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Registration now open!

Winter Wander offers daily field trips and adventure-themed activities for campers in grades 3-5 on select days over their winter break. Small group sizes and engaging staff provide the perfect environment for campers to challenge themselves and build self-confidence.  

Tuition assistance is available to families for all programs.

Winter Wander Base Camp  |  Elver Park Neighborhood Center, 1201 McKenna Blvd., Madison WI 53719 

Program Hours

Winter Wander trips run from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 

  • Daily drop-off is between 8-8:30 a.m. 
  • Daily Pick-up is between 4:30-5 p.m.

Trip Destinations  |  Campers will be transported via 15 passenger van or chartered school bus

  • Wednesday, December 20  |  Retzer Nature Center
  • Thursday, December 21  |  Urban Air and Local Hike/Activity

Weather Related Changes and Cancellations

If weather conditions (extreme cold or snow) prevent regular planned activities from occurring, an alternate activity will be provided. Please see below for a list of possible alternate activities. If weather conditions have the potential to cause a dangerous situation for staff or families, Winter Wander will not operate. Wisconsin Youth Company will do its best to notify families as soon as possible in the case that a program is canceled. An announcement will be made via email and on our website. Families will also be notified of the cancellation via text message. There is no credit or fee reduction for days missed. 

Possible Alternate Activities: 

  • Bowling 
  • Movie at a local theater 
  • Indoor mini-golf 
  • Sledding, snow shoeing or winter hike 

Single- or multiple-day registrations are available. Registration open now.

2 Programs
Open Registration
Wait-List

Retzer Nature Center

The first day of Winter Wander is all about appreciating winter wildlife. Campers will travel to the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha. Campers will first learn all about how animals adapt to survive Wisconsin winters while hiking at the center. After lunch, the group will participate in a presentation about migration patterns of Wisconsin’s migratory animals. 

Urban Air and local hike/activity

The second day of Winter Wander focuses on getting campers moving. The group will spend the morning at Urban Air adventure park jumping and having fun. Following lunch, the group will travel to a local hike/activity of the campers choosing. Locations include: UW Arboretum, Picnic Point, Governor Nelson State Park, or the Henry Vilas Zoo. 

Program Fees  |  Program fees vary slightly based on the trip location for that day.

  • Wednesday, December 20 | Retzer Nature Center | $100
  • Thursday, December 21 | Urban Air and Local Hike | $110
  • Tuesday, January 2 | Springs Waterpark | $125

Deposit  |  $15 per day, per child, due at the time of registration

  • Deposit is non-transferrable and non-refundable
    Balance of program fees is due five business days prior to program date

Registration  |  Single- or multiple-day registrations are available.
Registration closes Friday, December 15 at 5 p.m.

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View Wander Wisconsin