Camp WildSide Sessions
Registration for Camp WildSide sessions is open!
Weekend Camp Dates & Fees
Weekday Camp Dates and Fees
Important Notes
- DCHS utilizes peanut butter and hay for animal enrichment and care throughout the shelter, and is unable to provide a peanut- and hay-free facility. We are unable to make accommodations for children with severe peanut allergies.
- Campers will spend a lot of time outdoors, but they will not be able to handle or pet wildlife that are at the Wildlife Center in treatment for rehabilitation. This rule is in place for legal reasons and for the safety of both campers and the animals.
- Campers will need to bring a packed lunch and their own snack(s).
- Camp WildSide staff is not trained to handle all emotional and behavioral conditions. If your child has a one-on-one teacher or aide at school, then you must provide an aide for them to attend camp. We do not have the staff to provide constant individual attention for each child.
Interested in spending your summer working with kids while exploring nature? Learn more about our Education Internships and Camp Counselor job openings here!
Camp WildSide Details
Campers will learn from DCHS licensed rehabilitators, wildlife education interns, and other local experts while they enjoy activities tailored for aspiring young naturalists. Sessions are meant to be educational with wildlife-related lessons that are geared towards middle school-aged children.
Example activities:
- Outdoor nature walks with naturalist education
- Yard games with fun wildlife themes
- Look at mammal fur, bird feathers, snake skins, turtle shells, and more - up close!
- Wildlife arts and crafts
- Beginner biology: Look at organisms under the microscope or dissect owl pellets!
- Birds and binoculars 101: Learn common bird species by sight and sound
- Practice diet-making and enclosure set-ups to replicate what wildlife rehabilitators provide for animals in treatment
- Check and monitor wild bird nest boxes on site - learn their importance in conservation
Why should children enroll in Camp WildSide?
- Develop team-building and cooperation skills with other children
- Learn about strategies for co-existing with wildlife
- Study native tree and plant identification and see their importance for wildlife habitats
- Perform environmental service projects to help animals and people
- Gain knowledge from experts about wildlife rehabilitation and rescue topics: How do you know if an animal is injured? What do you do to help it?
A majority of Camp WildSide takes place outdoors on DCHS property, with access to an enclosed shelter during inclement weather. Campers will get the chance to discover the world around them through hands-on experiences, like completing service projects to benefit the Wildlife Center, together with other nature lovers! Our goal is to educate campers on how to be good stewards of the environment, respect wildlife, and have an appreciation for all living things.
Please review the Camp Policies and Waiver before registering your child. You can also review our Frequently Asked Questions if you would like more information about Camp WildSide.
For questions, reach out to wildlifeeducation@giveshelter.org.
Details
Cancellation Policy: Summer Camp
Refund or transfer requests must be sent to the Camp Coordinator wildlifeeducation@giveshelter.org. DCHS will use the scale below to determine the refund or transfers available for each request. 1. UP TO 24 HOURS AFTER PAYMENT, full refunds may be granted, less a $25 administration fee. 2. BEFORE MARCH 1, 2025, a 50% refund may be granted or registration may be transferred to another week of camp if available. 3. MORE THAN THREE WEEKS prior to the start of your registered camp, a registration may be transferred to another week of camp if available. 4. THREE WEEKS OR FEWER, no transfers, credits, or refunds will be issued. Dane County Humane Society reserves the right to cancel events due to various circumstances. In the event that DCHS cancels an event, registration may be transferred to another date.
Education Opportunity Statement
At Dane County Humane Society, we know our education programs thrive from having diverse and inclusive participation. Diversity and inclusion are celebrated and embraced at Dane County Humane Society. We will not discriminate against or give preference to any person because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, arrest record, genetic information, veteran status or other class protected by applicable law. DCHS puts people first and we are happy to work with learners to remove barriers and put any reasonable accommodations into practice to the extent that it is safe to do so.
Allergy Information
DCHS utilizes peanut butter and hay for animal enrichment and care throughout the shelter. Camp WildSide activities will take place in and around the DCHS Barn, where there is hay present. We are unable to provide a hay or peanut-free facility, and we are unable to make accommodations for children with severe hay or peanut allergies.
