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 they do the registration and payment. *Some locations may ask you to pay Rata2ee directly for the materials only. If class/camp is run out of any of the Mara Montessori Collective locations, then Rata2ee does the registration and payments directly.

Rata2ee strongly discourages enrolling students in multiple weeks of the same camp for two primary reasons. First, the recipes and curriculum are repeated each week. Offering entirely different menus would require staff to master a very large number of recipes, which would compromise consistency and instructional quality. Second, when children repeat the same material, they can lose engagement, which makes it more challenging to maintain the energetic and focused learning environment we strive to provide. *Exceptions may be made for students interested in becoming Counselors-in-Training or for those who are happy to participate again knowing the content will be repeated.

An email communication will be shared after payment is made (typically once at sign-up, and then again 1 week 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.

We do our best to share the camp theme in advance; however, we do not provide the full menu beforehand. Why? Because once kids know what’s coming, some enthusiastic chefs decide to test the recipes at home before camp even begins — which takes a little of the excitement out of “game day.” Also, when children see unfamiliar foods listed, it can create hesitation before they even arrive. We’ve found that kids are far more willing to try new foods when they prepare it themselves. And let’s be honest, healthy food is only healthy if children actually eat it. While we love expanding young palates, we also keep menus kid-friendly and approachable, with favorites like burgers, pasta, and pizza woven into the experience. Trust us on this one, we’ve seen even the most determined picky eaters surprise themselves.

Please make sure you completely fill out the registration form, identifying any/all allergies your child has. All camps are nut-free. We no longer accommodate for all allergies, as there is a high risk of cross-contamination. We encourage you to contact us before registering, to discuss the severity of your child’s 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 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' with a hose 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. *Bringing a snack to camp may result in being disinvited from camp with no refund.

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 they made. We do let kids know that dessert will not be offered to them, if they haven’t at least taken a “no thank you” bite. Lastly, if your child has not eaten anything, then we will pull them to the side and provide another snack (as a last resort) like cheese and crackers. 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 then 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, smart watches, 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 a password protected private shared page, 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 $30 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.

All recipes are emailed to parents the week AFTER camp via a passport protected shared page.

Yes, we offer advanced camps at certain locations, 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 not be offered or will be cancelled for that location, once we see it won’t be a fit. Also, if your child is on the cusp regarding age, OR if we are not offering advanced camp at a location that a sibling is attending, we will allow older children to participate in all-day camp, so long as they know and are ok being in a camp with younger children. Our staff will try to give them extra tasks appropriate for their age.

Rata2ee is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment. If your child has special needs, we encourage you to contact us to schedule a conversation so we can better understand their individual needs and determine whether our program is an appropriate fit. While we make every reasonable effort to accommodate participants, placement may depend on several factors, including:
• Facility Limitations: such as room layout, accessibility, and mobility requirements
• Staffing and Supervision Availability: including whether additional support is necessary for Safe participation
• Program Safety Considerations: as children actively use kitchen equipment including stoves, ovens, and cooking tools
To ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, our camps may not be appropriate for children who require continuous one-on-one supervision to safely participate in a kitchen environment, who are unable to remain within supervised program areas, or whose behaviors may pose a safety risk to themselves or others. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your child’s needs and explore whether reasonable accommodations can support a safe and successful camp experience for all.

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 chefs teaching the camp have 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.

Our camps are intentionally capped at a small group size to ensure a safe, hands-on experience for every child.Because students work with real kitchen tools such as knives, stovetops and ovens, maintaining proper supervision and staffing ratios is essential. Program coss are based on ingredients, supplies, staffing and safety measures, which do not decrease when an additional child enrolls. In fact, adding students often requires additional staff to maintain our safety standards. We appreciate your understanding and remain committed to providing a high-quality, safe and enriching experience for every child.

If you anticipate a late drop-off or early pick-up, please notify us at info@rata2ee.com at least 24 hours in advance. You may also inform staff at drop-off so the change can be noted on that day’s roster. Please note that last-minute phone messages may not reach the classroom in time, as all staff are actively supervising and instructing students; however, we will always do our best to accommodate. For early pick-ups, if the class is using an outdoor play area that is accessible to families, please do not approach your child directly. We are required to follow the school’s safety procedures and release children through staff only. When early pick-up is arranged in advance, we will have your child ready at the designated release area. If you arrive early without prior notice, please check in with a staff member in the classroom, and they will retrieve your child for you. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and smooth dismissal process.