Frequently Asked Questions

The Westtown School is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, less than an hour from Philadelphia. The campus boasts air-conditioned dorms, a lake, pool, ropes course, nature trails, athletic facilities, amazing arts spaces for all disciplines and a working farm! Learn more about our campus here.

Each 12-night session begins on a Tuesday and ends on a Sunday.

Campers in grades 3-11 pick one Arts Major from the following: Contemporary Theatre, Shakespeare, Creative Writing,  Dance, Instrumental Music Ensemble*, Musical Theatre, Photography, Vocal Music Ensemble, and Visual Art.

*All Instrumental Music campers must have at least one year of prior experience with an instrument.

All participants also choose kinesthetic arts options and electives.

Auditions are not required for our program.  Arts mentors will be in touch with participants prior to camp to help set goals for personal growth.

Sessions are 12 days long. Between the partnership of parents and camp, campers are provided with anything and everything they might need. Therefore, packages are not accepted at camp. We accept standard flat business size (#10) or greeting card envelopes so that families can correspond with campers. Mail larger than these will either be held at the office to be picked up on closing day or will be returned to the sender.

If your camper needs something, like a piece of clothing, an important toiletry that was forgotten at home, lost, or ran out while at camp, you can call our camp office at 609-410-9870 or email CreativeArts@URJ.org and we will be happy to discuss the need.

• Refunds

  • Cancellation before January 1, 2025 – 100% of total tuition is refundable, including Non-Refundable Deposit.
  • Cancellation between January 1, 2025, and March 25, 2025 – 100% of total tuition is refundable, except for the Non-Refundable Deposit
  • Cancellation between March 26, 2025, and April 30, 2025 – 75% of total tuition is refundable.
  • Cancellations starting on May 1, 2025 – no refunds will be given unless stated below. Camp reserves the right to refund any eligible refund in multiple installments as determined by Camp. Credit card refunds will generally be processed by the 15^th of the following month and can take up to ten business days to clear your bank account.

Refunds Given:

• Refunds will be given without penalty (including deposit):
  • for campers on a “Waiting List” (those not able to be placed in their desired session at Camp) if at any time they choose to be removed from the list or are ultimately unable to be placed;
  • if Camp is unable or elects not to open because of government regulations, orders or guidelines
  • if Camp is required to cancel the session of a child with a pre-existing health condition;
  • If Camp is unable to secure a rental facility;
  • if Camp is unable or chooses not to open at their own discretion.

Refunds not given:

• Refunds will not be made if Camper has attended any portion of the session at Camp. This covers all circumstances, including, but not limited to:
  • Camper’s homesickness
  • Camper’s refusal or inability to participate in the normal activities at Camp
  • Camper’s violation of any rules, regulations or policies at Camp for which Camper has been provided notice, and as described below in “Camper’s Participation and Camp Program Expectations” section.

Yes, as in past years third party travel insurance is available. This year very few insurance companies are offering cancel for any reason insurance, but we are excited to present some available options that include a cancel for any reason policy that covers 75% reimbursement, with the general interruption and medical policy covered at 100%.

Yes, we have made some changes in light of the current circumstances. We have standardized payment deadlines across all URJ camps and have revised our refund policy with some COVID-19-specific factors in mind.

 Upon registering and paying the deposit, families will have two options for payment. Families will receive invoices on or around the first of the month, with their accounts being charged on or around the 15th. Please note submitting an application is different from the time of registration/enrollment. It may take up to 7 business days after submitting an application for a camper’s application to change from “applied” to “enrolled”.​ Payment plans are based on the registration date, not the application date.

Here are the available payment plans:

• Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment via eCheck – Before May 1, the Union for Reform Judaism will charge your eCheck account for the full amount owed during the next billing cycle following your enrollment. Starting May 1, you will be charged the full enrollment soon after your enrollment is confirmed.
• Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment via Credit/Debit Card –Before May 1, the Union for Reform Judaism will charge your debit/credit card for the full amount owed during the next billing cycle following your enrollment. A non-refundable 2.75% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. There is no processing fee for debit card transactions. After May 1, you will be charged the full enrollment soon after your enrollment is confirmed.
• Monthly Payment Plan via eCheck – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your eCheck account on or about the 15th of each month, beginning November, or the month following enrollment thereafter, and continuing through April. This plan is not available for families who are registered after March 31. All families who register starting April 1 must select the Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment payment option unless another arrangement has been made with the camp office. 
• Monthly Payment Plan via Credit/Debit Card – The Union for Reform Judaism will automatically charge your debit/credit card on or about the 15th of each month, beginning November, or the month following enrollment thereafter, and continuing through April. A non-refundable 2.75% processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions. There is no processing fee for debit card transactions. This plan is not available for families who register after March 31. All families who register starting April 1 must select the Pay in Full at Time of Enrollment payment option unless another arrangement has been made with the camp office.

Families can choose E-check at time of check out or pay with a debit card.  E-Check will allow tuition to be deducted directly from either your checking or savings account and can also be used with payment plan options.

Deposits and electronic payments may be made by E-check, Debit Card (all without surcharge) and Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard and Discover). A non-refundable 2.75% credit card processing fee will be added to all credit card transactions.

Deposit

1. I agree to submit at time of registration via electronic payment method (Credit Card, Debit Card, or E-Check (ACH)) a $500 per Camper/per session NON-REFUNDABLE deposit (except as otherwise provided below) in order to have Camper’s application processed. This non-refundable deposit becomes $1,000 on March 26, 2025.

Payments

1. 150 days prior to Camp’s first session start date – 25% of total tuition payment is due;
2. 90 days prior to Camp’s first session start date – an additional 50% of total tuition payment is due (75% of total tuition paid);
3. 60 days prior to Camp’s first session start date – final payment is due.

Camp Sessions and Corresponding Dates:

Refunds

• Cancellation before January 1, 2025 – 100% of total tuition is refundable, including Non-Refundable Deposit.
• Cancellation between January 1, 2025, and March 25, 2025 – 100% of total tuition is refundable, except for the Non-Refundable Deposit
• Cancellation between March 26, 2025, and April 30, 2025 – 75% of total tuition is refundable.
• Cancellations starting on May 1, 2025 – no refunds will be given unless stated below. Camp reserves the right to refund any eligible refund in multiple installments as determined by Camp. Credit card refunds will generally be processed by the 15^th of the following month and can take up to ten business days to clear your bank account.