Not-A-School Creative Enrichment Program

To get updates about upcoming tours and information sessions:

For more information, please contact Heather Posner at (415) 339-3982 or hposner(at)badm.org.

Upcoming tour date:

Register

We can accommodate 10 parents per tour on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register with your name, the time you’d like to visit as well as your child’s name, birth date and gender. 

Enrollment now open

Find out more:

• Not-A-School Philosophy
• Observation, Documentation & Evaluation
• Not-A-School Daily Activities
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Schedule
• Pricing
• Application Process
• Meet our staff

Not-A-School Philosophy

Observation, Documentation, and Evaluation

The Museum uses these techniques in order to evaluate the success of our programs. At Not-A-School we will use some of these tactics to meet our goals:

Observation is performed to learn more about the children and adults who visit in order to assess their prior knowledge and skills, and to better adapt our programs to suit their needs and understand the impact of our work.

Documentation is used as a tool for recording observations and to “make children’s learning visible” through photographs, wall displays and communications collateral.

We reflect on what we have learned through observation and subsequent documentation and employ formal evaluation strategies such as surveys and behavioral coding in order to measure the success of our programs. 

We will never evaluate or assess children in terms of whether they are meeting certain criteria, though we may study their behavior in order to evaluate our own teaching practices or to inform our overall understanding of how to nurture creativity in the best way. When children are playing in Museum exhibitions, Not-A-School teachers will supervise children’s play and support their social skills. More often than not, teachers will abstain from participating in children’s play while in exhibitions unless children invite them to participate or need scaffolding to play with other children. We feel that one of the most important gifts we can offer children here is the experience of child-directed play. Teachers will use these opportunities to gather documentation and observe children’s behavior. 

We are inspired by best practices in the field of Early Childhood Education such as Bank Street College, the Reggio Emilia approach, Bev Bos at Roseville Community Preschool, and Constructivist theory. Our peers in the informal learning community—The Portland Children’s Museum Opal School, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Preschool and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center—have served as crucial inspiration in the development of this program.

Not-A-School Daily Activities

“The Child is the curriculum.”- Bev Bos

Daily activities are designed based on the children’s interests using an emergent curriculum model and developed to nurture social and emotional development by maximizing opportunities for collaboration and encouraging pro-social behavior. Children and Educators will create a community of learning together as they engage in art, science, music, and literacy activities, go on outdoor adventures around Fort Baker and play in the Museum Exhibits. Mondays when the Museum is closed to the public, children enrolled in the program will have exclusive use of the exhibitions. 

Typical Daily Morning Schedule:

9:00 – 9:30: Arrival and projects
9:30 - 9:45: Group gathering/stories
9:45 – 10:15: Projects such as art, science building etc.
10:15 – 10:30: Snack
10:30 - 11:45: Adventures (beach visits, hikes, playing in the exhibits)
Noon - 12:45: Lunch
12:45 - 1:00 Closing rituals and dismissal

Typical Daily Afternoon Schedule:

The program will run from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

1:30 – 2:00: Arrival and projects
2:00 – 3:00: Projects such as art, science building etc.
3:00 – 3:15: Snack
3:15 - 4:15: Adventures (beach visits, hikes, playing in the exhibits)
4:15 - 4:30 Closing rituals and dismissal 

All primary caregivers and children enrolled in the program will be invited to attend a practice class the week before the program begins. This will give families a chance to meet each other, and get to know the instructors. Children who may need more opportunities to prepare for being dropped off are welcome to spend time with instructors prior to the beginning of the program by arrangement with the Public Programs Manager.

Parents are welcome to join us each morning from 9 – 9:15 am or 2:00- 2:15 pm any day their child is in the program.

Please note that children may not be enrolled in both an am and pm session on the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Not-A-School.

Schedule

Pricing

January - May 2013

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 
Supporting Members $9,025*; General $11,400*

Four days per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 
Supporting Members $7,220*; General $9,120*

Three days per week 9 p.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $5,700; General $6,840

Two days per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $3,800; General $4,560

One day per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $1,900; General $2,280

Wednesday Afternoon Program 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m:
Supporting Members $1,425; General $1,710

*Sign up for 4 or 5 days per week for an automatic 5% discount.
Receive additional 3% discount on second child for 3, 4, or 5 day options

Cost per academic year

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 
Supporting Members $13,775, General $17,400

Four days per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 
Supporting Members $11,020, General $13,920

Three days per week 9 p.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $8,700, General $10,440

Two days per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $5,800, General $6,960

One day per week 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.:
Supporting Members $2,900, General $3,480

Wednesday Afternoon Program 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.:
Supporting Members $2,175, General $2,610

Fees are payable in three installments with a non-refundable deposit equal to one month's tuition upon admission. Refunds will only be given up to 1 month prior to the beginning of the session. Priority enrollment is given to members of the Bay Area Discovery Museum Board of Trustees, Museum staff, and then the general public. In addition, applications for 4- or 5-days per week will be considered first.

Application Process

Applications are currently being accepted.

Apply Online

In addition to basic family information, we will request the answers to the following questions - you may wish to reflect on these prior to filling out the application form:

• What is your reason for seeking a drop-off enrichment program for your child?
• Tell us about your child’s previous playgroup or care-giver experiences.
• What about this program is attractive to you (pedagogy, values, location, philosophy).
• This program is designed to nurture creativity in young children. Why is creativity important to you and your family?
• Please tell us about your child’s strengths and areas in which you hope they will develop.
• What do you hope your child will learn and experience at Not-a-School?

An application and fee is required for each child applying to the program.

Enrollment for children continuing in multiple sessions will be guaranteed pending positive experiences for both children and staff.

We are not able to accept children in diapers or pull-ups. All children must be current on immunizations. Proof of vaccinations will be required upon enrollment.

Our Staff