Journeys Program

VIRTUAL GROUP: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2024-09-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Mommsen's Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard Sponsored by JBF: Rice Lake
2024-09-25 16:00 - 18:00 | 1696 20 1/2 St, 1696 20 1/2 Street, Rice Lake, WI, 54868, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at Mommsen’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard in Rice Lake, WI on Wednesday, September 25th from 4pm-6pm. Each registered attendee will receive a season pass to Mommsen’s that can be used until October 31, 2024.
Mommsen’s has two corn mazes, a petting farm, hayrides, pick your own apples, produce and more! To learn more about Mommsen’s check out their website https://www.ricelakepumpkinpatch.com/.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have any questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org. This event is sponsored by Jockey Being Family. Learn more about Jockey Being Family at https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/

Family Fun Day at Little Amerricka: Marshall
2024-09-22 12:00 - 17:00 | 700 E Main St, 700 East Main Street, Marshall, WI, 53559, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative/kinship, reunified families — please join us for an afternoon of family fun at Little Amerricka Amusement Park! Little Amerricka is an old-fashioned amusement park featuring 26 rides and attractions, including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, bumper boats, bumper cars, go karts, 18-hole mini-golf, the Whiskey River Railway, and much more! Carry-in food and drink are allowed in the park and food is available for purchase as well.
Each ticket holder will receive a gold wristband which allows unlimited riding on all the rides and includes miniature golf and the Whiskey River Railway as well. Some of the rides do have height requirements. See https://www.littleamerricka.com/faq for more information.
Advance registration is required. On the day of the event, registered families can meet us at the picnic shelter anytime between 12:00pm and 1:00pm to check in and pick up wristbands. Each family will also be required to sign Little Amerricka’s liability waiver at that time. Families are welcome to stay at the park all afternoon. The park closes at 5pm.
Space is limited, so please register your family as soon as possible (for up to 7 tickets). Additional tickets are available for purchase separately if more are needed. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org.

Fall Family Experience: Willow Springs: Wausau
2024-09-22 10:00 - 12:00 | 5480 Hillcrest Dr, 5480 Hillcrest Drive, Wausau, WI, 54401, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for a morning of fall activities at Willow Springs! There will be a children’s themed corn maze, barrel train rides, hayrides through the grounds, concessions, and open play!
Plan to meet under the open shelter. This event will take place rain or shine so plan to bring layers/additional clothing.
Parking: please park in the lot across the road from the hall. There is a gravel parking lot right next to the shelter.
If you have any additional questions, reach out to ccoulthurst@cclse.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lambeau Stadium Tour: Green Bay
2024-09-21 09:30 - 12:00 | 1265 Lombardi Ave, 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, WI, 54304, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

The Wisconsin Family Connections Center and Jockey Being Family would love to see our football fans…so what better way than to hold an event at Lambeau Field!? Grab your kids and join us for the Lambeau Field Classic Tour. The classic stadium hour-long tour will allow guests to see one of Lambeau Field’s premium seating areas, as well as go down to the field through the Player’s Tunnel. Guests will learn about the historic organization and stadium.
Due to the limited number of spots, each family is ONLY able to register a maximum of 4 people (1-2 adults and up to 3 children). Please note that children must be at least 6 years old to attend!
Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before the designated tour time (9:30, 10:30, or 10:45am). Tours start on time, so if you are late, we can not guarantee you will be able to participate.
If you have any questions, contact Chelsey at czommers@cclse.org

VIRTUAL GROUP: Educational Support
2024-09-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-08-15 12:00 - 13:00

WiFCC Crystal Cave Private Tour: Spring Valley
2024-09-17 15:00 - 16:00 | W965 WI-29 Trunk, W965 Wisconsin 29 Trunk, Spring Valley, WI, 54767, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a private tour of Crystal Cave in Spring Valley! See stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations. Our private tour will begin at 3pm and end around 4pm. Registrants should plan on arriving at 2:45pm to check in and prepare for the tour. Max of 4 tickets per family. This event is open to foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship/relative caregiver. and reunified families.
The tour consists of 7 flights of stairs and ramps. It is an hour long standing/walking tour. As such the tour is not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, or stroller. The tour is moderately strenuous; there are no elevators and limited seating options in the cave. There are some areas where you will need to be able to duck under lower hanging rocks. There is low lighting throughout the tour. The environment in the cave is cool (50F) and humid. To learn more about Crystal Cave, check out their website at https://www.acoolcave.org/
If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.

Parent/Caregiver Support Coffee Meet-Up: Mukwonago
2024-09-17 09:00 - 10:00 | 1146 N Rochester St, 1146 North Rochester Street, Mukwonago, WI, 53149, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and reunified caregivers, join us to connect, learn, and share!
Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center for this opportunity to meet with other caregivers and make connections! We will meet at Brew52 in Mukwonago, WI. Each registrant will receive a food or drink purchase of up to $10. You can view their menu here: https://brew-52.com
Registration is required for this event. Contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org or (414) 242-5573 with any questions.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Trauma Informed Parenting
2024-09-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-08-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-06-17 12:00 - 13:00
For WI adoptive/kinship/foster/guardianship caregivers who are parenting youth with a high level of need due to complex trauma histories

Styles4Kidz Workshop for Textured Hair Care: Greenfield
2024-09-14 10:00 - 12:00 | 4811 S 76th St suite 100, 4811 South 76th Street, #suite 100, Greenfield, WI, 53220, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention foster and adoptive parents (or those awaiting placement) who desire to learn more about their child’s textured hair, this is the workshop for you! Styles4Kidz is designed to show parents (especially those with transracial children in their home) how to work with textured hair such as children with 3C to 4B texture.
This in-person instruction will be from 10am to 12pm. It is a family hair affair (combo course) which covers textured hair basics and hands-on styling. This course is an overview of textured hair and scalp care, as well as hands-on instruction for three simple hairstyles: ponytails with twists, ponytails with basic underhand braiding, and Bantu knots. There will also be time for a Q&A!
A hair care kit will be included with your registration! Each kit also comes with a signed copy of Styles4Kidz founder, Tamekia Swint’s book, “Your Hair is Your Crown!”
Each ticket is good for 1 adult and either 1 child or 1 mannequin. This event is restricted to one child per family.
Your child must be able to sit for 2 hours consecutively. Feel free to bring snacks and entertainment for your child (ie: phone, tablet, snacks, etc.) We will also have snacks and fidgets available.
For more information about Styles4Kidz please visit: https://styles4kidz.org/
If you have any questions please reach out to Christy at ctimm@cclse.org or Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org.

Mapleton Barn Pizza Farm sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Oconomowoc
2024-09-12 16:00 - 21:00 | W359N9370 Brown St, W359N9370 Brown Street, Oconomowoc, WI, 53066, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a fun-filled evening at Mapleton Barn Pizza Farm located in Oconomowoc, WI. This event is designed for adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregivers, and reunified families and individuals.
Mapleton Barn partners with Flour Girl and Flame woodfired pizza truck and their menu can be viewed at: https://www.flourgirlandflame.com/. One pizza voucher will be provided for every two members of your family. Pizza ordering reservations will be at 5:00pm or 5:30pm. You will need to indicate your preferred timeslot when signing up as spots are limited.
Seating is limited, so plan to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit back and relax while we listen to live music from 5:30-8:30pm.
Please note: No carry-ins allowed, please respect the plants and the property, stay on the grass, out of the flower beds, and off of the trees.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
Due to popularity of family events, please let your local WiFCC specialist know ahead of time if there is any reason you can no longer attend or need fewer tickets than you originally signed up for. We would like to accommodate as many families as possible.
This event is being sponsored by Jockey Being Family. To learn more about Jockey Being family, visit their website here: https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/
If you have any questions about this event, contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2024-09-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-08-14 19:00 - 20:00
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

VIRTUAL GROUP: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2024-09-10 19:00 - 20:00
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

VIRTUAL GROUP: Birth Parent Support
2024-09-10 18:30 - 19:30
A virtual support group for birth parents throughout Wisconsin.

Statewide Adult Adoptee Gathering: Stevens Point
2024-09-07 10:30 - 15:30 | Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI, 54481, United States
Connect with other adult adoptees in Wisconsin. Sponsored by Jockey Being Family and the Wisconsin Family Connections Center.

Adult adoptees — the Wisconsin Family Connections Center and Jockey Being Family invites you to join us for a very special event. Come spend the day connecting with other adult adoptees in a beautiful setting in central Wisconsin. You will have the opportunity to participate in facilitated discussion and hands-on activities that will support communication, empathy, deepening relationships, and a sense of community. Our discussion for this event will center on identity and intersectionality. All adult adoptees in Wisconsin are welcome, whether this is your first event with us or you would consider yourself a regular attendee.
Lunch will be provided. All sensory and disability experiences are welcome. Information you provide about any special needs will be shared with the facilitators. This event will be held in the meeting room at the Schmeeckle Reserve visitors center in Stevens Point. Weather permitting, we may use some of the outdoor space and trails, so please plan and dress accordingly. This gathering will be held rain or shine!
About our facilitators: We are so happy to be partnering for a second time with Jess Dallman and Elizabeth Seeliger for this event. Jess Dallman, with Natural Wisdom Counseling, is a counselor and equine therapist who specializes in trauma recovery and relationship issues, and is experienced in working with people with autism, deafness, and complex needs. Elizabeth Seeliger is a graduate of the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies and is an adopted person as well as an adoptive parent. Both Jess and Elizabeth have training in Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health, which guides their work with families.
This event is free to attend and includes lunch. If you have any questions about the event or in the event it is filled up, please contact creppe@cclse.org to be added to a waitlist.

Wilderness Walk Zoo Sponsored by Jockey Being Family: Hayward
2024-09-07 10:00 - 15:00 | 9503 WI-27, 9503 Wisconsin 27, Hayward, WI, 54843, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join the Wisconsin Family Connections Center at the Wilderness Walk Zoo in Hayward, WI on Saturday, September 7, 2024 starting at 10:00AM. Plan to meet your specialist at 10:00AM. The zoo is open until 3:00PM so families are free to stay the entire day or for just a few hours! This event is intended for adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative/kinship, and/or reunified families.
The zoo features bobcats, black bears, cougars, white tailed deer, camel, tiger, ring-tailed lemur, and wolves. There are walking trails, nursery and petting zoo, farmyard and more! To learn more about Wilderness Walk Zoo visit their website https://www.wildernesswalkzoo.com/.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all family dynamics but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have any questions about this event Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org. This event is sponsored by Jockey Being Family. Learn more about Jockey Being Family at https://www.jockeybeingfamily.com/

Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari Day Sponsored by JBF: Minocqua
2024-09-07 09:30 - 10:30 | 10094 WI-70, 10094 Wisconsin 70, Minocqua, WI, 54548, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Jockey Being Family and WiFCC invite you to join us at Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo & Safari in Minocqua. Each registrant in your family will receive an entry ticket into the zoo. This event is designed for Wisconsin’s adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, birth, and reunified families and individuals!
The event begins at 9:30am. WiFCC staff will have a place for families to check-in from 9:30am to 10:30m. Registrants will receive an email with details as the date draws nearer. Learn more about the zoo at https://wildwoodwildlifepark.com/. Additional snacks, food, and beverages are available for purchase at the zoo.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all families, but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
Please reach out to Chelsey at czommers@cclse.org with any questions or accommodation needs for this event.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Coffee Talk for Adoptive and Guardianship Parents
2024-09-05 10:00 - 11:00
A virtual, relaxed chat for parents-

Virtual Group: Reunified Parents
2024-09-04 19:00 - 20:00
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Caregiver/Child Attachment and Art: Creative Wellness: De Pere
2024-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | 617 George St, 617 George Street, De Pere, WI, 54115, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

WiFCC is excited to collaborate with Creative Wellness for an event that will focus on attachment and fun with your child! Katie Szerkins, LCSW, will be facilitating this event at her new therapy location. The event will consist of a fun game with your child as well as an art project. A snack will also be provided.
Due to the limited number of tickets, only 3 members from you family will be able to attend (1 caregiver and 2 children). This event is designed for children ages 6-12. Please reach out to czommers@cclse.org if you have any questions. Learn more about Creative Wellness below!
Creative Wellness brightens community through building healthy children and families—prioritizing children placed in out-of-home care. High-quality, evidence-based, and client-centered services provide children and those that love them with the tools to grow and develop in a creative playful way.Learn more on their website: www.creativewellnesswi.com

WiFCC Family Day at Marvelous Mike's Mini Golf: Bruce
2024-08-23 14:00 - 18:00 | Marvelous Mike’s Mini Golf & Ice Cream, Marvelous Mike's Mini Golf & Ice Cream, Bruce, WI, 54819, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC at Marvelous Mike’s Mini Golf in Bruce, WI on Friday, August 23, 2024! Marvelous Mike’s is a unique and challenging 24 hole mini golf course featuring a scavenger hunt to look out for while on the course. After golf, enjoy ice cream, popcorn and more! This event is intended for adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families.
The first family will tee off at 2pm with 15 minute intervals (2:15pm, 2:30pm, etc). The event will end at 6pm. The cost of golf will be covered by your registration. The cost of a snack will NOT be included with your ticket and any charges for snacks will be your responsibility.
This event would be a great opportunity to invite your child’s birth/first family or previous foster family. We understand this may not work for all families but encourage you to consider it. We hope to create an opportunity for children to have all their loved ones in one location whenever possible and create positive memories together. Please have each household register separately.
If you have questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.

WiFCC Ice Cream Social: Weston
2024-08-19 18:30 - 19:30 | 3907 Schofield Ave, 3907 Schofield Avenue, Schofield, WI, 54476, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for an ice cream social at Briq’s in Weston. Each member of the family will be able to get an ice cream of their choice! This event is open to adoptive, foster, kinship, guardianship, birth, and reunified families! There are picnic tables to sit and connect with other families at this location, making it a great opportunity to meet others. Please reach out to Chelsey at Czommers@cclse.org with questions!

VIRTUAL GROUP: Waiting to Adopt
2024-06-13 11:00 - 12:00
A virtual support group for WI pre-adoptive parents.
