Contacting Us
How do we contact you about Science Festivals?
Please click here to email us, or call us at 1-800-561-5161 for information.
Registering for the Festival
When does online or faxed registration close?
Registration closes at 5 pm (pacific time) on the Friday before a Saturday festival and 5pm (pacific time) on the Saturday before a Sunday festival. There is no on-site registration.
I just registered online but got a blank screen after I submitted my credit card information. Am I registered?
When that happens, please call us at 1-800-561-5161 to check whether your submission got successfully processed. If not, you may have to register again.
The festival is very soon. Can I register today and still mail in my check?
Yes, if you fax us a copy of the check. Our fax number is on the festival registration form.
Will I get credit card confirmation?
If you call or email us to request it, we will email you a confirmation when your credit card has been charged.
Can boys register for a Science Festival?
Yes, we welcome both girls and boys. But they should be aware that the majority of the attendees may be girls.
Can my 3rd or 9th grader attend?
The level of the Science Festivals has been carefully designed for 5th to 8th graders. You may find that the Workshops are either above or below your 3rd or 9th grader.
I'm a parent--if I'm just bringing my child and staying until she's finished do I have to register and pay?
Yes you do--you'll hear the featured talk, wander the street fair, and...we'll give you lunch. You are also encouraged to sign up for an adult workshop.
Do I have to pay to attend just the featured talk?
Yes you do--you will need a nametag to get into the featured talk; as part of registration, you'll receive a nametag, which also entitles you to lunch and access to the Street Fair.
Do you offer a group discount?
No, we don't.
Do you offer Festival scholarships for those in financial need?
Thanks to our generous sponsors, there are limited scholarships available for some festivals. Please call us at 1-800-561-5161 for further information.
If I register, but then am unable to attend the Festival, can I transfer my registration to someone else?
Yes. Your friend can check in under your name and use your badge. Unfortunately, you won't be able to change the workshop selections.
Security
Is there security?
Yes. There are 2-3 uniformed security and 2-3 plainclothes security patrols at the Festival. We also issue nametags on lanyards to all attendees, and monitor the grounds for people without nametags.
Workshops
Can my daughter get the same workshops as her friends?
We can't guarantee workshop choices, but if she signs up for the same workshops as her friends, we will do everything we can to get their first choices.
Workshops are assigned on a "first come, first served" basis. There will be a better chance of each getting the same workshops if they all chose the exact same six first choices, in the same order.
I registered before workshops were available. How and when do I select my workshops?
Workshops will be posted 3 weeks before the festival. At that time, you'll be sent an email with a special URL and a passcode. Go to that URL, enter your passcode, and make your selections.
We strongly recommend doing this as soon as you get the notification, as this will help you get your workshop choices.
When will I find out what workshops I've been assigned?
When you pick up your nametag at the pre-registration booth at the festival. If you register on the day of the festival, you'll be given a nametag at that time.
We strongly recommend pre-registering, since workshops are assigned on a "first come, first served" basis. Your workshop assignments will be on your nametag.
Can I change my workshops on the day of the festival?
Sorry, but no!
Can I stay with my children in their workshops?
Each workshop has limited space in the classroom, so only girls can attend the student workshops. If parents attend there is less space for girls, and we’ve also found that parents tend to inhibit the interactions between the girls and the presenters.
But don’t worry, we have helpers assigned to each workshop who will stay with the group through the entire workshop and lead them back to the Street Fair.
I’m an adult. If I register but don't want to attend a workshop, what is there for me to do?
The Street Fair runs throughout the Festival, so you’ll have a chance to play with all the exhibits without having to compete with kids! You’ll also have a chance to secretly buy gifts at the Sally Ride Science Store booth.
We encourage adults to select workshops in case they decide they want to attend one at the last moment.
Featured Talk
When does the featured talk begin?
Normally at 12:45 pm, after lunch. You must have picked up your nametag before then in order to attend.
How long is the talk?
Normally one hour, with lots of time for questions.
Lunch and the Street Fair
Do you offer a vegetarian option for lunch?
Always!
What exactly goes on at the street fair? What kinds of vendors do you have? Are there giveaways?
The street fair has music, face painters, and about 30 booths and exhibits (for example: making slime, looking through telescopes).
Some of the booths have giveaways; there are no vendors, but there is a merchandise booth with t-shirts, books and other items.
Are books available for purchase at the street fair?
Yes. There will be a booth with Sally’s books and other items (including t-shirts) available.
Directions, Parking and Drop-off/Pick-up
Is there parking close to the Festival?
We try to arrange parking as close to the Festival as possible.
Will I have to pay for parking?
No, we cover all parking charges, if any.
When will directions and parking information be up on website?
They should be available the Monday before the festival.
Can I drop my children off at the Festival?
Yes, you can. However, please bring your child to the sign-in and registration area to pick up her badge. We have over 50 helpers at each Festival who take the girls to and from each Workshop, and bring them back to the Street Fair where the registration area is after the Workshops.
Each helper has a Festival ID badge. You may also want to pre-arrange a designated pick-up area with your child for the end of the Festival at 4:30pm.
Offers to help
Can I help at a Festival?
We appreciate all offers of help! Please call us at 1-800-561-5161 for further information.
How can my company become a sponsor?
Call us at 1-800-561-5161, and ask for our Director of Business Development. We’d love to have your company as a supporter.
How can I help spread the word about the festival in my community?
We’d be happy to send you flyers and posters to distribute, or give you other information that would help you describe the event to others. We can also follow up on any suggestions you have for us.
Click here to contact us by email, or call us at 1-800-561-5161.
Sally Ride Science Club
Where can I learn more about the Sally Ride Science Club?
Please click here for more information on the Sally Ride Science Club.
Can I sign up for the Sally Ride Science Club at a Festival?
Yes, at the Sally Ride Science Club booth, and you'll receive a special Festival discount for your first year's membership.
Is there a question and answer missing?
Then let us know by calling us at 1-800-561-5161 or by clicking here to email us.
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