Youth Day Camps

Youth summer day camps have been a long standing tradition at Hunt Hill! Our day camps typically feature environmental-themed learning activities, games, swimming, and crafts in small, age-appropriate groups. Camps are interactive and led by a team of trained and enthusiastic educators.

2023 Updates: Youth Day Camps will be open to 7 – 12 year olds this summer with 30 camper spots available each day of camp. There will be 20 days of individual day camps over five weeks of the summer (see dates and topics below). Day camp weeks will be from Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, with camper drop off starting at 8:30am.

Registration Information: Registration is required, and space is limited. Day Camp registration will open AT NOON (12:00PM) April 3rd to Hunt Hill FAMILY and STUDENT Members, and then open to all on April 17th, 2023 AT NOON (12:00PM). To access the early registration for members, you must have a family membership or a student membership BEFORE April 3rd, 2023. Registration is required. For more information regarding registration and day camp fees, click on 2023 Day Camp Registration & Fees below. 

Day Camp Handbook

Youth Medical & Release Form

Registration & Fees

2023 Day Camp Dates & Themes

The following weeks feature individual days of day camps. Families can choose to sign up for a single day in any week, or multiple days across these five weeks of day camp.

  • Monday, June 26 – Incredible Insects: Scurry, wiggle and hop as we explore the amazing world of insects. Campers will catch insects, play insect games, and create a brand new insect. 
  • Tuesday, June 27 –Frogs & Salamanders: Search for frogs and salamanders around Hunt Hill. Then learn about the adaptations that make these amphibians so awesome!
  • Wednesday, June 28 – Creatures of the Night: Who is awake and moving about in the dark while we enjoy our sleep? Night creatures! Campers will explore how bats and owls “see” and hunt at night through games and activities that test their own senses.
  • Thursday, June 29 – Rad Reptiles: Play games to experience the day in the life of our scaly friends! Trod like a turtle and slither like a snake through a series of challenges. Of course, you’ll also get an up-close and personal look at our two educational turtles: Snappy and Pancake!
  • Monday, July 10 – Camp Firestarter – CAMP FULL: Learn how to safely start and build a campfire and make yourself a special campfire treat!
  • Tuesday, July 11 – Shelter Building Camp- CAMP FULL: Create your own forts and shelters using natural materials as well as tarps. Will your shelter keep you safe and dry?
  • Wednesday, July 12 – Going Fishing – CAMP FULL: Let’s go fishing! You’ll learn how to cast and reel and identify common Wisconsin fish at this camp, and then go out to catch and release real fish!
  • Thursday, July 13 – Canoe Voyagers: Campers will learn how to paddle and steer a canoe as they spend the day exploring the lakes at Hunt Hill. 
  • Monday, July 17 – Mythical Creatures: Step into the world of mythical creatures! Design and build houses for woodland fairies and go on a quest to find the elusive sasquatch that was spotted at Hunt Hill.
  • Tuesday, July 18 – Wild Wild West: Explore like Lewis and Clark, churn butter and play games like pioneer children from the wild west.
  • Wednesday, July 19 – Pirate Camp: Yo ho ho, we’re headed on an adventure! Campers will test their skills on a treasure hunt and see how they’d fare living the life of a pirate.
  • Thursday, July 20 – Wizards School: Wizards-in-training will make their own wand, cast spells, make potions, and compete in Hunt Hill’s wizard games. 
  • Monday, July 24 – Dream Builders:  Design and build nests, parachutes, bugs, and more during this STEM challenge day camp! 
  • Tuesday, July 25 – Digging Dinosaurs: Spend the day as a paleontologist digging up dinosaur bones, discovering fossils, and playing dinosaur-related games.
  • Wednesday, July 26 – Crazy Chemists: As a crazy chemist, you’ll get to test chemical reactions that bubble, fizz, pop, and even explode!
  • Thursday, July 27 – Blooming Botany: Measure the age of a tree, observe bees and butterflies pollinating flowers, and learn how to grow your own plant!
  • Monday, August 7 – Habitat Detectives: Squish in a bog, observe plants in the prairie, learn how to tell common trees apart and see what lives at the bottom of the lake on this adventure-filled day.
  • Tuesday, August 8 – Under the Waves – CAMP FULL: Go ponding, try out snorkels and run around like fish as we discover what life is like, under the waves.
  • Wednesday, August 9 – Splash Camp – CAMP FULL: Slip and slide like an otter, avoid sponge bombs and spend the day splashing around camp.
  • Thursday, August 10 – Nature Art: Get inspired by nature! Campers will take a closer look at the patterns and colors found in nature and create beautiful art out of natural materials found at Hunt Hill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Day Camp registration will open in April 2023 with early access to Hunt Hill Family and Student Members.

We have created a COVID-19 plan to help reduce the risk of community spread at Day Camp. This plan is subject to change and will be reviewed as needed according to recommendations from the CDC, American Camp Association, and government entities.

You can read the plan here: 2022 COVID-19 Plan.

Due to day care licensing requirements, a limited staffing market and increased costs, Hunt Hill will be reevaluating and restructuring our youth day camps in 2023. Final details of camp will be made available no later than the end of March 2023.

  • Participants who cancel online or notify Hunt Hill by email or phone, at least 15 days before the day of the program or event will receive a full refund minus a 10% processing fee (if paid by credit card). NOTE: There is no processing fee assessed on refunds kept as credit or when the participant paid with cash or check. 
  • Participants who cancel less than 15 days will not receive a refund or credit, unless their spot can be filled by another participant. If filled, a refund will be issued minus a 10% processing fee.  NOTE: There is no processing fee assessed on refunds kept as credit or when the participant paid with cash or check.
  • Participants who cancel 48 hours or less before the program will not receive a refund or credit. 

Here’s an example schedule from 2022:

  • Arrival & Check-in (Between 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM)
  • Welcome Circle
  • Environmental Educational Activities
  • Lunch
  • Choice Time
  • Swim Time
  • Craft Time
  • Afternoon Games/Practice Parent Presentations
  • Check-out (Between 4:00 – 4:30 PM)
  • Parent Presentations

We will send you a comprehensive packing list in advance of camp.

Packing List:

  • Layers for changing weather (sweatshirt, sweatpants, raincoat, etc)
  • Shoes for running/hiking (sneakers or hiking boots work well)
  • Shoes for the waterfront (sandals or aquasocks work well)
  • Sunscreen that the camper can apply independently
  • Bagged lunch & snack (please place these in separate containers)
  • Swimsuit
  • Towl
  • Backpack to carry it all in
  • Optional: Hat or sunglasses
  • Optional: Bug spray

Here are the items that campers are not allowed at Day Camp:

  • Electronics (cell phones, video games, tablets, etc.)
  • Toys from home
  • Money
  • Gum

Day Camps are overseen by a certified Emergency Medical First Responder (EMR). The EMR works with the Day Camp staff to identify and reduce risks in their activity plans. 

All Day Camp Staff are trained in First Aid, CPR/AED, Epi-Pen Administration, and Bloodborne Pathogens. All lifeguards are certified through the American Red Cross Lifeguard course. Lifeguards are on duty any time youth are swimming or in watercraft. All participants are required to wear lifejackets when in watercraft. 

Hunt Hill thoroughly trains our staff in Emergency Action Plans including Fire, Weather, Intruder, Lost Camper, Lost Swimmer, and other related emergencies. All staff members carry a walkie-talkie and first aid kit in order to respond to emergencies quickly. A stock Epi-Pen and AED are onsite in case of emergencies.

The camper to staff ratio never exceeds 12:1, which allows our staff to keep close watch over campers. Often we have a staff member and a group assistant/junior counselor with each group. All Day Camp staff are trained to prevent and identify abuse. We follow a three person rule, which states that whenever a camper is in a private space such as a room or building that is not publicly visible there will always be three people.

Your camper will never be required to swim, but they will be required to go to the waterfront each day with their cohort (except when the weather conditions are unsafe for swimming). Swim time is an important part of the Day Camp schedule. Most campers love swim time and look forward to it everyday.

Our summer staff members are certified lifeguards and there are always a minimum of two lifeguards on duty anytime there are youth in the water. 

If your camper does not know how to swim or is a weak swimmer, we recommend sending them with a lifejacket to help them feel comfortable in the water.  They will be restricted to the shallow end of the waterfront and actively supervised by the shallow end lifeguard. 

If your camper dislikes swimming, we still recommend sending them with a swimsuit and towel. That way they can still choose to get in the water in case they get hot and would like to sit in the water to cool down. They are welcome to bring something with them to the waterfront to entertain themselves such as a book, coloring sheets, etc. They are also welcome to just wade in the water to search for fish and tadpoles.

If your camper is a strong swimmer, they will have the option to complete the deep end test in order to swim in the deeper section of the swim area and jump off the raft. The deep end test includes swimming three lengths of the dock (approximately 25 meters total) followed by treading water for 60 seconds. Their test will be supervised by a lifeguard. If they pass the test, they will be able to swim in the deep end under the supervision of the deep end lifeguard.