FAQs

Kids at College classes cost $65 – $75 each and that fee covers the entire 1-week session (2-hour class, 5 days, a total of 10 hours of instruction). Prices can be found under each class description in “CLASSES.”

Yes! For a Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. experience, register for 3 classes: 8:15 a.m., 10:25 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. in any of our four sessions.

Yes! You can register for 1, 2, or 3 classes per day. If the classes you register for are not consecutive (for example, 8:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) the child will need to be checked out after the first class and checked back in for the afternoon class.

Children from 5 to 8 will be escorted to and from class and lunch by adult volunteers. We have staff in each area supervising our 9-13-year-old students as they move from class to class. All staff and volunteers are background-checked.

Lunch is from 12:25 p.m.–1:00 p.m. in a supervised area, with each age group eating together. Please note there are no microwaves available.

The Kids at College Packet Pick-Up event provides an opportunity for parents to pick up the child’s T-shirt and the car-line sign.  It is also a great time for parents and children to locate classrooms and become familiar with the Polk State College campus.

Packet Pick-Ups:

WINTER HAVEN CAMPUS – Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center (WST 126)
LAKELAND CAMPUS – Wednesday, June 12, 2023, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Lakeland Technology Building (LTB 1100)

Most Polk State Kids at College instructors are teachers from local public and private schools.  In addition, the program uses adult volunteers to supervise students between classes, at lunchtime, and during arrival and dismissal.  All instructors and adult volunteers (in addition to all employees of Polk State College) undergo a background check.

Individual classes are 2 hours in length and are scheduled between 8:15 a.m. and 3:00  p.m. Monday through Friday on our Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses. The schedule lists classes by campus, session, age group, and time. Children may take up to three classes during each session. If a child wishes to take classes with a group of friends, the parents must coordinate to ensure that all students are registered for the same classes at the same times. Many classes are offered at multiple times.

To register for a full schedule, choose one class from each time:
8:15 a.m.
10:25 a.m.
1:00 p.m.

Parents should print the child’s schedule in advance and attend the Packet Pick-Up event on the appropriate campus:

WINTER HAVEN CAMPUS – Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center (WST 126)
LAKELAND CAMPUS – Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the Lakeland Technology Building (LTB 1100)

These are drop-in-and-pick-up sessions; parents are not expected to stay for the duration of the event.

Packets that are not distributed during the event are sent home at the end of the first day of Kids at College.

All supplies needed are provided in the classes and included in the class cost.

Unfortunately, there are no waiting lists available.

Parents, grandparents, etc. should please check in at the front desk if you will be visiting the campus during Kids at College.

If your child needs to leave early for an appointment, you will need to let the front desk staff know that the child is leaving campus and “check them out.”  The same applies if your child is arriving late to Kids at College due to an appointment.  If your child is going to miss a day of class, please send an email to: kidsatcollege@polk.edu, so we can inform the instructors.

If, after registering, a child is unable to attend Polk State Kids at College, an e-mail request for a refund must be submitted to kidsatcollege@polk.edu. Refunds will be given for cancellations requested 7 or more days before the first day of class. No refunds are issued for requests received less than 7 days prior to the first day of classes.

Winter Haven Campus Map     Lakeland Campus Map

Please refer to the campus maps for building locations.  The three letters preceding the room number indicate the building where the class is located.  If the room number begins with a “1,” the room is on the first floor, a “2,” second floor, and a “3,” third floor.

Please keep a copy of your child’s schedule for your records.  Send the class schedule with your 9-14-year-old child for at least the first day of classes.

Winter Haven Car Line Map     Lakeland Car Line Map

Lakeland: In front of the LTB building, near the covered bus shelter in front of the campus. See Lakeland car line map for proper queuing.

Winter Haven: North side of the Fine Arts Building, entering from Polk State College access road.  See Winter Haven car line map for proper queuing.

Children may be dropped off no more than 15 minutes prior to the beginning of class. Students should be picked up immediately after class ends.

Our lunch break is from 12:25 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
– Students leaving after the second class are welcome to stay for lunch with their friends and be picked up at 1:00 p.m.
– Students arriving for the 1:00 p.m. class are welcome to arrive at 12:25 and eat lunch with their friends.

Class times are:
8:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
10:25 a.m.-12:25 p.m.
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

June 1 is the beginning of the hurricane season, and it is possible that we will experience Tropical storms or Hurricane threats during Kids at College. Our program will run unless Polk State College closes due to weather – official closings can be found on local radio/television stations and also at www.polk.edu. In the event of other emergencies, the most effective way for us to contact parents is via email (the email on file with the child’s registration). Every effort will be made to communicate with parents in a timely fashion.

This field needs to be left blank. None of the Kids at College classes are locked.

No, there is no transportation provided. Families must transport students to and from the college.