Camp

For decades, parents have trusted 4-H camps to help young people build resilience by engaging in positive risks. If we want our children to be able to bounce back from adversity, stress, challenges and failures, teaching them resilience is key. Having experiences outside their comfort zones, like camp, helps young people become more independent and better able to plan and reach their long-term goals. At 4-H camp, children learn critical life skills and independence.

At Extension Waukesha County 4-H Summer Camp, youth build these important skills through a wide variety of hands-on activities, including archery, canoeing, rock climbing, swimming, team building, educational crafts, evening campfires, songs, skits, and more, including special themed programs to complete the experience. Camp also provides leadership opportunities for older youth who, along with 4-H adult volunteers, plan and organize camp activities.

2026 Camp will take place on August 12-15, 2026, at Phantom Ranch Camp in Mukwonago. Both day camp and overnight camp options are available to meet the varying needs of campers. Download the Camp flyer.

Overnight Camp

Dates: Wednesday, August 12th – Saturday, August 15th, 2026
Ages: 9-16 years old as of August 12, 2026 (Day 1 of Camp)
Drop-Off: August 12 – 7:00-7:30 a.m.
Pick-Up: August 15 – 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $300 for Waukesha County 4-H members, $350 for non-members (plus $20 for campers who will be horseback riding)

Day Camp

Dates: Wednesday, August 12th – Friday, August 14th, 2026
Ages: 5-16 years old as of August 12, 2026 (Day 1 of Camp)
Drop-Off: 7:00-7:30 a.m.
Pick-Up: 4:30-5:00 p.m.
Cost: $175 for Waukesha County 4-H members, $200 for non-members (plus $20 for campers aged 9 and up who will be horseback riding)

2026 Camp Theme

Each year, our Camp Counselors determine a theme for that year’s Summer Camp. The theme is reflected in camp activities, cabin names, and the youth-designed Camp T-Shirt which is given to all campers. This year’s theme is Conspiracy Theory: The Creatures of Camp. Be prepared to encounter Big Foot, the Kraken, Swamp Thing, the Loch Ness Monster, and more!

Guiding Principles

Whether through summer camp, winter camp, day programs, virtual camps or other programs, 4-H camps promote Extension’s Positive Youth Development principles:

• Competence in lifetime skills
• Confidence in self and others
• Connection with nature, 4-H leaders, and fellow 4-H members
• Caring for the environment, themselves, their peers and leaders
• Character for today’s experiences and tomorrow’s challenges

Safety

At camp, safety is our first concern. All 4-H camps are carefully reviewed to ensure they meet program guidelines. We perform background checks on youth and adults who work as counselors and train them to manage any needs that a young person might have. It is important to share any information that is needed to help your child when you register them for the camp experience.

Registration

2026 Camp is expected to fill up quickly, so we strongly encourage you to register early! Camp registrations are accepted in the order that they are completed—this includes payment in full and immunization records (or agreement to send them within 5 days). Incomplete, in-process, and unpaid registrations do not hold a spot. When a registration option has sold out, a limited number of registrants will be added to a waiting list.

Note that the registration process can take you up to 20 minutes or more, as you will be asked to enter general and medical information about your camper.

Prior to registering, please review the 4-H Code of Conduct with your camper, and be prepared with the following information:

• Physician name and contact information
• Health insurance information
• Medication names and dosages
• Immunization records – We encourage you to enter immunization records when registering. If you do not have this information, you can request it from your child’s physician or from the state of Wisconsin. Records must be emailed to erussell@waukeshacounty.gov within five (5) days of registration. After that your camper’s spot will be released.

Payments: Camp registration fees can be paid during registration via credit or e-check (fees will be added to the registration cost). Alternately, check or cash payments can be mailed or delivered to the Extension Waukesha County office (515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188). Remember, your child’s registration will not be complete and their spot will not be reserved until payment has been received!

Refunds: We are unable to offer refunds for camp registration fees. However, during registration you will be presented with the option of purchasing a protection plan from the registration platform vendor, RegPack, which provides limited coverage in the event of an accident or illness. You can find more information in the Purchase Protection Terms & Conditions. Note: Any use of that plan is between you and the vendor and does not involve Extension Waukesha County.

Camp Contacts

If you have general camp questions, contact Sara Wells-Tomjanovich at (262) 548-7774 or stomjanovich@wisc.edu. If you have registration questions, contact Erin Russell at (262) 548-7782 or erussell@waukeshacounty.gov.