Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mission ECHT Afterschool Enrichment Program?
The Mission ECHT Afterschool Enrichment Program provides children with a welcoming and engaging environment where they can explore environmental education, science, art, creativity, and other hands-on enrichment activities. Our goal is to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and help children understand how their choices can positively affect their communities and the planet.
Which grades can participate?
The program is designed for students in kindergarten through grade 8. Activities may be organized by age or grade level so that students receive developmentally appropriate instruction and support.
When does the program operate?
The program operates on scheduled school days. Families may select an available schedule based on the number of days needed and their preferred pickup time.
The available pickup times are:
4:30 PM
6:00 PM
The program does not ordinarily operate on weekends, school holidays, vacation weeks, snow days, emergency school closures, or other days when the participating school district is closed unless Mission ECHT announces otherwise.
Can my child attend only on certain days?
Families may select one of the available attendance plans shown on our Tuition and Fees page. Enrollment is based on a recurring schedule rather than occasional drop-in attendance.
Schedule changes are subject to availability and must be approved in advance.
Is Wednesday included?
Families may choose from plans that exclude Wednesday, include Wednesday as part of a four-day schedule, or provide attendance five days per week. Available options may vary by grade level and program location.
How much does the program cost?
Tuition depends on the student’s grade, attendance schedule, and selected pickup time. Please visit our Tuition and Fees page for the complete tuition breakdown.
Tuition is generally charged as a monthly program fee and is not calculated according to the number of school days in an individual month.
Is there a registration fee?
A nonrefundable registration fee is required for each newly enrolled student. This fee helps cover enrollment processing, administrative preparation, and program setup. The current registration fee is listed on the Tuition and Fees page.
Unless otherwise stated, the registration fee is charged for each program year and is separate from tuition.
Do you offer a sibling discount?
Yes. Mission ECHT offers a sibling discount to eligible families enrolling more than one child from the same household. The discount applies to the lower tuition amount unless otherwise stated.
Sibling discounts cannot ordinarily be combined with another promotional or tuition discount. Please review the Tuition and Fees page for the current discount and eligibility requirements.
Is there a discount for paying tuition in full?
Families who pay the full program-year tuition in advance may qualify for a pay-in-full discount. The discount applies only to tuition and does not apply to registration fees, transportation charges, late fees, or other additional costs.
The pay-in-full option must be selected by the stated payment deadline. Because a discounted annual payment reserves the student’s place for the program year, refund restrictions may apply.
Can discounts be combined?
Unless Mission ECHT states otherwise in writing, discounts cannot be combined. If a family qualifies for more than one discount, the single discount providing the greatest savings will generally be applied.
Does submitting the interest form enroll my child?
No. The interest form allows Mission ECHT to learn more about your family’s program needs, but it is not a registration form and does not guarantee enrollment or reserve a space.
If space is available and the requested schedule can be accommodated, Mission ECHT will contact the parent or legal guardian with enrollment instructions, required documents, payment information, and the next steps.
How will I know whether my child has been accepted?
Mission ECHT will contact the parent or legal guardian using the contact information provided on the interest form. Enrollment is confirmed only after the family receives written confirmation, completes all required enrollment documents, and submits the required registration fee or payment.
Is space limited?
Yes. Space may be limited by program location, grade level, staffing, attendance schedule, and pickup time. When a requested schedule is full, families may be offered another available schedule or placed on a waitlist.
Is transportation available?
Transportation availability depends on the child’s school, program location, schedule, and current transportation arrangements. Indicating that transportation is needed on the interest form does not guarantee that transportation will be available.
Mission ECHT will provide transportation information, eligibility requirements, and any applicable costs before enrollment is finalized.
What types of activities will students participate in?
Activities may include:
Environmental science and sustainability projects
Nature and wildlife education
Art and creative expression
Hands-on experiments
STEM-based learning
Gardening and food-system education
Conservation and community projects
Homework, reading, or quiet activity time when available
Collaborative games and age-appropriate enrichment
Specific activities may vary according to student age, season, available resources, and program location.
Will food or snacks be provided?
Information about snacks will be provided during enrollment. Parents and guardians must disclose relevant food allergies and dietary restrictions through the appropriate enrollment and health forms.
Children should not share food unless specifically permitted and supervised by program staff.
Can Mission ECHT accommodate allergies, disabilities, or other individual needs?
Mission ECHT welcomes families to contact us regarding reasonable accommodations or individual support needs. Providing information on the interest form helps us begin the conversation but does not guarantee that every requested accommodation can be provided.
Detailed medical, allergy, medication, emergency, and accommodation information should be submitted only through the designated enrollment documents—not in the general comments section of the interest form.
Mission ECHT will communicate with the parent or legal guardian before enrollment is finalized to determine whether the program can safely and appropriately meet the child’s needs.
What happens if my child is absent?
Parents or guardians should notify Mission ECHT as soon as possible if their child will be absent. Tuition is based on the child’s reserved enrollment space, so credits or refunds are not ordinarily provided for absences, family travel, extracurricular activities, or other missed program days.
What happens when school is closed?
The program is generally closed when the applicable school district closes because of severe weather, emergencies, holidays, vacation periods, or other district-wide closures. Tuition credits or refunds are not ordinarily provided for closures outside Mission ECHT’s control.
Families will be notified of program-specific changes whenever reasonably possible.
What if I need to pick up my child early?
Parents and authorized adults may pick up a child before the selected pickup time. Advance notice is appreciated whenever possible.
Children will be released only to a parent, legal guardian, or another adult authorized in the child’s enrollment records. Identification may be required.
What happens if I am late for pickup?
Children must be picked up by the pickup time included in their enrollment plan. Families should contact Mission ECHT immediately if an emergency will delay pickup.
Repeated late pickups or pickups after the program’s closing time may result in a late fee, a required schedule change, or termination of enrollment.
May my child leave the program independently?
A child may leave independently only if Mission ECHT permits it for the child’s age and the parent or legal guardian has completed the required written authorization. Verbal permission or a message from the child is not sufficient.
How do I change or withdraw from the program?
Requests to change schedules or withdraw must be submitted in writing. Schedule changes are subject to availability. Notice requirements, payment responsibilities, and refund eligibility are governed by the enrollment agreement and tuition policies accepted by the family.
How does Mission ECHT protect the information submitted through the website?
Mission ECHT uses information submitted through the interest form to respond to inquiries, evaluate program needs, communicate with families, and support the enrollment process.
Please do not enter highly sensitive medical or personal information in the general comments field. For more information about the collection and use of personal information, please review our Privacy Policy.
Who may complete the interest form?
The interest form must be completed by the child’s parent or legal guardian. By submitting the form, the person completing it confirms that the information provided is accurate and that Mission ECHT has permission to contact them about the program.
How can I ask another question?
Please contact Mission ECHT through our website if you have a question that is not answered here. A member of our team will respond as soon as reasonably possible.