Q&A

Registration money is due at time of registration. IF class/camp is being run out of a school that is taking payment, then their rules apply.

Rata2ee does not allow students to sign up for more than 1 week of camp for 2 reasons: 1) the recipes are the same each week (it’s too difficult for our staff to teach different recipes each week); and 2) kids get bored and it’s too difficult for staff when that happens.

An email communication will be shared after payment is made (typically once at sign-up, and then again 1-2 days before the event), letting parents know drop-off and pick-up details.

Parents are more than welcome to come in before camp, to check out the room. However, we find it's easier for your child to concentrate and focus after you leave.

Rata2ee will do its best to let you know the theme in advance, however, we do not give out the menu in advance. The reason for this? Kids are excited and sometimes decide to cook the recipes before camp starts, which makes it challenging for us on 'game day.' Also, some kids can be picky. It gives kids a reason to not attend, if it’s a new food they’re not familiar with. We find that children are more apt to try new foods if they made it. Healthy food is only healthy if children eat it! So we do our best to make sure the menu is a kidfriendly one (including things like burgers, pasta, and pizza). Please trust us on this one.

Please make sure you completely fill out the registration form, identifying any/all allergies your child has. All camps are nut-free. We may not be able to accommodate for all allergies, but we will do our best. We ask that you contact us before registering, to discuss the severity of the allergy: 248.219.5752.

Each young chef will have an apron and a chef’s hat to wear for the day. If your child is signed up for more than one day camp or is signed up for a full week's summer camp, then they will use the same one for class (to be kept by Rata2ee - not to be taken home). Close-toed shoes are required, as well as long pants. For Summer Camps, we understand it gets hot, but it’s required (they can wear light material, and kids have the opportunity to change into shorts and sandals at lunch time). For kids who do bring clothes to change into, they should be prepared for their shoes and hair to get wet (we do 'water play' on hot days. Please DO NOT bring swimsuits - we do not allow kids to take ALL clothes off while changing. Shirts can be long OR short-sleeved, but please refrain from loose-flowing sleeves. Long hair must be tied back. No dangling jewelry (like long earrings, long necklaces, or bracelets). *Children with special needs who refuse to wear long pants, may wear them, but please explain to them that they won’t be allowed to go near a stove or oven (it’s a safety issue).

There are strict school rules regarding foods brought from outside. This is a nut-free facility. Please do NOT bring any snacks or meals from home, as it increases the likelihood of cross-contamination, which could seriously harm another child.

Rata2ee does its best to encourage your child to take a 'No Thank You' bite. Also, kids tend to eat the foods that they are proud that they made. Lastly, if your child has not eaten anything, then we will pull them to the side and provide another snack (as a last resort). If you know your child is a very picky eater and will absolutely not eat anything all day long, please contact us before registering. This is a cooking camp, where kids will be expected to try the food they're making. Parents, please do not sign your kid up to make them try to eat healthy and leave all the dirty work to us. We want kids to love camp!

Any child with a communicable ailment (fever, diarrhea, flu) should stay home. A child with normal cough/cold can attend, but may be asked to wear a mask (the kind doctors wear over their mouth and nose), while cooking food. If it is brought to our attention a child has been exposed to a communicable disease, we will notify parents.

Please leave ALL items of value (ipods, phones, jewelry, game systems, etc.) at home. We will do our best to keep kids engaged, so no need to bring items from home. If a child does bring something from home, Rata2ee, Inc. is not responsible for lost items, dropped or 'cooked' phones or any electronics that get wet. All lost and found will be kept one week after each session concludes. All items will then be donated to the local donation facility near where the camp was held.

We will take pictures throughout the week, so no need to take photos. All photos will be downloaded to GroupMe, where parents will have access.

We understand things happen, but we also hope you understand your registration tuition does not include paying our employees or the room rental after class/camp. There is a late pick-up fee of $25 up to 15 minutes after class/camp ends; and an additional charge of $2 per minute for every minute per child after 15 minutes late. Repeated late pick-ups will be asked to discontinue camp. *Please note, the Birmingham location stays until 3:30 pm on Fridays.

All recipes are emailed to parents the week after camp.

Yes, we offer advanced camps at certain location, when schools have rooms that accommodate us to have 10 kids. When we see that the classrooms will not have enough room or the equipment won’t work out, then Advanced Camps will be cancelled for that location.

If your child has special needs, then please call to schedule a meeting to discuss in depth the special needs. *Rata2ee does its best to accommodate, but there are times when it will depend on the following: 1) spacing in the room that the school has scheduled us to use (if your child uses a wheelchair or must have extra staff to help); 2) our staffing (we try to hire enough people who can be an extra eye to help those with special needs, but staffing has been difficult since the pandemic) *Please note, due to the nature of our program (working with stoves and knives), Rata2ee does not allow those who have severe ADHD, who need constant redirection or who takes the full attention of staff away from safety of the classroom; those who have a tendency to leave the classroom without permission; those who use aggressive behavior to other children or teachers; and those who have violent outbursts and use profanity.

In regards to a knife, all children start with a child-safe knife that cuts through all fruits, most veggies and no fingers. If you gave permission for your child to use a paring knife, at some point in the camp week they will use the paring knives. Please note, the chef teaching the camp has full discretion to allow or not allow paring knives based on: your child's behavior that day and/or the group's behavior that day.