SUMMER 2025 FAQs

Registration and Payment

Registration is not confirmed until we receive your payment. The student will be moved to the waitlist if we reach capacity and have not received your payment. Parents/guardians will receive an email confirmation along with a second reminder email one-week before camp starts.

Workshops fill quickly. In the event that a workshop has not filled, registration will close one week before the scheduled start date.

Drop Off

Workshops take place at the Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market Street, or at the CCA Building located at  121 East Water Street. Please check your confirmation email for location details. The Light House team will begin checking in students at 15 minutes before the workshop start time and escort students into the building.  

Pick Up

Students will be signed in and out at the start and end of each workshop. If you need to make a different pick-up arrangements, please contact our Operations Director, Kristen Dillehunt, at kristen@lighthousestudio.org or call 434-293-6992.

Early Drop Off and Late Pick Up

Light House does not take responsibility for any child dropped off unattended and/or prior to 15 minutes before the start of the workshop. If a child is not picked up promptly after the workshop, you will be charged a late fee of $10 for every 5 minutes your child is left unattended. If you are delayed due to an emergency, please contact the Light House team at 434-293-6992.

Friday Film Screenings

Screenings are on the last Friday of the workshop. Elementary films will screen at 2:00pm; middle school and high school films will screen at 2:45pm. Screenings last approximately 30-45 minutes and include free popcorn!

Visitors

Unscheduled visits to Light House Studio are not permitted. Anyone, including parents/guardians, will need to make prior arrangements with the Light House Team to schedule a visit.

Waitlist

If your chosen workshop is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist. We will notify you as soon as a spot is available.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance is available on a first come, first served basis and is limited per workshop. Please fill out the tuition assistance form prior to enrolling in the workshop.  Our team will reach out after reviewing your application.

Discipline Policy

The Light House team expects students to:

• Respect others, the equipment and the space

• Use computers for making films 

• Participate and communicate

• Give teachers and fellow students your attention and minimize distractions

If a disruption occurs, we first speak directly with the student. If the disruptive behavior continues, we will contact the parent/guardian. If the situation is not resolved, we will contact the parent/guardian, and the student will be dismissed from camp. No refund is issued in the event of a dismissal.

Snacks/Lunch 

All food and drinks are to be consumed only in designated areas. Light House students are encouraged to eat outside, except in times of inclement weather as determined by Light House staff. Middle School and High School students may take their lunch break outside on the Charlottesville Downtown Pedestrian Mall with written parental/guardian permission. Students will not share food and drinks. 

Students enrolled in any of our elementary camps are required to bring their own lunches. Designated space along with a half hour supervised lunch will be provided every day.

In the event that students cannot eat outside, students will eat in a designated area inside.

Cell Phone and Device Policy  

Cell phones are allowed for communication purposes during breaks only. Cell phone and device usage during class is not permitted unless it pertains to the film project.

Cancellation of Workshop by Light House Studio

Light House Studio reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet sufficient enrollment. Participants will be given a choice of transfer to another workshop (if available) or receive a full refund. Parents/guardians will be notified in advance.

Cancellation Policy

We strive to keep a low student-to-teacher ratio and as a result, we begin planning as soon as your child enrolls.  We are offering the following cancellation and refund policy for Summer 2025:

• Cancellations made more than 90 days before the first day of the registered workshop will receive a refund, minus a $35 registration fee.

• Cancellations made between 90 - 30 days before the first day of the registered workshop will receive a 50% refund. 

• Cancellations made within 30 days of the first day of the registered workshop are non-refundable.

Please contact Kristen Dillehunt at 434-293-6992 or if you have extenuating circumstances beyond student or parent control and we will work with you to come up with a reasonable solution.

Cancellation Due To COVID-19 or Other Illnesses

Light House does not offer workshop refunds due to being out sick with COVID-19 or other illnesses. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, Light House will offer, in its discretion, a transition to online learning.

If your child is sick within the first 24 hours of a summer camp, we will try to offer another workshop opportunity.  Unused tuition will be donated to our community programs and scholarships which provide resources to underprivileged families in our community who may not otherwise have a filmmaking opportunity.

Light House follows the City of Charlottesville School guidelines for returning to in person learning after being out due to illness. You can learn more on the City School’s website here.