About
Camp Pawprint includes animal-related lessons, interactive learning, and creative games. Campers interact with a variety of animals, take part in animal care lessons and interactions, complete service projects to help the shelter, and hear from and learn from local animal experts through professional presentations. Activities also include a tour of the DCHS Main Shelter and a camp celebration where families are invited for campers to show them what they have learned, as well as chances to play games with other animal lovers and help with service projects for the shelter.
• Ages: 7–12 years old
• Schedule: Day camps, Spring Break week, and themed week-long Summer Break day camps with full Monday–Friday weeks and 3-day Monday–Wednesday mini weeks
• Price: Day Camp Fee: $80; Day Camp + Aftercare Fee: $95; Spring Break Camp Fee (full week): $365; Spring Break Camp + Aftercare: $445; Full Monday–Friday Summer Weeks: $365 (8:30 am–3:30 pm) or $445 with aftercare (8:30 am–5:00 pm); 3-Day Mini Weeks: $220 (8:30 am–3:30 pm) or $265 with aftercare (8:30 am–5:00 pm)
Camp Pawprint is hosted by Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), which was founded in 1921 and offers humane education programs, community-based care for pets, foster care for animals for survivors of domestic abuse, a pet food pantry, dog training classes, and wildlife rehabilitation. DCHS holds a long-standing contract with Public Health Madison and Dane County to provide shelter and care for stray animals, bite quarantine, rabies prevention, and to serve as the stray holding facility for Dane County, and assists local authorities by providing shelter and care to animals in cases of suspected abuse and neglect. The organization’s mission states that Dane County Humane Society provides refuge, healing, and new beginnings to thousands of companion animals, exotic species, barnyard animals, and injured or orphaned wild animals every year, and that the goal of Camp Pawprint is to educate campers on how to care for, support, and appreciate all living things.
Every summer week of Camp Pawprint includes a tour of the DCHS Main Shelter, animal care lessons and interactions, and guest speakers, and at the end of each summer week there is a camp celebration where families are invited to the shelter. Day Camps and Winter Break Camp have varying themes and guest speakers, Spring Break 2026 features a 5-day theme called Epic Ecosystems for campers ages 7–12, and Summer themes include Animal Avengers, Critter Careers, Epic Ecosystems Mini Weeks, and Earth Guardians. A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available for Day Camps and Summer Camps. DCHS utilizes hay and peanut butter for animal enrichment throughout the shelter and is unable to provide a hay- and peanut-free facility or make accommodations for children with severe hay and peanut allergies, and campers spend a lot of time with classroom animals and sometimes meet guest animal visitors but do not pet adoptable dogs, cats, or critters around the shelter. For youth ages 12–14, DCHS offers a separate program called Camp WildSide hosted by the Wildlife Center.
Last updated February 26, 2026.
• Ages: 7–12 years old
• Schedule: Day camps, Spring Break week, and themed week-long Summer Break day camps with full Monday–Friday weeks and 3-day Monday–Wednesday mini weeks
• Price: Day Camp Fee: $80; Day Camp + Aftercare Fee: $95; Spring Break Camp Fee (full week): $365; Spring Break Camp + Aftercare: $445; Full Monday–Friday Summer Weeks: $365 (8:30 am–3:30 pm) or $445 with aftercare (8:30 am–5:00 pm); 3-Day Mini Weeks: $220 (8:30 am–3:30 pm) or $265 with aftercare (8:30 am–5:00 pm)
Camp Pawprint is hosted by Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), which was founded in 1921 and offers humane education programs, community-based care for pets, foster care for animals for survivors of domestic abuse, a pet food pantry, dog training classes, and wildlife rehabilitation. DCHS holds a long-standing contract with Public Health Madison and Dane County to provide shelter and care for stray animals, bite quarantine, rabies prevention, and to serve as the stray holding facility for Dane County, and assists local authorities by providing shelter and care to animals in cases of suspected abuse and neglect. The organization’s mission states that Dane County Humane Society provides refuge, healing, and new beginnings to thousands of companion animals, exotic species, barnyard animals, and injured or orphaned wild animals every year, and that the goal of Camp Pawprint is to educate campers on how to care for, support, and appreciate all living things.
Every summer week of Camp Pawprint includes a tour of the DCHS Main Shelter, animal care lessons and interactions, and guest speakers, and at the end of each summer week there is a camp celebration where families are invited to the shelter. Day Camps and Winter Break Camp have varying themes and guest speakers, Spring Break 2026 features a 5-day theme called Epic Ecosystems for campers ages 7–12, and Summer themes include Animal Avengers, Critter Careers, Epic Ecosystems Mini Weeks, and Earth Guardians. A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available for Day Camps and Summer Camps. DCHS utilizes hay and peanut butter for animal enrichment throughout the shelter and is unable to provide a hay- and peanut-free facility or make accommodations for children with severe hay and peanut allergies, and campers spend a lot of time with classroom animals and sometimes meet guest animal visitors but do not pet adoptable dogs, cats, or critters around the shelter. For youth ages 12–14, DCHS offers a separate program called Camp WildSide hosted by the Wildlife Center.
Last updated February 26, 2026.
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