Education and community connection have always been at the heart of Dane County Humane Society’s (DCHS’s) mission. Through hands-on learning experiences, DCHS invites people of all ages to better understand animals, shelters, and the environment we share. In 2025, our education department took an exciting step forward by welcoming adults into the camp experience for the very first time.
 

Adult Camp Pawprint, launched in May of 2025, offers adults ages 18 and older a fun, engaging way to reconnect with learning, creativity, and animals. Modeled after the beloved Camp Pawprint for kids, Adult Camp Pawprint provides themed monthly sessions that combine animal interactions, small-group activities, shelter tours, and creative projects. From crafting graham cracker birdhouses to interacting with over a dozen Ball Pythons, each evening is designed to be educational, fun, and relaxing. Adult Camp Pawprint creates a welcoming space for animal lovers to learn more about our shelter operations, deepen their connection to animals, and build a community with others who share a passion for animals.

Adult Camp Pawprint builds on the strong foundation of DCHS’s long-standing education programs, especially Camp Pawprint. Camp Pawprint offers children ages 7–12 animal-focused learning, games, and service projects during summer break, winter break, spring break, and day camps. Beyond camps, DCHS hosts birthday parties that blend celebration with learning, field trips and tours that bring students and adults behind the scenes at the shelter, and classroom and community presentations tailored to a wide range of ages. Additionally, Scout Workshops and Service Days provide opportunities for hands-on involvement and learning, reinforcing humane values through direct experience.

These are just a few of the programs that help shape compassionate, informed community members. Educating children about shelters, animals, and the environment helps foster empathy, responsibility, and respect for all living beings. When young people learn how shelters operate, why animals end up there, and how humans impact the natural world, they are empowered to make kinder, more thoughtful choices throughout their lives. By extending education to adults, DCHS reinforces the idea that learning and compassion don’t stop at childhood. Together, these programs help create a community that understands the importance of humane care, environmental stewardship, and lifelong advocacy for animals of all kinds.