WildSide Discovery Days

Join us for WildSide Discovery Days!

Explore, discover, and have fun at WildSide Discovery Days!

This event is open to all ages—children and adults are welcome. You do not need to attend with a child to participate and enjoy the event.

Experience a sampling of all Camp WildSide has to offer at your own pace! General admission tickets include access to:
- Guided arts and crafts, including making your own resin cast of animal prints
- Guest speakers
- Meet Bindi, our False Map Turtle Education Ambassador
- Bone study
- Microscope lab
- And more!

All activities run for the duration of the event so come at a time most convenient to you! All stations are optional and at your own pace, we recommend planning for about 2 hours to experience all we have to offer. Laser tag is available for an additional charge at the event, outside of presentation times.

Date & Time:

• September 13, 2026
• 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Pricing:

• $15 per participant

Age Requirements:

All ages welcome! Adult participants can register for the event, too! Family friendly admission.

• Adults welcome to attend without youth, our activities are fun for any age!
• Youth participants 8-17 years old can attend with or without an adult present.
• Youth participants 4-7 years old must be accompanied by an adult participant at all times.

Guest Speaker Schedule

11:00 am to 12:00 pm -- David Drake from the Urban Canid Project gives a presentation.

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm -- Logan, a naturalist and trained wildlife educator, gives a presentation on geology (rocks).

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- DCHS's Wildlife Center Program Manager Jackie Edmunds gives a presentation and demonstration on bird banding.*

*Throughout the day, volunteers will check nets every 15 minutes for birds to be banded. Attendees can check out that station near the gazebo just to the north of the barn. Banding will end at 2:00 pm.

Guest speakers and their timing may be subject to change
Guest speakers will each present for one to two hours on a schedule. All other activities will still be available during guest presentations. You do not need to sign up for a specific time slot to watch a guest speaker, just check the schedule and be present during their timeslot.

Allergy Information

DCHS utilizes peanut butter for animal enrichment throughout the shelter, and therefore is unable to provide a peanut-free facility. We are unable to make accommodations for children with severe peanut allergies. DCHS also utilizes various types of hay throughout the shelter, especially in areas where critters are housed. Hay may also come in contact with our education animals.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds may be granted up to 24 hours after payment has been submitted, if requested in writing to the Camp Coordinator at wildlifeeducation@giveshelter.org. After 24 hours from payment submission, fees are non-refundable but the event reservation may be transferred to another date in some situations. Dane County Humane Society reserves the right to cancel events due to various circumstances.

Education Opportunity Statement

At Dane County Humane Society, we know our education programs thrive from having diverse and inclusive participation. Diversity and inclusion are celebrated and embraced at Dane County Humane Society. We will not discriminate against or give preference to any person because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, arrest record, genetic information, veteran status or other class protected by applicable law. DCHS puts people first and we are happy to work with learners to remove barriers and put any reasonable accommodations into practice to the extent that it is safe to do so.

Please email wildlifeeducation@giveshelter.org if you have questions or need assistance.