GENERAL INFORMATION

What is the Mad Science After-School Science Enrichment Club?

Mad Science Enrichment Clubs are designed to offer exciting fun hands-on science activities within a structured, encouraging environment. Your child will explore a variety of science topics. We use an inquiry-based technique that allows even the youngest participant to enjoy learning. Children will take a project home every week that correlates to the class objectives.

How long has Mad Science been doing these programs?

Mad Science has been offering programs in this area since the end of 2000. Mad Science of Scottsdale & NE Phoenix is a franchise of The Mad Science Group, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. There are over 150 Mad Science franchises all over the world. The Mad Science Group has been providing high-quality Mad Science programs for over 19 years.
 

 OUR STAFF

Who are the Mad Science instructors?

We have assembled a staff of instructors with the best interests of your child at heart. They come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have several things in common, including: 

• a true affinity for working with children!
• thorough training in using the equipment
• knowledge and interest in science
• lots of experience working with groups of children
• safety training for any chemicals used in class 
• a recent criminal background check

 PROGRAM AGES/GRADES

What ages are the classes designed for?

Our classes are appropriate for grades 1-6. As a rule, we do not offer our program to kindergarteners: they are still adjusting to being in all-day school, and staying after for an extra hour can be very taxing for the under-six set. Additionally, the ability to read may be necessary for some classes.

Are different aged children all in the same class?

Yes. We use a buddy system whereby the older children will serve as group leaders and help the younger ones if needed. For many of the activities, the children work in small groups. We believe that working cooperatively and with others of different abilities/strengths is indicative of science as a profession and beneficial for all students.

If your child prefers independent work and does not enjoy being with children of mixed ages, perhaps one of our programs through a park district would be more suitable, as the topics are usually more specific.

 REGISTRATION

How do I register my child for a class?

Registration forms are sent to your child's school a few weeks before the class is due to start, these will have a description of what classes we are running, the dates, times and location etc. At the bottom is a tear-off registration form which you need to mail to the Mad Science office with Visa or Mastercard details, or a signed check. Alternatively you can register online on our secure website. You are encouraged to go online to register; mail can be slow and not 100% reliable! If you don't have a credit card, it's fine to still register online and send payment afterward.

Is payment due in full when I register?

Yes. You are not officially registered until we receive registration information for your child/children. Please do not assume that if you mailed information, we will receive it in a timely manner. Mad Science is not responsible for lost, stolen or misdirected mail. To ensure your place in our program, it's best to register online. However, once you have registered with us either on the phone or online, you can send a check in the mail as a followup.

Why can't I just send registration to my child's school?

We ask that you register directly with us for a number of reasons: your child's office staff is very busy, and cannot take on the additional burden of tracking after-school program registrations; we can keep much more accurate counts of program registrations when we receive them; sometimes notes and envelopes get lost once they enter your child's backpack; we can answer any questions you might have about our program if we speak to you directly. PLEASE NOTE: If you send registration to your child's school, we cannot make any guarantees we will even be made aware of it, therefore your child will not be registered for the program.

I sent in my registration BEFORE the due date, but I was told the class is full. Why can’t I get in?

Our programs are popular. It’s difficult for us to predict what the response might be at a particular school. Due to the hands-on and exploratory nature of our programs, as well as maintaining reasonable child-to-instructor ratios, we do have limited class sizes. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why don't you just add another section for more kids?

After-school room usage is in high demand by a variety of different groups. There is often no option to add another section or instructor to an existing program. Therefore, we will, whenever possible, create a Priority List so your child is sure to be in the next Mad Science program at your school.  

What is your refund policy?

It's rare, but it happens sometimes: If we do not get sufficient enrollment to hold the club (we need a minimum of 12 children), we will return your check or not charge your credit card. Please note that personal absences are forfeited. 

How do I know I'm registered for a program?

Due to the volume of registrations we handle, we do not contact you to verify your program signup. If you would like registration confirmation, please feel free to email us at madscience@rni.net or call our office at (480) 222-2233.

CLASS CONTENT

My child has taken a Mad Science After-School Science Club before. Will it be the same classes?

Not always. We strive to keep our programs current and exiting. We have several sets of unique classes. Each registration form contains class descriptions, and often new topics are added. We have had a lot of children take a particular club twice and still enjoy it the second time. Remember that a different instructor and group of children will be a new dynamic that may change the focus of what is covered.

My child went to a Mad Science birthday party AND/OR camp. Will these classes be showing the same content they've already seen?

No, we keep each area of Mad Science programming separate. Birthday parties and camps are completely different from our After-School Clubs. In fact, lots of children take the club, and then decide to have a Mad Science birthday party because they've had so much fun. This, of course, is highly encouraged!

GETTING TO/FROM OUR PROGRAM

How will my child find the club after school?

Our Instructors have a complete class roster, including children's names and their classroom teacher names. The school is also provided with this information. In most cases, an announcement is made at the end of the day, directing children to the proper room. If your child does not come to class, the office will be notified and your child will be paged in the building. We encourage you to send a note to your child's teacher letting them know he or she will be in our club.

If your child will be absent from our class, we ask that you call the Mad Science office ahead of time so that the Instructor can be notified not to expect your child on that day.

What if I’m late picking my child up from Mad Science?

The clubs are for 60 minutes each week. Your child needs to be picked up promptly after each class. While we do realize circumstances can arise that may cause a delay, children become upset when their rides home are late. At no time will your child be left alone if pickup is delayed. But be aware that the school office personnel are often gone from the building when our programs end, so it is our Instructor who is with your child until you arrive. Please be considerate of the fact that many of our Instructors are parents, too, and need to get to their own children at a specific time.