Policies
Gear Shifters STEM Explorers Policies
(the small print)
(the small print)
PAYMENT
All fees should be paid in full when enrolling via our website portal using VISA, Mastercard, Discover or American Express or through our partner organization’s registration process. In some cases, you may be able to register in advance and submit your tuition payment through our website or check prior to the start of class.
REFUNDS:
If a registration is cancelled by the parent more than two weeks prior to the start of the program, a refund will be issued minus a 20% fee to cover processing costs.
No refunds will be issued for any cancellations made by a parent within one week prior to the start of the program. However, Gear Shifters will happily issue a credit on your account, less a 20% processing fee, to be applied to any other Gear Shifters program.
If the child is unable to attend the program he/she is registered for, we will happily work with the parent to transfer the payment to a new program with no penalty.
Refunds will not be issued once program has begun, whether or not child attends.
Gear Shifters STEM Explorers is under no obligation to issue a refund for classes cancelled for reasons outside of our control or if a child cannot attend for circumstances outside of our control such as weather, viruses, school restrictions or other circumstances. We reserve the right to issue a credit at our sole discretion on your account under certain circumstances.
Refunds will not be issued for non-attendance at a scheduled program.
The foregoing refund policies apply only to programs for which Gear Shifters has registration responsibility and may not apply to programs held at partnering locations, such as a Parks & Recreation Center. In such cases, the refund policies of those locations will apply.
HEALTH & BEHAVIOR CONCERNS:
Gear Shifters does not discriminate against any child with a disability. If a child has special needs, please contact us prior to the start of the program to discuss it in detail.
DISMISSAL:
The safety of your child is of paramount importance to us. As such, only Authorized Parents and/or Caregivers may pick up children from our programs and, accordingly, the only people that your child will be released to are those listed on your information form. All persons authorized to pick up students must be at least 16 years of age. If someone other than a parent will pick up your child, please give us prior written notice. If there is an emergency and no one on your list can pick up your child, the primary parent/guardian must call the Gear Shifters Director to allow another adult to pick up the child or send a signed note of authorization with that person.
CONDUCT:
Please note that we conduct our programs with the safety, well-being and safety of all of the class and/or camp participants foremost in our minds. Gear Shifters reserves the right to release, without refund of program fees, any child whose behavior becomes unmanageable. Examples of such behavior are physically harming other children, consistently disregarding teacher’s instructions, harming or taking other children’s personal property, or generally conducting themselves in a manner that is unusually disruptive to the class or creating a dangerous condition. This action will not be taken without verbal and written warnings. Gear Shifters highly discourages students from bringing any personal LEGO® Bricks such as minifigures or personal LEGO® models to classes. Gear Shifters is NOT responsible for damages or loss of any personal property while at a class.
STAFF:
Gear Shifters instructors are individuals who have a great interest and ability in teaching Gear Shifters programs to students in an exciting way. Most instructors are teaching professionals and/or hold advanced degrees. Each instructor is trained in teaching specific lessons involving the themes in the programs. In addition, all instructors and assistants are subjected to a thorough background check before they are permitted to work or interact with your child.
CANCELLATIONS:
Gear Shifters reserves the right to cancel any program due to low enrollment. Upon cancellation, a full refund will be issued. Make up classes will be held in the event we need to cancel a class for emergency or non-weather-related reasons. Gear Shifters follows the adverse weather policy of the hosting schools, which is generally but not necessarily, governed by the decisions of the Wake County Public School System. Although every effort will be made to schedule a make-up class in accordance with the school’s calendar for cancellations based on inclement weather outside of our control, we cannot guarantee that a make up class will be held for cancellations due to inclement weather. In the event a class is cancelled due to viruses or school quarantine, decisions as to make up classes and/or credits will be made at our sole discretion and on a case-by-case basis based upon health, safety, and scheduling limitations and concerns. Please understand that your child's safety is of the utmost importance to us.
DO STUDENTS TAKE HOME THEIR PROJECTS?
Because we use our proprietary LEGO® supplies in classes and camps throughout the year, students do not take home projects, pieces or instructions. However, parents are welcome to take pictures of their child’s builds! In those programs where the participants build a custom mini figure, those figures are taken home by the child at the end of the program. In an After School Enrichment classes or weekly camps, mini figures will be collected by the teacher at the end of each day for safekeeping and returned to the child for the following days activities until they go to their new forever home at the end of the session.
Gear Shifters STEM Explorers reserves the right to periodically review and modify these policies.
