Wander Wisconsin offers daily field trips and adventure-themed activities for campers entering grades 3-5 during select weeks over the summer months. Small group sizes and engaging staff provide the perfect environment for campers to challenge themselves, feel included, and build self-confidence.  Wander Wisconsin participants must be at least 8 years old. 

Wander Wisconsin takes place several different weeks throughout the summer, with base camps in Madison and Verona. Program takes place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Drop-off is 8-8:30 a.m. and pick-up is 4:30-5 p.m. 

  • Madison Base Camp  |  Crestwood Elementary, 5930 Old Sauk Rd.
  • Verona Base Camp  |  Verona Area International School, 400 N. Main St.

Wander offers different weekly theme-based adventures with daily field trips and hands-on activities. Most camp activities are held off-site. Transportation is provided via 15 passenger vans driven by trained Wander Wisconsin Adventure Trip Leaders or through school bussing partners. 

Wander Wisconsin programs typically visit waterparks as a part of their weekly activities. Campers must be designated as intermediate swimmers or above to enroll in Wander Wisconsin. Please refer to the program handbook for information regarding Wisconsin Youth Company swim guidelines.   

Wander Wisconsin programs occasionally visit locations that require signed liability waivers for campers to participate in activities. Applicable waivers will be emailed via Adobe Sign. Please respond promptly to these requests to ensure a successful program for all participants. 

You may enroll your camper(s) in one or more weeks of Wander Wisconsin. Because space is limited, early registration is recommended. You may register or add weeks any time until the end of the business day on Friday (5 p.m.) six business days prior to the week being requested, provided space is available. 

8 Programs
Open Registration
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Madison Base Camp

We’re kicking off summer with three days of sunshine, fun, and adventure! Campers will soar to new heights at Bethel Horizons ropes course, followed by a day of hiking and swimming at Devil’s Lake. Campers will end the week jumping at Urban Air and cooling off at a Madison area splash pad. 

 Destinations include: 

  • Bethel Horizons Ropes Course 
  • Devil’s Lake State Park 
  • Urban Air 
  • Local (Madison Area) splash pad 

This week at camp will be one for the history books! Campers will learn all about Wisconsin’s natural history with visits to Cave of the Mounds, Tower Hill State Park, and Governor Dodge State Park. Students will also gain new knowledge about our state history on fun-filled trips to Circus World and Old World Wisconsin. They will end their week with a trip to Aztalan State Park and the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson. 

Destinations include: 

  • Cave of the Mounds 
  • Blue Mounds State Park 
  • Tower Hill State Park 
  • Governor Dodge State Park 
  • Old World Wisconsin 
  • Circus World  
  • Hoard Historical Museum 
  • Aztalan State Park 

This week may not be long, but there’ll be no shortage of fun and adventure as we learn all about our amazing natural environment! Campers will learn all about nature with instructors at the Aldo Leopold Center and Retzer Center, and then end the week with a visit to the UW Geology Museum and a local hike at Picnic Point!  

 Destinations include: 

  • Aldo Leopold Center 
  • Retzer Nature Center  
  • UW Geology Museum
  • Picnic Point 

Campers will explore the great outdoors this week at Wander with lots of hiking and sunshine! Campers will start out the week with a visit to Kettle Moraine State Forest, and hikes at Mirror Lake and Governor Dodge State Parks, with swimming each day. Before hiking and swimming at Blue Mounds State Park, campers will journey underground in Cave of the Mounds. We’ll end our week at the beautiful Parfrey’s Glen and Riverfront Park. 

Destinations include: 

  • Kettle Moraine State Forest (Southern Unit) 
  • Governor Dodge State Park 
  • Blue Mounds State Park/pool 
  • Cave of the Mounds 
  • Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area 
  • Riverfront Park and Splash Pad (Sauk City) 
  • Mirror Lake State Park 

Verona Base Camp

This week, Wander campers will explore the best of the best in Madison! Campers will start off their week with a tour of the Wisconsin state capital and a trip to the UW Madison physics museum, followed by a day of exploration and fun at the Madison Children’s Museum. Be sure to send your camper in their badger gear for a tour of Camp Randall and a hike around picnic point. Campers will end the week visiting the Henry Vilas Zoo followed by the Lake Farm Park Splash Pad and finally, spending the day at Lake Wingra canoeing and log rolling. 

Destinations include: 

  • Wisconsin State Capitol 
  • L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum  
  • Madison Children’s Museum 
  • Camp Randall  
  • Henry Vilas Zoo 
  • Lake Farm Park 
  • Picnic Point 
  • Madison Log Rolling 
  • Wingra Boats 

This week at Wander is all about the great outdoors! Campers will spend their days hiking, learning about the environment, and more. We will start our week with tons of adventure at Natural Bridge State Park and an afternoon in the park at Riverfront Park, followed the next day with a visit to Devil’s Lake State Park. Campers will also visit not one, but TWO wonderful environmental centers, Marsh Haven in Waupun and the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. We will then end our week with swimming galore at Springs Water Park. 

Destinations include: 

  • Devil’s Lake State Park 
  • Marsh Haven Nature Center 
  • Urban Ecology Center 
  • Natural Bridge State Park 
  • Riverfront Park and Splash Pad (Sauk City) 
  • Springs Water Park 

This week at Wander, campers will spend their days soaking up the sun (and fun) at a variety of different places! Campers will see beauty from around the world at Olbrich Gardens, spend time with furry friends at the Henry Vilas Zoo, and explore the outdoors at the Mackenzie Center. Campers have a day of hiking and swimming at Blue Mounds State Park, splashing in the sun at Noah’s Ark Waterpark, and will end the week with celebrating summer at WYC’s All Camp Extravaganza. 

Destinations include: 

  • Olbrich park 
  • Goodman pool 
  • Mackenzie Center 
  • Blue Mounds State Park 
  • Henry Vilas Zoo 
  • Indian Lake County Park 
  • Noah’s Ark Waterpark
  • Wisconsin Youth Company All Camp Extravaganza  

Summer may be ending, but the fun at camp isn’t over yet! For our final week of Wander, campers will experience the magic of Wizard Quest, explore science and technology at Discovery World, and soar to new heights at Bigfoot Ropes. Campers will also spend the day at the beautiful Devil’s Lake State Park and end their week of fun at Noah’s Ark waterpark. 

Destinations include: 

  • Wizard Quest 
  • Discovery World 
  • Bigfoot Ropes Course 
  • Devil’s Lake State Park 
  • Noah’s Ark Waterpark 

2024 Wander Wisconsin Fees  | Fees can be found on the Programs tab |  Tuition assistance is available to families for all programs

Weekly Deposits  |  Deposits are applied toward weekly fees and are non-refundable and
non-transferable. $50 per camper, per week

Remaining Fees  |  Remaining weekly fee (less deposit) is due by the end of the business day Monday (5 p.m.) five business days prior to the start of program

Schedule Changes | Families may add or drop weeks any time until the end of the business day on Friday (5 p.m.) six business days prior to the requested week. Added weeks are dependent on space availability. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable when weeks are dropped.

2024 Payment Calendar

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