Summer and Day Camp FAQs
Q: What are the general details for We Play Portland camps?
A: We Play Portland offers Summer Camps (Monday–Friday during the summer months) and No School Day Camps, which are available as single-day sign-ups on teacher workdays and school holidays throughout the school year. Camp hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Participants should bring a reusable water bottle, food for the day, and clothing appropriate for the day’s weather. We spend most of our time outdoors at local parks and playgrounds. We provide materials and activities, while kids have plenty of choice and voice in how they spend their day.
Camp fees are non-refundable, but may be transferable to a future date if space allows. To qualify for a credit, we ask for at least one week’s notice prior to cancellation. Please email weplayportland@gmail.com to request any changes to your camp registration.
Q: How old do children need to be to sign up for camp?
A: We Play Portland is licensed as a school-age program through the Oregon Department of Early Learning. Children must be at least five years old to participate. Our camps serve mixed-age groups of school-age children, which allows younger campers to learn from older peers while giving older children opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and mentoring.
Q: What is the cost of Summer Camp and how does payment work? A: Summer camp tuition is $300 per week, per child. At the time of registration, a $50 deposit per enrolled week is required to hold your child’s spot. Deposit requests are sent via email through TUIO, our safe and secure online payment system.
Deposits are non-refundable, but may be transferred to another camp week if space allows through June 1, 2026. The remaining camp balance is due on June 1st. After that date, camp tuition becomes non-refundable and non-transferable.
Q: What does a typical camp day look like?
A: Camp drop-off takes place at our indoor play space between 9:00–10:00 a.m. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., we spend outdoors at nearby parks and playgrounds — and on occasion, we may be outside for the entire day. Pick-up generally is at our indoor play space between 3:00–4:00 p.m.
At We Play Portland, our goal is to create space for creativity, collaboration, curiosity, and spontaneity. Indoor time is intentionally limited, with most of the day spent outside in our neighborhood parks. We offer kids a wide range of materials and choices, and we’re often amazed by how they take those ideas further than we ever imagined. For example, simple coloring supplies might turn into paper airplanes and friendly flight-distance contests. Through open-ended, unstructured play, kids collaborate, problem-solve, think critically, and become deeply engaged in their own ideas.
Q: What if we’re unable to pick up by 4:00 p.m.?
A: Our program does not have permission to use the building after 4:00 p.m., so timely pick-up is important. If your family anticipates needing care beyond that time, please let us know. We have strong relationships with responsible, trusted teens in the neighborhood who are often happy to help support families with afternoon coverage when needed.
Q: What are the details for the middle school summer camps?
A: Middle school camps are kid-led within each weekly theme and run Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $160 per week.
We offer Dungeons & Dragons and Maker Space camps for rising 5th–8th graders over the summer months. These camps are designed with middle schoolers in mind - providing meaningful opportunities to unplug from technology, build friendships, and engage in creative, collaborative play over the summer, without the need for full-day programming.
Q: Do we receive credit for sick days, vacations, or days our child attends other activities?
A: We’re not able to offer credits or refunds for missed days due to illness, travel, or other activities, and we’re unable to prorate for partial weeks. If your child will be absent, we appreciate you letting us know as soon as possible.
Q: What is the policy for inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances?
A: The safety of our campers and staff is always our top priority. If We Play Portland needs to cancel a camp session before it begins (including summer camp weeks or No School Day camps) due to weather conditions, poor air quality (AQI), public health orders, or civic mandates, families will receive a 100% credit that can be used toward another We Play program within the next 12 months.
If a camp session must be canceled after it has already begun due to weather, AQI, public health orders, or civic mandates, we’re unable to offer refunds or credits for missed camp hours.
Q: Do you send reminders? How do you communicate with families?
A: Yes - we send two reminder emails for each camp session. The first reminder is sent one week before camp begins, and the second is sent the day before camp starts. Each email includes the camp date in the subject line, so please be sure to review dates carefully, especially if you’re enrolled in multiple days or weeks.
All camp-related communication is sent via email, so please make sure to provide a valid and regularly checked email address at the time of registration.
Q: What is your policy on electronic devices and personal items? A: To support connection, creativity, and full engagement in play, we ask that campers leave personal electronic devices at home, including phones, tablets, and handheld gaming devices. Our program is intentionally screen-free, allowing children to be present with one another and immersed in their surroundings. If a child needs to contact a parent during the day, staff are always available to help.
If possible, please label your child’s belongings with their name. Campers are welcome to bring materials, toys, or games from home as long as:
They are willing to offer turns and share with other interested children
They are able to carry and be responsible for the item throughout the day
They understand and are comfortable with the possibility that the item could be lost or broken
While we do our best to help children keep track of their belongings, We Play Portland is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items. We encourage families to send only items their child is comfortable managing independently.
Q: What is We Play Portland’s philosophy? A: At We Play Portland, we believe children learn best through play that is child-led, curiosity-driven, and grounded in real-world experiences. Our programs prioritize outdoor time, unstructured play, and meaningful social connection. Rather than following a rigid schedule or rotating through preset activities, we create an environment where children are given the time, space, and materials to explore their own ideas.
We value creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, and we trust children to take the lead in how they play. A simple activity might evolve into an elaborate group project, a game with self-made rules, or a long stretch of imaginative storytelling. Our staff support this process by observing, facilitating when needed, and helping children navigate social dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build confidence. The result is a program that feels joyful, engaging, and deeply responsive to the kids who are part of it.
