Thank you for choosing Wisconsin Youth Company Summer Day Camp!
Please note: Families are varied and the use of the word Parent(s) refers to the adult(s) who are responsible for the camper.
Please carefully review all tabs on this webpage prior to your first day of camp.
Location | Badger Ridge Middle | 300 Richard St., Verona
Camp Cell Phone | 608-445-8013
Camp Hours | Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Drop-off takes place between 7:30-9 a.m.
- Pick-up takes place Monday-Thursday between 4-5:30 p.m. and Friday between 3-4:30 p.m.
- Please note, there is no camp Monday, July 3 or Tuesday, July 4 2023
- Camp ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 18
Meet the Staff
- Camp Director | Monica
- Assistant Camp Director | Isis
- Counselors | Tyler, Grace, Karen, Kushagra & Julia
All staff have education and/or experience related to working with children. They receive training prior to the start of the camp season and are certified in first aid and CPR.
Health & Wellness at Camp
Please monitor your camper for possible illness at home prior to arriving at camp each day. If your camper has a fever greater than 100° F or other illness, please keep your camper home for the day and contact our administrative office regarding their absence.
Wisconsin Youth Company follows CDC COVID-19 guidelines as well as standard communicable disease policies. If your camper tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know right away by emailing info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org.
Families will be notified of COVID-19 exposure and other communicable diseases through signage posted at program. Wisconsin Youth Company programs follow current CDC, Public Health and Department of Children and Families guidelines in regard to face coverings at program.
Upon arrival, directors will complete a visual wellness check before campers enter their group.
Dropping Off Your Camper
Where to Park | Parking is available in the main school parking lot, enter through the Door #5 located near the theater and natatorium entrance.
Drop-off Procedure | After entering the main entrance of Badger Ridge, continue up the ramp toward the school cafeteria. Proceed through the cafeteria and take a right at the restrooms, following the signs for the Elementary Cafeteria. This will be a somewhat long walk. Continue down another hallway until you reach the Elementary Cafeteria, this is the camp program space. If you would like your camper to arrive independently by walking or biking, please contact the administrative office to authorize Independent Arrival.
Campers Arriving from Summer School | When summer school ends each day, campers who attend summer school should walk to the Sugar Creek cafeteria and wait for camp staff. A camp staff member will walk with campers from Sugar Creek to Badger Ridge daily during summer school weeks.
Medications, Sunscreen, and Insect Repellent | If your camper has medications, sunscreen or insect repellent, please bring these on the first day of their attendance. All items should be labelled with first and last name. Wisconsin Youth Company does provide sunscreen and insect repellent. Campers are not required to bring their own.
What to Bring
Please only send your camper with following items. All items should be labeled with your camper’s first and last name:
- Sack lunch (nut-free) that does not need to be refrigerated or microwaved
- Gym shoes or sandals with a heel strap (no flip flops)
- Water bottle labeled with child’s first and last name
- Extra set of clothing, as needed
Please do not send your camper with any unnecessary items. Toys from home will not be permitted. Wisconsin Youth Company is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal property, including clothing.
Picking Up Your Camper
When to Pick-up | Campers should be picked up during the designated pick-up timeframe: Monday-Thursday 4-5:30 p.m. and Friday 4-4:30 p.m. If you need to pick up your camper early, please coordinate that directly with the camp director in advance.
Pick-up Procedure | After entering the main entrance of Badger Ridge, continue up the ramp toward the school cafeteria. Proceed through the cafeteria and take a right at the restrooms, following the signs for the Elementary Cafeteria. Continue down another hallway until you reach the Elementary Cafeteria, this is the camp program space. Sign-out could also take place outdoors as weather allows.
Families will not be allowed to drive to the rear of the school to pick up their camper, this is a safety risk to campers, staff, and other individuals using the school space.
Camp staff will check your ID or confirm your identity before releasing your camper to you. Because of the amount of children and families we work with over the summer months, there is a chance that you may be asked more than once. Your patience and cooperation is greatly appreciated!
Independent Departure | If you would like your camper to walk home independently or meet you at your vehicle, please contact the administrative office to authorize Independent Departure. Campers cannot meet you at your vehicle unless they have prior authorization.
Authorized Pick-up Person | Only authorized pick-up people can pick up your camper. If you would like to add an additional authorized pick-up person, please email info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org. All authorized pick-up people are encouraged to have a photo ID on them. With the safety of campers in mind, staff will check IDs if they have not met a pick-up person or do not recognize a pick-up person.
Absences
Please call the 24-hour attendance message line, 608-276-9898, if your camper will be absent. Please call before 8:30 a.m. if the message pertains to that day.
Camper Groups
Each camper will be assigned a group for the week. Each group will have a designated classroom space for use during the day. Groups will have no more than 18 campers.
- We will aim to keep your camper in the same group each week. Since some campers are only enrolled for a few weeks, some campers may change groups throughout the summer.
- Materials and toys will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the summer.
- Camper groups will be divided by age. If you have two or more campers that you would like to request remain in the same group, please contact our administrative office.
- Each child will have a designated space to store their belongings. Campers should only bring essential items for the day.
Snack & Lunch
It’s important campers start each day with a good breakfast prior to camp, and bring a nutritious and satisfying lunch.
Sack lunches must not require refrigeration or microwaving; milk is provided. A morning and afternoon snack will be provided. Some campers have life-threatening allergies (like a peanut or tree nut allergy). For this reason, WYC requests that campers bring a nut-free lunch. All snacks served at camp are nut-free.
- Campers will eat snack and lunch with their group either in the main camp area or outdoors.
- All campers must wash hands with soap and water before and after eating.
Field Trips
Details regarding field trips can be found on the This Week at Camp tab. Camp Wildcat will typically take field trips on Friday each week; however, this is subject to change. Campers should come to camp prepared for the day’s field trip with appropriate footwear, their camp t-shirt, and water bottle.
Swimming Trips
Details regarding swim trips can be found on the This Week at Camp tab. To review your camper’s swim level please connect with your camp director or email info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org. Campers will be grouped by swim level with no more than 8 campers per group. Camp Wildcat will typically swim on Wednesday each week; however, this is subject to change. Camp Wildcat will only visit local pools with lifeguards on duty and an option for zero-depth entry. Some weeks, camp will visit a splash pad instead of pool. Campers should come to camp prepared with a swimsuit, towel, and camp t-shirt.
Please review Wisconsin Youth Company’s swim guidelines to ensure accuracy. If your camper has been previously enrolled in a WYC camp program, their swim level may not match their current swimming skill. To help ensure a successful week of camp for your camper and WYC staff, please update this information by emailing info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org prior to the start of the camp week.
Keeping Camp Clean
We understand the need to keep camp clean is more important now than ever before. Because of this, we are implementing the following practices:
- Campers and staff will be required to wash hands often and thoroughly.
- Staff will clean and disinfect program materials on a regular basis.
- Facility staff will clean high traffic areas within the building including bathrooms.
- All disinfecting will happen in a room that is not accessible to campers. Disinfecting of group spaces will only happen when campers are not present.
- For cleaning, staff will use a detergent/soap and water solution.
- For disinfecting, staff will use EPA-approved products.
Spending Time Outdoors
Counselors will be encouraged to take their campers outdoors as much as possible. Campers will have water, sunscreen and shade available to them while outdoors. Please send your camper dressed for the outdoors, every day.
Program Activities & Guest Presenters
Our summer team has been working hard to ensure that campers have a fun and enriching experience this summer. Campers will participate in weekly theme-based activities and off-site field trips . Weekly themes can be found on your camp’s website. Some additional activities could be led by guest presenters depending on the week. Details regarding guest presenters can be found on the This Week at Camp tab.
Parent Contact Information
It is important that Parents can easily be reached throughout the camp day. Please verify your contact information in your parent portal and contact the administrative office if changes need to be made.
In the event that camp staff contact you requesting that your camper be picked up for illness or other reasons, we ask that you do so immediately. If you are unable to pick up your camper immediately, please arrange for emergency pick-up individuals. These individuals must be listed as authorized pick-up persons on your account.
Changing Account Information
Written notification is required to make any changes to your account information (i.e. phone numbers, pick-up persons, emergency contacts, etc.). An email from the email address on-file is sufficient. Your account password is required to make changes.
Additional Program Information
Additional program related information can be found in the program handbook.
No Camp Days
There is no camp Monday, July 3 or Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Contact Wisconsin Youth Company
Summer Program Director, Nate Peterson
npeterson@wisconsinyouthcompany.org
Wisconsin Youth Company Administrative Office – Mailing Address
733 Struck St.- 45620
Madison, Wisconsin 53744
Phone: 608-276-9782 ext. 0
Fax: 262-547-0394
24-Hour Attendance Message Line: 608-276-9898
Email: info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org
Use the above address, fax, email and phone number for payments, registration and billing inquires, and other general information. You may also access your account online on the parent portal.
Q: Who can drop off and pick up campers?
A: Following Wisconsin Youth Company policy, campers may only be dropped off and picked up from camp by authorized pick-up person(s) listed on their registration.
Q: What happens if my child gets sick while at camp?
A: Each camp has a designated space available to use in the event that a camper gets sick. While in this space, they will remain supervised by staff. Staff will call for immediate pick-up. Please ensure that your camper is picked up as soon as possible.
Q: When will my camper receive their camp t-shirt and when do they need to wear it?
A: Campers will receive their t-shirt during their first week of camp. Campers should wear their t-shirts on all field and swim trip days.
Q: Can I pick up my child from a field or swim trip?
A: Pick-up from an off-site field or swim trip is an option when needed by families, although is not preferred. Please coordinate specific details with the camp director at your child’s camp location. Please note off-site pickup is not always an option. Field and swim trips are pre-determined and will not be altered to accommodate pick up or drop off for children.
Q: Do I need to provide sunscreen and insect repellent for my camper?
A: Wisconsin Youth Company provides sunscreen and insect repellent for all campers attending summer programs. WYC uses Rocky Mountain brand 30 SPF lotion sunscreen and Cutter DEET-free insect repellent. Families may provide their own sunscreen and/or insect repellent. Please contact our administrative office at info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org for Dane County families and waukesha@wisconsinyouthcompany.org for Waukesha families for additional details.
Q: How do I update my child’s swim level?
A: The easiest way to update your child’s swim level is to contact the administrative office at info@wisconsinyouthcompany.org for Dane County families and waukesha@wisconsinyouthcompany.org for Waukesha families. You can also fill out necessary paperwork at your child’s camp location, but due to the volume of changes and the workload of camp staff, it is preferred that you contact the administrative office. Please note changes are not immediate.
Q: What is the time frame I can drop off/pick up my child?
A: Children can be dropped off and picked up throughout the camp day. Generally, it is preferred that your child is dropped off between 7:30-9 a.m. and picked up between 4-5:30 p.m. (4-4:30 p.m. on Fridays). If you will be dropping off or picking up outside of those hours, please talk with the camp directors at your camp location.
Q: Is there transportation provided by WYC for campers from summer school locations?
A: WYC does not provide transportation to camp following summer school sessions. Site specific information regarding arriving to camp following summer school can be found on the Welcome tab for that camp location. All transportation must be arranged through your school district.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Hi everyone! We are so excited to get summer camp rolling. Our staff cannot wait to go on swimming and field trips, create crafts to take home, and make many fun summer memories with your campers. Just as importantly, we cannot wait to get to know all of you as the caretakers of our campers. All that being said, let’s kick off our first week of summer camp with the theme of Wonderful Wisconsin.
Weekly Activities
- Slime
- Yoga
- Creating Craft stick Buildings
- Friendship Bracelets
- Ice Water Tag
- Memory Lego Building
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Wednesday, June 21 | Depart at 12:30 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | Governor Dodge State Park | Friday, June 23 | Depart at 12:30 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Comfortable walking shoes, orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day
- If you child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors |Hi everyone! After a fantastic first week of camp, we cannot wait to keep the ball rolling. This week we are focusing on the theme of Animal Adventures. Staff here is so excited to do all our fun animal themed activities whether it be active games, crafts, or science based.
Weekly Activities
- Favorite Animals
- Animal Masks
- Jungle Tag
- Seed Mosaics
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Wednesday, June 28 | Depart at 12:30 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | Henry Vilas Zoo | Friday, June 30 | Depart at 1 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Comfortable walking shoes, orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day
- If you child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Hey all! We at Camp Wildcat have been having an absolute blast with all of the kids. This week is water lover’s week, and our Wildcat staff has so many fun activities planned that we cannot wait to do them with the campers.
Weekly Activities
- Watercolor painting
- Water balloon volleyball
- Tie-dye
- Celery Experiments
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Friday, July 7 | Depart at 12:30 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Happy Mad Scientists week! We are so excited to have a lot of new faces joining us as well as a few familiar faces returning to Camp Wildcat.
Weekly Activities
- Elephant toothpaste
- Slime
- Make it rain in a jar
- Pop rock potions
- Magic balloons
- Super soapy boat experiments
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Wednesday, July 12 | Depart at 1 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | UW Geology Museum | Friday, July 14 | Depart at 1:30 p.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Happy County Fair Week! With a lot of familiar faces returning to camp, we are excited to kick off this theme. Staff and children have been excited hearing all the fun things that are planned for this week of fun.
Weekly Activities
- Make your own carnival games
- Popsicle catapults
- Mini parachute contests
- Bowling
- Bingo
Swimming Trip | Middleton Pool | Wednesday, July 19 | Depart at 1 & return at 4:30 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | Dane County Fair | Friday, July 21 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Welcome to Clowning Around Week. This week we will have fun with circus-themed games and projects, and finish out the week with a trip to Circus World. We are excited for another action-packed and silly week. How did the clown snore? Honk Shoe! Honk Shoe!
Weekly Activities
- Paper mache
- Stress balls
- Paper spinners
- Animal tag
- Elephant toothpaste
- Tower building
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Wednesday, July 26 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | Circus World | Friday, July 28 | Depart at 10 a.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
- Please send a paper bag/disposable lunch with your camper.
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Happy Moovin’ and Groovin’ week Wildcat families! This week we will head to the Sun Prairie Aquatic Center for our swim trip on Friday and will have our field trip this Wednesday at Sassy Cow Creamery. We are looking forward to another great week at camp!
Weekly Activities
- Homemade bouncy balls
- Karaoke
- Seed mosaics
- Disc golf
- Paper crane
Field Trip | Sassy Cow Creamery | Wednesday, August 2 | Depart at 10:15 a.m. & return at 2 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
Swimming Trip | Sun Prairie Aquatic Center | Friday, August 4 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | Happy Growing Minds Week Wildcat families! This summer has flown by so quickly and in that time, we’ve seen so many campers grow in different ways. We are excited to visit Goodman Youth Farm and show all the kids all the other things that can grow around us, as well as have a blast at Middleton Pool for our swimming trip. Here’s to another awesome week at camp!
Weekly Activities
- Yogurt polar bears
- Mini pinatas
- DIY greenhouse
- DIY chia pet
- Paper flowers
Field Trip | Goodman Youth Farm | Wednesday, August 9 | Depart at 1 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Friday, August 11 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
A note from the camp directors | We made it to the final week of summer camp! Our Wildcat staff have had the best time sharing their days with your kids. We have so many fun activities planned for our last week and so many fun trips to take.
With all of that being said, if you plan on picking up early at any point this week, please keep an eye out for days when we will not be in our program space and instead out on a field trip. We also want to remind families to please pick up their medications, sunscreens, and to double check our lost and found for any of your belongings.
We have had an amazing summer and hope your little ones did too!
As a reminder, camp ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 18.
Weekly Activities
- Tie dye
- Visiting Discovery World
- Walking around Blue Mounds State Park
- Meeting everyone at our All Camp Extravaganza
Field Trip | Discovery World | Tuesday, August 15 | Depart at 9 a.m. & return at 4:30 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
- Please send a bag/disposable lunch.
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Wednesday, August 16 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes
Field Trip | All Camp Extravaganza, Lakeview Park | Thursday, August 17 | Depart at 10:30 a.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | All Camp Extravaganza t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
- Please send a bag/disposable lunch.
Field Trip | Blue Mounds State Park | Friday, August 18 | Depart at 11 a.m. & return at 3:30 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
- Please send a bag/disposable lunch.
Reminders
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Welcome to Camp!
One more week! One more week! I am so grateful to wrap up another excellent summer, and so happy you could join us for a final Encore of summer fun! This week we will have staff and campers from many of our different day camps coming together for the final week of program. With lots of great activities, field trips, and an all-star staff team, its sure to be a great closing note.
As a reminder, camp ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 25.
Thank you!
Nate Peterson
Summer Program Director
Weekly Activities
- Fluffy slime
- Mug cakes
- Moon sand
- Flight school
Field Trip | Milwaukee County Zoo | Tuesday, August 22 | Depart at 9 a.m. & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, water bottle, small backpack, comfortable walking shoes
- Please send a bag/disposable lunch.
Swimming Trip | Goodman Pool | Thursday, August 24 | Depart at 12:30 & return at 4 p.m.
- What to Bring | Swimsuit, orange camp t-shirt, towel, swim shoes, water bottle
Field Trip | McKee Farms Park | Friday, August 25 | Depart at 11 a.m. & return at 3:30 p.m.
- What to Bring | Orange camp t-shirt, swim clothes, towel, water shoes, water bottle
- Please send a bag/disposable lunch.
Reminders
- Camp ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 25.
- Please send a nut-free lunch with your camper each day.
- If your child has medications at camp, they must be dropped off on their first day of attendance.
Photo Gallery
