No, lunch is not provided. Students should bring their own lunch and snack each day. Please note that Dickson Valley is a peanut-free facility.

Drop-off begins at 8:45 AM, and the program starts promptly at 9:00 AM. Pick-up is at 3:00 PM. Please be on time so our day can start and end smoothly!

Drop-off and pick-up will take place at the Parking Lot Pavilion unless weather requires a change-in that case, we’ll let you know ahead of time.

As much as possible! Weather permitting, most lessons and activities will take place outdoors. We have several covered pavilions for rainy days, our large gym, and a large indoor meeting space we’ll use when it’s too cold or unsafe to be outside. Kids should come prepared for all kinds of weather and expect to be outdoors often. For those keeping track for the 1000 Hours outside challenge…thats 6 hour to add!

• Weather-appropriate clothing such as rain gear (jacket and pants), snow gear, and cold-weather layers as needed.

• Sturdy, weather-appropriate shoes or boots

• Lunch and snack (peanut-free)

• A backpack or bag to carry home art and papers

• A full set of clothes (can be left at camp in a labeled zip-lock bag)

At DVLC, we intentionally use mixed-age groups. Research shows that learning and playing alongside children of different ages encourages growth in social skills, empathy, leadership, and collaboration. Beginning in the Spring Semester, we will separate into “lower elementary” and “upper elementary” groups for certain activities, and some of the day will be spent all together as one large group.

If your child is placed on the waitlist, we’ll reach out as soon as a spot opens up. Deposit is still required to hold your spot on the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, we’ll contact you via email and give you 48 hours to confirm your registration. If we’re unable to place your child in the program, your deposit will be fully refunded.

 (Spoiler alert: Yes. In the best way!) We believe the best kind of learning often involves mud, leaves, paint, and a healthy dose of outdoor play. Your child will come home with full hearts, tired legs, and probably dirt on their clothes- and we think that’s a win.

Registration is for the full semester. Families may pay tuition in full at registration or choose a monthly payment plan for convenience. If you need to discontinue, please email us at office@dicksonvalley.com and we’ll help you withdraw your child(ren) from the program and issue a prorated refund if applicable.

No. If your family’s plans change and you need to withdraw, there is no penalty. Monthly payments will stop at that time, and families who paid the full semester upfront will receive a prorated refund.

DVLC is designed as a semester-long program, as consistency is important for students and teachers. While we encourage families to plan for the full semester, we understand that circumstances change and aim to offer flexibility with grace.