If a participant becomes ill while at the program, staff will ask their parent/guardian to pick them up early. If the parent/guardian does not respond, staff may contact one of the participant’s emergency contacts. Staff may only administer medication with permission from the parent/guardian.

Emergency Medical Procedures

MBACC staff and instructors are CPR and First Aid certified and prepared to provide medical assistance when necessary. Please fill out the First Aid Authorization section in the Information Form to give permission for staff to administer first aid.

For more serious injuries, staff will reach out to the parent/guardian and, if necessary, call emergency services or take the child to a nearby medical facility.

At MBACC, we recognize that learning looks different for everybody, and we strive to meet all of our participants’ access needs. If you would like to discuss strategies and tools for fostering belonging with your child, please reach out to our Program Manager (youtharts@motherbrook.org) We welcome any insight you can provide, including any relevant IEPs/504s.

MBACC staff is committed to cultivating a gender-inclusive learning environment. Practices include:

• Introducing ourselves using our names and gender pronouns 

• Using participants’ requested gender pronouns

• Using participants’ requested names/preferred nicknames

• Allowing participants to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity and providing access to gender neutral restrooms

Participant Expectations

Participants are expected to respect each other, staff, and their learning environment so that everyone can have a fun, safe experience. This includes:

• Following safety instructions. This includes listening to staff, staying with their assigned group throughout the day, and using materials appropriately.

• Using respectful language and treating others with kindness. We expect participants to respect the diverse cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities of the members in our community.

• Refraining from behaviors that present a danger to themselves or others. Fighting, bullying, and aggressive behavior toward other participants will not be tolerated.

• Participating in activities, trying new things, and having fun!

At the beginning of the program, participants will help create a set of community guidelines so everyone is aware of these expectations, and we will review/update them as the week progresses.

All required forms will be sent to the Parent/Guardian who has registered for the program session. Forms must be completed in advance of the program start date.

Full and partial scholarships are available for 2027 Vacation Weeks and Summer Youth Arts.