FAQ

No! USM Summer Camps are open to everyone! One of the best parts of USM Summer Camps is meeting new friends from all around the greater Milwaukee area!

We get it! New places can feel overwhelming at first. We invite you to check out the campus before summer is here. There are so many ways you can explore USM with your child!

Whether it be an athletic event, theatre programming, admission open houses, or a personal tour with our Enrollment Management office—we invite you to stop by! Your child will quickly warm up to USM and all the fun they'll have here.

USM Summer Camps are a great, fun way for your child to get acquainted with the school, as well as meet some teachers and make new friends! It has helped young students make the transition into Preschool and also helped other new students make some awesome friends before the school year starts. Of course, we can't recommend it enough!

Children coming to USM Summer Camps must be 3 years old by Sept. 1 of the upcoming school year. They must also be toilet-trained. We consider children to be toilet-trained when they no longer wear training pants/pull-ups while awake or asleep (with the exception of medical conditions), use the toilet regularly, and inform caregivers of the need to use the toilet as necessary.

You cannot make changes or cancellations directly through the registration portal. Instead, send us a detailed email at summer@usm.org with the camps you would like to change. Please note that starting on Monday, April 1, 2024, all changes will incur a $10 change fee per activity.

You can download a copy of the 2026 USM Summer Camps brochure!

USM Summer Camps are now accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA)—the only national accrediting body for camps of all types. This recognition follows an extensive review of more than 200 standards in safety, health, staff training, and risk management. We're thrilled to have met every single standard! ACA accreditation affirms our commitment to excellence and to providing a safe, enriching experience for every camper and staff member.

Registration will open on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. To register, please visit the registration portal.

Registration for camp is quick and easy! Simply provide some basic information, select your preferred sessions, and have your payment method ready. Before camp starts, you'll also need to complete a short medical form for each camper, which includes vaccination records.

We're thrilled to offer a variety of discounts! Take advantage of our early-bird discount, available through Jan. 30, 2026, for 9-week, 6-week, 4-week (Theatre Camp), and 3-week sessions. Plus, enjoy multi-session savings when you register for additional camps!

"Bundle Weeks and Save" pricing does not apply to mix and match camps. To receive the 3-, 6-, and 9-week bundle price, you must register for 3, 6, or 9 consecutive weeks of the same camp (Discover, Adventure, Explorers, Odyssey). View our pricing guide for additional information.

You cannot make changes or cancellations directly through the registration portal. Instead, please send a detailed email to summer@usm.org with the camps you would like to change. Please note that starting on Sunday, March 1, 2026, all changes will incur a $10 change fee per activity.

Cancellations must be communicated via email to summer@usm.org. Full refunds, less the $50 per week deposit, will be processed until Wednesday, April 15, 2026. After that date, no refunds will be issued for cancellations unless the activity or camp is canceled by USM Summer Camps.

Changes to camps and activities can be made at no charge until Sunday, March 1, 2026. Starting on Monday, March 2, 2026, all changes will incur a $10 change fee per activity. Full refunds, less the $50 per week deposit, will be processed until Wednesday, April 15, 2026. After that date, no refunds will be issued for cancellations unless the activity or camp is canceled by USM Summer Camps.

USM Summer Camps accepts ACH (electronic check payments) and VISA, Mastercard, and American Express. Credit cards and debit cards will incur a 3% surcharge. ACH payments will not incur a surcharge. There will be a $2.50 fee for any ACH returned payments.

Changes to camps and activities can be made at no charge until March 31, 2025. Starting April 1, 2025, all changes will incur a $10 change fee per activity. Full refunds, less the $50 per week deposit, will be processed until June 9, 2025. After that date, no refunds will be issued for cancellations unless the activity or camp is canceled by USM Summer Camps.

If a change is made to a weekly bundle (3 week, 6 week, 9 week) the cost and bundle package will be recalculated to reflect the change. I.E 6-Week Extended session changed to 5 weeks, would turn into a 3 week session and two individual week sessions.

Please reach out to summer@usm.org and we can send you a full itemized invoice with your total cost for the summer. USM's tax ID is 39-607-6442.

The pricing for USM Summer Camps depends on how many weeks or sessions you sign up for. To view a breakdown of pricing, including the savings for choosing our bundled options, please download our pricing guide.

To help your campers stay comfortable, prepared, and ready to play, please make sure they bring the following items each day:

• Athletic clothing suitable for movement and outdoor play (shorts, t-shirts, athletic socks).
• Athletic or "tennis shoes" will be necessary for each camp (no open-toed shoes, slides, or sandals).
• Reusable water bottle (labeled with camper's name).
• Sunscreen and hat for outdoor sessions.
• Light snack for breaks (no nuts—USM is an allergy-aware campus).
• Sports-specific gear:
  • Field Hockey: Stick (optional), shin guards, cleats, and mouth guard.
  • Football: Cleats (no pads required).
  • Basketball (girls and boys): Basketball shoes or indoor athletic shoes.
  • Fitness/Strength Training: Clean gym shoes for indoor workouts.
  • Optional: A small towel for after workouts and a bag for all of your sports camp gear.

Our day runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some camps divided into mornings and afternoons, as well as optional morning and afternoon Extended Time Care (E.T.C.).

• 8–9 a.m.: Optional morning Extended Time Care (E.T.C.) AM
• 9 a.m.–noon: Morning camps
• Noon: Lunch or transition to dismissal
• 12:30–3:30 p.m.: Afternoon camps
• 3:30 p.m.: Dismissal or transition to optional Extended Time Care (E.T.C.)
• 3:30–5:30 p.m.: Optional afternoon Extended Time Care (E.T.C.) PM

Pick-up and drop-off locations will be offered in Whitefish Bay and downtown Milwaukee. Once the exact locations are finalized, we will share them with families who have opted in to the transportation services. Final locations will also be listed in the handbook.