Program Policies

Everyone deserves to benefit from time in nature! We are committed to making our programs available to as many people as possible and have an entire page related to Scholarships here.

Scholarships are generated with our choose-your-price sliding scale format, collected and distributed on a program-to-program basis. Contributions made over the minimum of the sliding scale are tax-deductible donations to our scholarship fund. Scholarships are limited to the sum of these funds but we may be able to draw on additional resources for families needing more financial assistance.

This section applies to cancellations and refund requests made by the Primary Contact:

• For any program change or refund request to be considered, it must be made in writing through the 4-H Administrative Assistant at [email protected] even if you have discussed this with another staff person, such as an instructor.
• The effective date of all refund requests is the date of the email notifying the 4-H Administrative Assistant of your request.
• Changes and refunds are NOT guaranteed and only the 4-H Administrative Assistant can process these changes.
• Epic Days are nonrefundable.
• Any donations, amount paid above the base rate are nonrefundable.
• If you are unable to participate in a program because your scholarship was denied, all payments towards that program (including "non-refundable deposits") will be returned if you.

Please email the 4-H Administrative Assistant at [email protected] with the Subject Line of “Program Cancellation”. Within the email include your full name, phone number, the participant's name, the full program name(s), and the program start date(s).

No phone calls please.

Refer to the program-specific policies below:

SUMMER DAY CAMP: Family-Initiated Cancellations:

1. If you cancel before May 1st, choose:
• full credit transferable to a new registration for summer day camp in 2025 with available space (the non-refundable deposit for the canceled registration can not be applied towards an existing registration) OR
• cash refund of: paid fees minus non-refundable deposit and any donation above the base rate
2. If you cancel between May 1st and June 1st, choose:
• camp credit of: paid fees minus any non-refundable deposits and donations, transferable to a new registration for summer day camp in 2025 with available space (the non-refundable deposit for the canceled registration can not be applied towards an existing registration)
• cash refund of: 50% of the above credit
3. If you cancel between June 1st and June 23rd:
• camp credit of 50% of: paid fees minus any non-refundable deposits and donations, transferable to a new registration for summer day camp in 2025 (50% of fee minus deposit) (the non-refundable deposit for the canceled registration can not be applied towards an existing registration)
• no cash refunds are offered after June 1st
4. After June 23rd there are NO credit transfers.

*All Deposits are non-refundable.*

• Growing Wild deposit: $85
• Forest Village/Forest Explorers deposit: $100
• Pathfinder Camps deposit: $100
• Advanced/Specialty Camp deposit: $100
• Traveling Camp deposit: $100

SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP: Family-Initiated Cancellations:

1. If you cancel before May 1st, choose:
   • full credit transferable to another summer overnight camp in 2025 with available space ($850 Back to the Earth, Forest Awakens, Full Moon Camp, $875 Long Bow Camp) OR
   • cash refund of: paid fees minus non-refundable deposit and any donation above the base rate
2. If you cancel between May 1st and June 1st, choose:
   • camp credit of: paid fees minus any non-refundable deposits and donations, transferable to another summer overnight camp in 2025 with available space
   • cash refund of: 50% of the above credit
3. NO cash refunds and NO credit transfers after June 1st.

*All Deposits are non-refundable.*

• Back to the Earth deposit: $200
• Forest Awakens deposit: $200
• Full Moon Camp: $200
• Long Bow Camp: $200

Academic Year (except Ithaca Forest Preschool):

1. If you cancel 30 or more days prior to the program starting date, you are entitled to a full refund, minus the non-refundable deposit & any donation above the sliding scale base rate.
2. If you cancel between 14 and 30 days prior to the program starting date, Primitive Pursuits will retain half the program tuition, after the non-refundable deposit & any donation above the sliding scale base rate.
3. If you cancel fewer than 14 days prior to the program starting date or after the program has begun, there will be NO refunds.
4. Epic Day fees are non-refundable/transferable.

Ithaca Forest Preschool:

1. Deposits are nonrefundable. If you cancel after a program payment in full due date, there are no refunds.

We will cancel our programs if the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) cancels school due to snow or hazardous weather. We will cancel Afterschool if ICSD cancels after school programs due to snow or hazardous weather. If the program takes place on a school break day or holiday, we will cancel our programs if the Tompkins County sheriff declares that the roads are closed due to hazardous conditions.

• If a single-day program (such as a school-break day) is canceled due to inclement weather, we will credit your payment toward a future program or refund your payment minus a $15 processing fee.
• If a single day of an ongoing program (such as a week-long camp, Homeschool program, or after-school programs) is cancelled, no refunds will be made.
• If there is a 2 hour delay, we will delay our program for 1 hour. As always, we encourage people to travel only when they feel it is safe. You can check here for current school and road closings.

Our programs may also be canceled by the mandate of the Department of Health or other such regulatory agencies in the case of disease outbreaks and other existing health hazards. Due to the continued need to plan for Coronavirus-related program closures, we have updated our refund policy for our programs in 2024:

• All Programs except Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be canceled by authorities due to contagious illnesses. The sole reason for implementing this policy, should we choose to do so, would be to continue paying our staff a minimum amount of income to prevent lay-offs and harmful loss of income. Should a new public health relief stimulus package help us prevent such losses, then we would credit program payments to the extent we are able.
• Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be canceled by authorities due to contagious illnesses. This amount would be retained as a program credit that you would be able to use toward tuition for any Primitive Pursuits program before the end of the year. The remaining half of unused payments would be refunded in full upon request.
• This policy acknowledges a shared risk, both for families and for Primitive Pursuits, in continuing to achieve our shared mission at this time.
• We will consider exceptions to this policy based on financial hardship. For more information, please email our office: [email protected]

In the event of poor air quality conditions, we will base our decision on the Air Quality Guide and Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools. We will cancel our programs if the Air Quality Index reaches 151, in the red zone. We will be following the DEC Air Quality Forecast and AirNow.gov to determine the Air Quality Index for Ithaca, NY. These two sources were chosen based on the recommendations by Governor Hochul and Tompkins County Health Department.

• If a single-day program (such as a school-break day) is canceled due to poor air quality, we will credit your payment toward a future program or refund your payment minus a $15 processing fee.
• If a single day of an ongoing program (such as a week-long camp, Homeschool program, or after-school programs) is cancelled, no refunds will be made.
  • For multi-day cancellations of an ongoing program, the following applies:

All Programs except Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be canceled due to poor air quality. The sole reason for implementing this policy, should we choose to do so, would be to continue paying our staff a minimum amount of income to prevent harmful loss of income.

Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be canceled by authorities due to contagious illnesses. This amount would be retained as a program credit that you would be able to use toward tuition for any Primitive Pursuits program before the end of the year. The remaining half of unused payments would be refunded in full upon request.

We will consider exceptions to this policy based on financial hardship. For more information, please email the 4-H Administrative Assistant at [email protected]

Our programs may be cancelled by local or state Department of Health or other such regulatory agencies in the case of concerns around contagious illnesses.

The following policy only applies to situations in which the program you are signed up for is cancelled due to mandates from state or local authorities based on concerns around contagious illnesses. Please note that all other cancellation policies still apply, including our policies for family-initiated cancellations for any reason.

Due to the continued need to plan for coronavirus-related program closures, our refund policy for our programs has been updated for 2024:

• All Programs except Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be cancelled by authorities due to COVID-19. The sole reason for implementing this policy, should we choose to do so, would be to continue paying our staff a minimum amount of income to prevent lay-offs and harmful loss of income. Should a new public health relief stimulus package help us prevent such losses, then we would credit program payments to the extent we are able.
• Ithaca Forest Preschool: At this time, we are reserving the right to retain up to half of payments made to programs, if necessary, should our programs be cancelled by authorities due to COVID-19. This amount would be retained as a program credit that you would be able to use toward tuition for any Primitive Pursuits program before the end of 2023. The remaining half of unused payments would be refunded in full upon request.
• This policy acknowledges a shared risk, both for families and for Primitive Pursuits, in continuing to achieve our shared mission at this time.
• We will consider exceptions to this policy based on financial hardship. For more information, please email our office: [email protected]

A deposit is due upon registration to reserve your spot! If the payment due date has passed, you will only be able to make a full payment when registering. If this is a barrier to registering, please contact us ([email protected]).

The payment due date for each program will be listed on your check-out screen in your Account after you have completed registration. Please contact our office ([email protected]) if you have any additional questions about payment due dates.

For those making mail-in payments or making a payment in person please follow the directions within your registration process. A deposit must be received within a week of making your reservation in order to hold your spot. The remainder of the payment is due prior to the payment deadline in order to attend camp.

For those making a payment with a credit card you can submit a payment within your Account: Make a Payment

Please look for registration status in your Account. If you see "waitlist" then that participant is on the waitlist. If a spot opens, you will receive an email notifying you of a spot opening up. Within the email, you will be given a timeframe in which to accept the spot. Your spot will not be saved unless you accept the space within the given timeframe. Once the timeframe expires you most likly will lose your spot. If you have any questions regarding your "waitlist" status please email us at [email protected]. 

Please login to your Account to view the required forms, payment plans, and payment history.

Check with your bank to determine whether your account has enough balance to cover the payment.

Payments to Primitive Pursuits are listed as "Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins" on bank statements.

If you need additional assistance please email: [email protected]

If you require a receipt for program fees, please email us at [email protected] including the name of the Primary Contact and the time period for which you need the receipt (eg. summer of 2023; fall of 2022). We do our best to respond within a week; in the busy summertime, this may take longer.

In your Account is an important section called Alternate Contacts and Pickup Authorization.

This is where you designate additional adults to whom you give permission 1) to be contacted in an emergency if we can't reach you AND/OR 2) to pick up your child from our programs. We require at least 1 adult other than the Account Holder to be listed.

Please do NOT enter your own name as a Contact; as the Primary Contact you are already included by the registration software.

If you need to add anyone fewer than 5 days before the program starts, you must ALSO email [email protected] at least one day before the pickup: include the contact's name, relationship to the participant and a phone number.

If you have entered a Contact into your Account fewer than 5 days before the program starts but do not email us, the staff on-site at the program may NOT have been notified of the Contact updates.

By completing registration for Primitive Pursuits programs, you agree to the following:

(downloadable version available)

Assumption of the Risk and Waiver of Liability Relating to Camp & Coronavirus/COVID-19

I acknowledge as follows: I fully understand and acknowledge that there are inherent risks and dangers in I or my dependent’s participation in the camp and its programs and activities. I fully understand that I or my dependent’s participation in the camp and all its activities and programs and that I or my dependent’s use of any equipment related to such activities and programs may result in injury, illness or death and damage to personal property. I understand other participants, accidents, forces of nature or other causes may cause these risks and dangers and I hereby fully accept these risks and dangers. 

I or my dependent is in good health and is at or above the minimum age of required to participate in the camp and is able to participate in any strenuous physical activity associated therewith. I affirm that I have read all the camp materials describing the various activities and programs conducted by the camp. 

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in many locations, prohibited the congregation of groups of people no larger than permitted by current guidance set forth by Tompkins County Department of Health.

 Acknowledgement of Risk 

I understand Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (“CCE”) has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, CCE cannot guarantee that I or my dependent will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, entering the facilities of, or participating in programs of, CCE could increase my risk of contracting COVID-19.

By signing this agreement, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19. 

By participating in CCE programs and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, or death. I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 diseases may result from the actions, omissions, of myself and others, including, but not limited to, CCE employees, volunteers, other participants, visitors or vendors.

I voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury to myself (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that I may experience or incur in connection with my entering CCE or participation in CCE programming (“Claims”). On my behalf, and on behalf heirs and estate, I hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless CCE, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, and representatives, of and from the Claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto. I understand and agree that this release includes any Claims based on the actions, or omissions of the CCE, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after my participation. 

And in addition: As a volunteer, program participant or the guardian of a program participant under the age of 18, by signing the attached, I acknowledge that I have reviewed the plan for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (“CCE”). I will abide by the guidelines and continued updates as released by NYS Forward and the CDC. 

I HAVE READ THE ABOVE AND BY SIGNING IT I AGREE IT IS MY INTENTION TO HAVE MYSELF OR MY DEPENDENT PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMP AND ALL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS AND I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE RISKS INVOLVED. 

This shall be binding on my heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and executors. Any claims or disputes arising out of my child’s participation in the activity shall be venued in the Supreme Court of the State of New York of the County where the County Extension office is located.

We have a page dedicated to COVID-19 Impacts, Updates, and Protocols here. This page will be updated regularly to reflect any changes.  

As per the NY State Health Department regulation, we require the most recent copy of all campers’ immunization records and keep this on file for the summer. The Health Dept. requires that we eliminate all immunization records at the end of each summer so you must submit them every year. Your child cannot attend camp without these records on file or a letter stating that your child is not vaccinated. *Be sure to include your child's COVID-19 vaccinations if not included within their immunization records.

Options for submitting:

• Upload your file to your Account. An upload option is also available in the Document Center.
• Mail to our office: 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca NY 14850, ATTN: Primitive Pursuits
• Hand delivery to 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca NY 14850, ATTN: Primitive Pursuits

Thank you for your attention to this important matter!

All medications (prescription and over-the-counter) must be in their original container and must be accompanied by a written note from the doctor, including the patient’s name, the dates of the program, and dosing information. Pharmacy labeling on the medication is not sufficient for this purpose as the medication, dosage, and/or regimen may have been changed since the pharmacy filled the prescription. Bring the medication and doctor's note to camp together in a clear plastic bag with your child's name on it.

Please make sure to have the doctor's note with you at the first program check-in (Monday mornings for camps) - medications will be checked in to a designated instructor on the first day of the program and carried by this instructor until needed by your child.

By NYS Health Department regulations, all medications must be self-administered and instructors must carry all medications, with the exception of EpiPens and Inhalers. Your child may not be permitted to come to the program if they are unable to self-administer required medication. If your child has an EpiPen, our medically trained staff will assist them if necessary. When the program is over, be sure to sign out your child's medication.

In your Account, there are two important sections called Alternate Contacts and Pickup Authorization.

This is where you designate additional adults to whom you give permission 1) to be contacted in an emergency if we can't reach you AND/OR 2) to pick up your child from our programs. We require at least 1 adult other than the Primary Contact be listed there.

Please do NOT enter your own name as a Contact; as the Primary Contact you are already included by the registration software.

If you need to add anyone fewer than 5 days before the program starts, you must ALSO email [email protected] at least one day before the pickup: include the contact's name, relationship to the participant and a phone number.

If you have entered a Contact into your Account fewer than 5 days before the program starts but do not email us, the staff on site at the program will NOT have been notified of the Contact updates. For your child's safety, the staff will have to speak to you personally by phone before they can release your child to someone not on the paper attendance list they have at camp.

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses have become a fact of life in our area. The fact is, you can’t avoid ticks by not playing in the woods. Ticks also like lawns and woodchip-covered areas. “We’ve gotten more ticks on playgrounds than we have at Forest Preschool,” one of our parents told us. If you have pets that go outside, they may also bring ticks inside. Living in our area requires regular (at least once a day) full-body tick checks whenever the temperature is above freezing. At our programs, we instruct kids how to visually scan clothing and exposed skin and what to do with non-attached ticks.

We role model the practice and roughly every three hours remind campers to do the same. As developmentally appropriate, our instructors may assist campers in this process. With your permission (granted in our registration form), we would also remove an embedded tick if one were found on exposed skin during the program.
Please see our page What about ticks? for more information about Primitive Pursuits tick protocols and resources.

It is the responsibility of the parents and caregivers to check your camper for ticks daily!

At this time, we are not changing our policy on sick participants:

If your participant is sick, we ask that you keep them home so they can get well. If they have a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home until they are symptom-free for a full 24 hours. If your participant displays contagious symptoms during the program, we will call you to pick them up.

Refunds are not available if your participant is unable to come to the program or is sent home from program because they or a family member have symptoms of an illness.

If your child's program or individual flock (group) at the program is canceled due to COVID-19, your prorated program fee is transferable or refundable.