History of Our Organization
Wisconsin Youth Company got its start as the After School Day Care Association in 1974. As more and more women entered the workforce there was a need for children to have a safe place to go after they were dismissed from school. The organization started with two after school programs located in Madison Public School buildings.
Enrollment increased throughout the 1970s. In 1981, the organization was selected for a study by the Childrens Defense Fund as an innovative school-age child care program that might be replicated in other parts of the country. The organization began to get calls from communities and other groups asking how to start their own after school program.
By the fall of 1985, the organization had added before school and around kindergarten programs to accommodate full time working parents. It expanded further in the fall of 1987, adding programs in Middleton, WI.
Programs grew larger and it became challenging to meet the needs of five year olds and ten year olds in the same space. In 1988 the club program was established. At each AFTER SCHOOL site the older children now have their own designated space, and work on more challenging projects. All club programs are affiliated with 4-H.
The summer program became a summer day camp in 1989 with different specialty units focusing on sports, nature studies and other topics. The camping program Wander Wisconsin got its start as a summer day camp unit. It is now its own division and provides day and overnight camping and cabin trips year round for ages eight to 15. Wander Wisconsin also offers educational family travel experiences.
In 1990 the organization expanded to serve Waukesha County and Stoughton, WI.
In 1994 the organization changed its name to AFTER SCHOOL, Inc. and began offering programs in Mt. Horeb, WI. Also that year it started a summer program called Middle School U, offering skill and hobby classes for middle school aged youth.
In 1995 the Waukesha regional office was opened to serve the before and after school and summer camp programs in the surrounding communities of New Berlin, Dousman, Wales, Delafield, Merton, Hartland, and Waukesha. In August of 1998, AFTER SCHOOL acquired its first building at 1201 McKenna Boulevard in Madison to house the administrative offices of AFTER SCHOOL, Inc.
In November of 1999, the organization hosted the first annual Celebrating Youth! event at Monona Terrace in Madison. This annual event showcases all kinds of youth interests and activities including dance, sports, arts, drama, and comedy.
In 2000 the organization's name was changed to Wisconsin Youth Company, Inc. AFTER SCHOOL is now a division of WYC along with Wander Wisconsin, Middle School U, Celebrating Youth!, and the Wisconsin Youth & Family Center.
In the fall of 2002, Wisconsin Youth Company opened the Wisconsin Youth & Family Center at its McKenna Road administrative offices. The center houses drop in programs for area middle and high school youth and a free after school and summer camp program for low-income school-age children who live in the Greater Elver Park Neighborhood.
In 2008 world language, art and science classes, offered by Wisconsin Youth Company at 10 Dane County schools, were grouped with Wander Wisconsin and Middle School U under camp and enrichment programs.