By participating in programming with Echo Theater Company, students (and parents of minor students) agree to abide by our student code of conduct:

Students agree to be respectful of their own bodies, as well the equipment, other students, teachers, staff, and others present in our space. Specifically:

• Listen to and follow the instructions given by teachers and other staff

• Advocate for yourself when you need support or modifications

• Respect your own limitations; don’t engage in activities that are unsafe or beyond your skill level

• Use language that is respectful to all people and be kind

• Ask for consent before touching others or giving feedback/advice

• Be aware of your surroundings and give others enough space to safely participate

• Be mindful of your volume, timing, and subject matter when engaging in side conversations during class

• Work on the skills and exercises that are being taught in class, unless specifically invited to practice other material you may know (Open Gyms are a great place for self-directed practice!)

• Use equipment only as directed/intended

• Do not adjust safety equipment or touch rigging, unless trained and invited by staff

• Stay home and/or mask when you’re sick, per our Sick Policy (below)

• Maintain good hygiene and avoid wearing synthetic scents, per our Hygiene Policy (below)

• Do not enter areas designated for staff use only, unless invited by staff

• When possible, let us know if you will not attend a class

• Follow all other Echo policies

Echo Theater typically follows Portland Public Schools regarding closures and late starts. In the event of a schedule change due to weather, we will email registered students at least 2 hours in advance and post an update on our website and social media accounts.

If we cancel a class due to inclement weather, we will do our best to reschedule the class. If we are unable to reschedule, we will issue a credit for the missed class. If I student cannot attend the rescheduled class, they may attend an open gym instead as a makeup. We are unable to offer refunds.

If we are running classes and you do not feel safe travelling to Echo due to weather, please stay home! We will issue you a voucher for open gym.

Please come to class in comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement and is not distracting. Sweatpants, footless tights, leotards and unitards are all great. Shirts should be tucked in. Classes are generally taken barefoot, but for certain disciplines, having the option of socks is nice. Long hair should be tied back. Skirts, jeans and loose long hair can be dangerous and are not allowed! Eyeglasses are allowed if they are secured. Jewelry should be removed before class or left at home; wedding rings are permitted but can be painful on the trapeze and may have to be taped on fabric apparatus.

All-day campers should wear shoes that they can walk to the park in and dress in layers appropriate for indoors and out.

To help us boost focus and foster independence, we ask that anyone not participating in class refrains from staying to watch. If your child requires support, and you need an exception to this rule, please contact us.

If do you choose to enter the theater with your student, you are welcome to help your child transition into class or camp and watch for a few minutes. We want you and your child to feel comfortable with us and will support you in any way we can. That said, we will encourage you to leave as soon as you feel comfortable. Experience has taught us that the presence of family members is often a distraction to students and can make it more challenging for students to focus.

Live end-of-term and end-of-camp performances generally take place in the last 15-30 minutes on the final day of class or camp. Students may bring up to 4 guests to watch them perform.

PLEASE BRING

A water bottle with your name on it. We have limited cups!

PLEASE DO NOT BRING

Toys, games, stuffed animals or any other objects that are not essential to class/camp.

Generally, we do not have the resources to look after children before or after class.

Parents who drop their children off unsupervised more than 10 minutes early or pick their children up more than 10 minutes late without a prior arrangement will be charged a day care fee of $10 per quarter hour.

If you have questions about before/after care for a specific class or camp, please email us!

Baby Circus Classes: If you are unable to attend a Baby Circus class, it may sometimes be possible to drop into another regularly scheduled Baby Circus class, as a “makeup,” if there is room in that class. Classes must be made up within 1 term of your missed class, and only 1 makeup is allowed per term (fall/winter/spring/summer). Please email us to see if there is space available.

Youth Classes: A student who is at least 6 years of age may attend an open gym as a makeup up to 2 times per term (fall/winter/spring/summer), if space allows. Students ages 6-12 must be accompanied by a supervising adult, and classes must be made up within 1 term of your missed class. Please email us to reserve a spot.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer makeup options for youth students under age 6 at this time (except for baby circus, as above).

Adult classes: A student may attend an open gym or jam as a makeup up to 2 times per term (fall/winter/spring/summer), if space allows. Classes must be made up within 1 term of your missed class. Please email us to reserve a spot.

Camps: Unfortunately due to the nature of camp scheduling, we are not able to offer makeup options for camps.

Please stay home if you are sick, and contact us to discuss makeup options!

Students may withdraw themselves from most classes and camps up until 14 days before the first session. To do this:

1. Log into your Uplifter account.

2. Hover over your name in the upper right corner, and select My Account from the drop down menu.

3. Click the Students button, and select the student you wish to withdraw.

4. Scroll down to Registered Classes section and select the relevant Session from the drop down menu.

5. Click the withdrawal button on the right side of the relevant class entry and follow the prompts. You will receive an account credit and confirmation email automatically.

Please refer to our class and camp refund policies for more information on other withdrawal and refund options, and contact us if you have questions.

Tuition payment is due at the time of registration.

Account credits can now be viewed through our online registration system. They are applied automatically at checkout unless deselected.

Discount, credits, and special offers cannot be applied after a transaction has been processed. If you have questions about how to apply a discount, credit, or special offer, please contact us before completing the transaction.

Once a transaction has been processed, the payment is immediately subject to our refund/withdrawal policy.

If a student must withdraw from a class or workshop the following applies:

Students may withdraw online up to 14 days before the first session for a full account credit. A 90% refund via the original payment method may be substituted, upon request, by contacting us at least 14 days before the class begins.

If a student withdraws less than 14 days before class begins, the student is no longer eligible for a refund, but will receive an account credit for the full amount of tuition. Please contact us if you wish to withdraw less than 14 days before your class begins.

If a student withdraws after class begins, the student will receive a prorated account credit. Please contact us if you wish to withdraw after your class has begun.

If a student withdraws more than 120 days after enrolling but before class begins, we will only be able to issue a refund of class tuition less 50% (per each enrollment) in the form of a paper check OR an account credit for the full amount of tuition.

Private lesson cancellations require notification 24 hours prior to scheduled lesson time. If notification is not given 24 hours in advance full payment is required.

Account credit can be applied to any ETC purchase (including tuition, tickets, merchandise, etc) and expire one year after the date it is applied to the account. If you need assistance using your credit, please contact our office BEFORE completing your purchase.

Account credits cannot be converted to a refund unless both of the following are true:

The credit was originally offered in a situation where a refund was an option, according to our policies.

It has been less than 30 days since the credit was issued.

And if the credit is converted back to a refund, that refund is subject to the above policies, so the amount refunded may not always be the full the amount credited.

PLEASE NOTE: Classes with fewer than 3 students enrolled will be cancelled at least 1 business day before the class. In the event of a cancellation, a full refund or credit will be issued. Be sure to register in advance to ensure that your favorite class will not be cancelled.

If a student must withdraw from a camp, the following applies:

Students may withdraw online up to 14 days before the first day of camp for a full account credit. A 90% refund via the original payment method may be substituted, upon request, by contacting us at least 14 days before the class begins.

If a student withdraws less than 14 days and at least 48 hours before camp begins, there will be no refund, but full account credit will be issued for camp tuition. Please contact us to withdraw less than 14 days before camp begins.

If a student withdraws less than 48 hours before and up to 10 hours after camp begins, a 50% account credit will be issued for camp tuition. Please contact us promptly to withdraw less than 48 hours before camp begins.

If a student withdraws more than 10 hours after camp begins, no refunds or account credits will be issued.

We have two locations–please check the location on the classes you wish to register for.

Echo Theater: 1515 SE 37th Ave, Portland, OR 97214. Office hours are approximately Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm. The Echo Theater has on-street parking only.

Echo West: 1420 NW 17th Ave, #388, Portland, OR 97209. Office hours are approximately Monday – Friday, 10am-6pm. Echo West has a free shared customer lot behind the building as well as paid street parking.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns, or needed accommodations, or give us a call at 971-267-3246.

Echo Theater Company does not deny benefits to or discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, and values the unique abilities of each individual.

Echo Theater Company is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Tax ID 93-0682075. Donations are tax deductible to fullest extent of the law. They are also greatly appreciated!

We welcome your input on our policies. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, contact our Executive Director, Wendy Cohen, at 971-267-3246 or by email.

Common cold or mild symptoms

Feeling a bit under the weather but well enough to participate safely? Mask up! Staff may request a student put on a non-woven mask (Echo provides masks) if they are coughing and/or sneezing. Please do not attend classes unmasked while coughing, sneezing, or experiencing a sore throat. If you have a fever, nausea/vomiting, conjunctivitis, or diarrhea, do not attend in-person classes with or without a mask. Contact hello@echotheaterpdx.org if you are unable to attend class due to illness.

Diagnosed and/or moderate to severe illness (including COVID-19)

If you test positive for covid, flu, strep, or any other highly communicable disease, stay home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms (or longer, if recommended by a doctor) and attend classes with a non-woven mask for at least an additional 5 days afterward, or until your symptoms have resolved. In addition, you must be fever, vomiting, and diarrhea free for at least 24 hours before returning to Echo, with or without a mask.

Injuries

Our teachers strive to offer options for all levels of physical ability. However, we ask that students do not participate in Echo classes while in a hard cast. After a concussion, do not participate in class until cleared to return by a medical professional. Echo assumes no liability for new or worsening injuries sustained by students who choose to participate in class while injured.

Lice and Scabies

Please do not come to Echo with an active case of lice or scabies. If you discover after attending a class that you or your student has a case of lice or scabies, please notify us immediately so that we may notify students of exposure and decontaminate equipment as needed. Your identity will be kept anonymous. Please do not return to class until everyone in your household is free of infection.

Accommodations and Communication

If you are unable to attend class due to illness or injury, please contact the office as soon as possible to let us know of your absence. Makeup options may be available, in accordance with our school policies, and extenuating circumstances will be considered when possible. Please contact the office if you need other accommodations due to illness or injury.

Wash/sanitize your hands before you begin class, and after eating, coughing/sneezing into your hands, blowing your nose, or using the bathroom, etc. 

Please come to class clean and take reasonable steps to prevent body odor.  Fragrant products, such as synthetic perfumes, should be used in moderation out of concern for others with allergies.

Follow our Sick Policy if you are sick or have been recently exposed to disease. If you’re not sure whether or not you should stay home, please contact us for clarification.

When on the mats, please do not wear street shoes or heels, do not drink anything but water from an uncovered container, and do not eat. The use of glitter is not permitted in our facilities, including on the mats.