Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Recreation has reintroduced Camp Grant, an after-school program at U.S. Grant School, to its Child Care Camp offerings for the first time in four years. This initiative is part of a broader effort to increase available child care locations by partnering with schools to reopen sites closed during the pandemic.

Child Care Camps operate within Milwaukee Public Schools K-8 grade schools and provide quality, consistent, and affordable child care services on regular school days. The camps are staffed by qualified personnel dedicated to creating a supportive environment for students.

Camp Grant operates Monday through Friday from 2:25 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., starting immediately after school ends. Since its relaunch nearly two months ago, camp director Carrie Felde and assistant camp director Bridgette Dainty have worked to establish a welcoming atmosphere where children can express creativity and interact with peers.

Bridgette Dainty has extensive experience working with Milwaukee youth in academic and recreational settings. She has been part of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) for 11 years, including three years at Grant as a science teacher for fifth and sixth grades. Her involvement with Milwaukee Recreation includes work at summer playgrounds and Twilight Centers programs.

“We do have some really cool ideas and hands-on activities,” said Dainty. “The whole point is to make sure children are having fun, that they are safe, and to give [parents] that extra support.”

Carrie Felde brings long-standing experience with Camp Grant as she has taught at the school since 1999 and was involved in its after-school program before the pandemic.

“We want to really meet [the students’] needs and the families’ needs," Felde stated. "I think it is important to have a safe space for students to be able to stay at school.”

During an October visit, an arts and crafts project exemplified the positive interactions Felde and Dainty aim to foster daily.

Felde and Dainty are focused on expanding their program's reach within the community. They plan future activities such as science experiments, team games, parties, and field trips while ensuring every participant receives "five-star treatment," according to Dainty.

Milwaukee Recreation offers extended-day enrichment across nearly 90 MPS locations during the 2024-25 school year through various programs like Child Care Camps, Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and Safe Places. All locations are licensed by Wisconsin's Department of Children and Families under YoungStar ratings; free meals/snacks are provided daily.

For registration details or inquiries about Camp Grant or other sites managed by Milwaukee Recreation, contact Felde or Dainty via phone or email provided in this article.