Resource Binder
Activities
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East Madison Community Center (EMCC) updated 3/19/25
Phone: (608) 249-0861
Address: 8 Straubel Court, Madison, WI 53704
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-8pm (9am-5pm in the summer), Saturdays 9am-5pm (limited hours in the summer)
About this resource: The East Madison Community Center provides a vast range of activities for children, including after-school and Saturday drop-in programs, multicultural art classes, and dance programs. EMCC also offers a variety of other events like Teen Nights (Ages 11-17) and Pre-Teen Nights (Ages 5-10) and free summer day camp (Ages 7-14)
Who can use this resource? Anyone!
Next Steps:
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Visit the East Madison Community Center or call (608) 249-0861 to enroll in a program!
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County updated 3/19/25
Phone: 608-257-2606
Locations:
Allied Family Center Club
4619 Jenewein Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
McKenzie Family Club
232 Windsor Street
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Taft Street Club
2001 Taft Street
Madison, WI 53713
About this resource: The Boys and Girls Club offers a variety of different activities for kids, including:
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Character and Leadership Development programs
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Education and Career Development programs
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Health and Life Skills
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Arts programs (music, dance, media)
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Sports, Fitness, and Recreation
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10-week summer camp for kids ages 5-14
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Childcare services starting at 6 weeks old (McKenzie Family Club location only)
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School-based services at select MMSD middle and high schools
Who can use this resource? You must be a Boys and Girls Club member (Get membership here: https://bgcdanecounty.my.site.com/portal/s/memberships)
Next Steps:
- Check online to view enrollment/membership information for each Madison area Boys and Girls Club or call (608) 257-2606 for more information!
Madison Public Library updated 4/2/2025
Phone: (608) 266-6300
About this resource: The Madison Public Library offers a variety of activities for kids and teens at each of their 9 locations including, but not limited to:
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Story time
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Lego, Anime, Minecraft, and Dungeon & Dragons Clubs
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Arts & Crafts Classes
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Chess and Knitting Workshops
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Music Classes
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Yoga Classes
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Friday Family Film Nights
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Teen Writing Clubs
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Tween and Teen Cooking Club
Who can use this resource? Anyone!
Next Steps:
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Check with your local library to see what events are happening!
OR
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Visit https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/events/calendar to see the events happening at every Madison Public Library.
Madison Children's Museum updated 4/2/2025
Phone: (608) 256-6445
Address: 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI 53703
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 9am-4pm, Free admission on Thursdays 4-8pm
About this resource: Madison Children's Museum supports a variety of activities for children and families in the Madison area. The Museum costs $14 for both children and adults when purchased in-person or $12 when purchased online. Seniors & grandparents cost $13 when purchased in-person and $11 when purchased online. Children under the age of 1 can enter the museum for free.
The Museum does offer a Family Access membership for $20 to families that qualify. Once a membership is obtained, the cost of admission is $2 for children, adults, and seniors. No documentation of benefits is needed to apply. You may apply for this online, in-person, over the phone or by mail.
Families qualify if they are eligible for the following programs:
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FoodShare/Quest
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Childcare Subsidy
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BadgerCare Plus
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Free/Reduced School Lunch
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Medicaid
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WIC
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WHEAP
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HeadStart
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Foster Care
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many other programs listed online!
If you do not want to purchase a membership, those that are enrolled in one of the qualifying programs above can pay $1 admission to the Madison Children’s Museum.
Who can use this resource? Anyone!
Next Steps:
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Visit the Madison Children’s Museum or call at (608) 256- 6445!
Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) updated 4/2/2025
Phone: (608) 204-3000
Address (Main Office): 328 E. Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715
- Please note that many of the activities take place at schools in MMSD or surrounding community areas, not the main office!
Hours (Main Office): Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
About this resource: MSCR offers many youth programs and activities available to register for including:
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Youth Arts and Enrichment
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Youth Sports and Fitness
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Aquatics
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Afterschool Programs
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Camps
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Trips and Special Events
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Outdoor adventures
While all the programs and activities have costs, fee assistance is available for families living in MMSD making less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Fee assistance has to be approved before registering for any programs/activities.
Who can use this resource? Anyone living within the boundaries of Madison Metropolitan School District
Next Steps:
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Visit the website to learn more about specific programs that MSCR has to offer and to learn how to register!
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If you have any questions, call 608-204-3000 or visit the main office.
Neighborhood House updated 4/2/2025
Phone: (608) 255-5337
Location: 29 S. Mills St, Madison, WI 53715
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30am-9pm, Friday 9:30am-6pm, Saturday 10am-11:30am, Sunday 10am-4pm
(Programming hours vary!)
About this resource: The Neighborhood House offers many programs:
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Mentoring (For ages 7-18) - currently paused through Fall 2025
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Summer Camp (For ages 7-12)
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After School Clubs (For ages 7-14)
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Fun Fridays (For ages 7-14)
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Drop-In Tutoring (For ages 7+)
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Open Gym (For ages 7+)
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LOV- Dane Social Nights (individuals with disabilities, their families, and friends)
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Third Thursdays (Anyone!)
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Teen Camp (For ages 13-15)
Who can use this resource? Anyone!
Next Steps:
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To check out what is going on, visit https://neighborhoodhousemadison.org/calendar/ to see the calendar of events OR ask a Navigator to print one for you!
YMCA of Dane County updated 4/2/2025
Phone:
(608) 221-1571 - Lussier Family East
(608) 276-6606 - Lussier Family West
(608) 837- 8221 - Sun Prairie
Locations and Hours:
Lussier Family East
711 Cottage Grove Road
Madison, WI 53716
Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 AM- 9:ooPM, Saturday 6:00 AM- 5:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Lussier Family West
5515 Medical Circle
Madison, WI 53719
Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 AM- 9:00PM, Saturday 6:00 AM- 5:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Sun Prairie
1470 Don Simon Drive
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 AM- 9:00 PM, Saturday 6:00 AM- 5:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM
About this resource: The YMCA of Dane County offers a variety of youth sports and activities for kids.
Who can use this resource? Anyone with a YMCA membership. The YMCA does offer financial assistance to youth, families, and individuals who do not have the resources to pay the full memberships
Next Steps:
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Visit or call a YMCA near you to learn more about the activities they offer for youth in Dane County and sign up for a membership!
ParentChild+ updated 4/2/2025
Phone: (608) 250-6634
Address (RISE Main Office): 2120 Fordem Avenue, Madison, WI 53704
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm, Friday 8:30am-11:30am
About this resource: ParentChild+ (formerly the Parent Child Home Program) is a free program run through RISE that is a early literacy, strengths-based home visiting program that helps parents and caregivers prepare for their children for 4K and school success. Families are matched with a Early Learning Specialist who supports parents and caregivers in becoming the child's first and most important teacher. Families will be visited twice a week for 30 minutes (time picked by the family) for a span of 18-24 months. The family will also receive 46 free educational books and toys to keep.
Who can use this resource? The family must have a children at least 18 months old but less than 3 years old and live in Dane County, and speak either English or Spanish. There is no citizenship requirement.
Next Steps: Please fill out this form (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=lw5G5ZU3OEmj9O09jvhwHnJWJ6j8y3dIj_XS0qGHcK5UNU9DSTVBTlk0TkZEN0NLQUlITldNVUpKOCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl), or call RISE at (608)250-6634 for more information and to enroll in the program!
Additional Resources to look into:
- Play and Learn
- Today Not Tomorrow Resource Center
- Joining Forces for Families