Frequently Asked Questions & Camp Policies

Jump to:   ENROLLMENT  |  PAYMENT  |  CHANGE/CANCEL  |  DISCOUNTS  |  WHEN CAMP BEGINS

Enrollment

What is the grade level of campers?
When a student has completed fifth grade they are eligible to apply for Fun with DNA, the first of the summer camp series. We offer courses through grade 12 and higher. Please refer to the Camp Quick Reference panel found on the home page and several other pages on this site.
My child is extremely bright and advanced for their age. Can they be enrolled in a higher level camp than their grade level?
The majority of our campers are very intelligent and camp levels are structured accordingly. For this reason, we do not make exceptions.
Can my child enroll in more than one camp?
In some cases, your child will be eligible to take more than one camp. Please read the list of camp prerequisites and grade levels (see Camp Quick Reference panel.)
I enrolled online and did not receive confirmation of enrollment or payment.
Confirmations are automatically generated and sent to the email address you entered during registration. Please confirm that you have entered the correct address.
How will I be notified that my child has been accepted into the camp of choice?
After receipt of your application and payment, you will receive a confirmation email with all pertinent camp information.

Payment

How do I pay for a space in a camp?
Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, or e-check. Credit card payments will incur a 2.5% processing fee. Camp space is held immediately upon receipt of payment.
The charge will appear on the statement as "DNA Learning Center". Please remember to inform credit card users reviewing the card statement that it is for a camp payment. If you contact your credit card company because you do not recognize the summer camp tuition charged to your account, the funds are then held and are not available to us to cover tuition. Due to the expense and time involved to resolve these disputed charges, it has become necessary to cancel a camp enrollment if tuition payment is disputed. You will have to re-enroll, and we cannot guarantee that your original camp choice will be available.
Are discounts or scholarships available?
In addition to the Refer a Friend discount, in 2025 we added sibling, multi-camp, and earlybird discounts: Discounts
Scholarships are available upon request for those with a financial need. A strong recommendation from a teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor from your child's school is also required.
Only one scholarship per student will be granted, if the needs-based and recommendation criteria are met. After completing one week of camp, a determination will be made if the student may request 1 additional camp scholarship in the same summer.
To apply for a scholarship:
  1. Complete a camp application and on the Tuition Payment page, open the "Request Scholarship" drop-down at the bottom to access the request form.
  2. Complete requested information on the form for financial need. As proof of financial need, we require documentation from your child’s school stating that your child has qualified for the School Lunch Program for the academic year 2024-2025 or another form of income verification such as unemployment verification, income letter from your employer, or proof of public assistance. Please note that we cannot accept documents with your social security number visible.
  3. If you choose, you may enter the email of a teacher, administrator, or guidance counselor from your child's school to automatically receive an email request for a recommendation. You can also enter a personalized note to that school representative.
    Alternatively, when you click "Submit Request", a link to a recommendation form unique to your child will be generated. You will receive the link by email to share with the school representative you wish to complete the recommendation form.
  4. When the recommendation form is submitted, a confirmation email will be sent to the parent as well as the recommending educator.
  5. The camp application will show "pending scholarship" in your camp account. Note: Enrollment is not secured until scholarship requests are approved, and in the case of partial scholarships, the remaining balance must be paid online.

Changes After Registration

How do I switch a camp date?
If you have not yet paid for a camp enrollment, it can be cancelled on your My Account page, and you can enroll in a different camp. To switch a paid camp enrollment, please contact us at dnalc-camps@cshl.edu .
What is the camp cancellation policy?
All cancellation requests for paid applications must be in writing (email or letter), include camper's name, camp, camp date, unique four character code, and be signed by parent or guardian.
  • To request cancellation by email, write to dnalc-camps@cshl.edu , OR
  • send printed letters to DNA Learning Center – Summer Camps, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724.
To be eligible for a refund, cancellation requests must be received by the DNA Learning Center a minimum of three weeks prior to the session start date. You will receive confirmation of your cancellation.
If your child is sick and cannot return to camp, refunds will only be given if a doctor's note, on official letterhead, is received before the end of the registered camp week.
No partial refunds will be issued if a camper misses one or more days of camp.
When will I receive my refund after cancellation?
If you paid with credit or debit card and it has been less than 60 days since your payment, the DNALC can issue refunds directly to your initial payment method. Please allow 2-4 business days for processing credit and debit card refunds.
If you paid with e-check or it has been more than 60 days since your payment (with any payment method), we will issue your refund as a check.

Discounts

We offer Refer a Friend, sibling, multi-camp, and earlybird discounts: Learn more

Employee Discounts

As an employee of CUNY, am I eligible for reduced tuition?
To receive reduced tuition, CUNY employees must use their CUNY email address when creating a parent/guardian account. A 20% tuition discount will be applied at registration to children of CUNY employees attending a camp only at the DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech in Brooklyn. The discount does not extend to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.
As an employee of Regeneron, am I eligible for reduced tuition?
To receive reduced tuition, Regeneron employees must use their Regeneron email address when creating a parent/guardian account. A 20% tuition discount will be applied at registration to children of Regeneron employees attending a camp only at the Regeneron DNALC in Sleepy Hollow. The discount does not extend to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.
As an employee of Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI), am I eligible for reduced tuition?
To receive reduced tuition, PCTI employees must use their PCTI email address when creating a parent/guardian account. A 20% tuition discount will be applied at registration to children of PCTI employees attending a camp only at the DNALC at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center in Wayne, NJ. The discount does not extend to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.
As a Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory employee, am I eligible for a discount?
To receive reduced tution, CSHL employees must use their CSHL email address when creating a parent/guardian account. The discount will automatically be applied at the time of payment. A 50% discount will be applied at registration for children of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory employees attending a camp only at the Dolan DNA Learning Center in Cold Spring Harbor. The discount does not extend to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.

When Camp Begins...

Who do I notify if my child will be absent or late?
Please call us at one of the numbers below by 9:45 a.m. and provide your child's name and the name of the camp and location they are attending. We will notify the camp instructor. Please understand that we cannot give prorated refunds for missed camp days.
Where are the camps located?
Camps are held at the Dolan DNA Learning Center in Cold Spring Harbor Village (NOT on the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory main campus), DNALC NYC at City Tech in Brooklyn, Regeneron DNALC in Sleepy Hollow, and Passaic DNALC in Wayne, NJ, as well as virtually on demand. (Directions to each DNALC location are linked on those pages.) Be sure to note the location of the camp for which your child is registered.
Can my child purchase lunch at the camp locations?
Food and drinks are NOT available for purchase at any camp locations. Students should bring lunch in a container labeled with their name and the camp they are attending.
To protect students with peanut allergies, we ask you not to send lunches or snacks that contain peanuts, peanut oil, or any tree nut.
Do you offer transportation?
Parents/guardians must provide transportation. Students should be dropped off and picked up curbside. A staff person will be in attendance each morning and afternoon to assist students. Please do not enter or block parking lot driveways at the DNALC in Cold Spring Harbor location. If your camper requires a handicap/accessible entrance to the Cold Spring Harbor camp location, contact us and we will provide a pass to drop off at an accessible entrance.
Are there guidelines for attire?
For safety reasons, all in-person campers are required to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals) when in the laboratory.
What should my child bring to camp?
In-person campers only need to bring lunches; campers will be provided workbooks and supplies. Avoid bringing valuables as the DNA Learning Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Virtual On-Demand campers will receive kits with instructions on materials that will be needed each day of camp.
When is Parent Day for the middle school camps?
Parents will be invited to special activities on the final day of each Fun with DNA, World of Enzymes, Green Genes, and Forensic Detectives camp. Times for Parent Day can be found in the Quick Reference and on each camp's page. Parents will also receive this information prior to the start of camp.