Camp WildSide - Summer 2026

Camp WildSide is open to children ages 12 - 15 years old. Please review the DCHS Camp Policies And Waiver before registering your child. You can also review our Frequently Asked Questions if you would like more information about Camp WildSide.

Fees:

Campers can be dropped off between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. Regular camp runs until 3:30 pm, with extended camp available until 5:00 pm for an additional fee.

• Weekly fee (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-3:30pm): $365
• Weekly fee with Extended Camp (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm): $445

Schedule:

• Monday, June 8th - Friday, June 12th
• Monday, June 15th - Friday, June 19th
• Monday, June 22nd - Friday, June 26th
• Monday, June 29th - Friday, July 3rd
• Monday, July 6th - Friday, July 10th
• Monday, July 13th - Friday, July 17th
• Monday, July 20th - Friday, July 24th
• Monday, July 27th - Friday, July 31st
• Monday, August 3rd - Friday, August 7th
• Monday, August 10th - Friday, August 14th
• Monday, August 17th - Friday, August 21st
• Monday, August 24th - Friday, August 28th

For more information, please visit our website here.

Important Notes:

• DCHS utilizes peanut butter and hay for animal enrichment and care throughout the shelter, and is unable to provide a peanut- or hay-free facility. We are unable to make accommodations for children with severe peanut or hay allergies.
  
  
• Campers will be learning about wildlife and the environment, but much of this learning will not include direct contact with wild animals. This is part of our emphasis on “keep wildlife wild,” where campers will learn to not treat wildlife like pets. That said, depending on the time of year there may be opportunities where a guest speaker brings an education animal or campers may be participating in bird banding or checking nest boxes that have live birds. Many of these animal interactions will be observational, and not hands on.
  
  
• Campers will not be able to pet adoptable dogs, cats, livestock, or critters. They will sometimes see and touch guest animal visitors, but they are not allowed to touch any of the adoptable animals in other parts of the shelter. This is for the safety of our animals and campers. We have struggled with campers following this rule in the past, so please make sure your camper knows about this rule before their camp week starts.
  
  
• Campers will need to bring a packed lunch and their own snack(s). DCHS will not be providing snacks.
  
  
• Camp staff are not trained to handle all emotional and behavioral conditions. If your child has a one-on-one teacher or aide at school, then you must provide an aide for them to attend camp. We do not have the staff to provide constant individual attention for each child.

Cancellation Policy: Refund or transfer requests must be sent to the Camp Coordinator at wildlifeeducation@giveshelter.org. DCHS will use the scale below to determine the refund or transfers available for each request.

1. UP TO 24 HOURS AFTER PAYMENT, full refunds may be granted, less a $25 administration fee.
2. BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, a 50% refund may be granted or registration may be transferred to another week of camp if available.
3. MORE THAN THREE WEEKS prior to the start of your registered camp, a registration may be transferred to another week of camp if available.
4. THREE WEEKS OR FEWER, no transfers, credits, or refunds will be issued.

Dane County Humane Society reserves the right to cancel events due to various circumstances. In the event that DCHS cancels an event, registration may be transferred to another date during the same calendar year.