LIVE VIEWING - Hope for the Journey Conference: Altoona
2026-07-10 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Fish House at Altoona City Park, 418 9th Street West, Altoona, WI, 54720, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Wisconsin Family Connections Center is excited to host an opportunity for individuals and families to attend a simulcast of the national virtual conference, “Hope for the Journey.” We will view the simulcast together, in-person on Friday, July 10th, 2026 in Altoona. We will begin showing the conference at 9:00am sharp, and welcome folks to register for the whole day or any part of it they can attend. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided, with time over lunch to connect with other attendees of the simulcast.
The Hope for the Journey Conference will equip parents and caregivers meeting the everyday needs of children impacted by adoption and foster care, and further resource churches in their endeavors to be beacons of hope and encouragement for families in their congregation and surrounding communities.
Through proven, trusted content, Hope for the Journey explores the fundamentals of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) across five sessions—chock-full of knowledge, insight, and practical tools. Rooted in research and neuroscience, the Connecting, Empowering, and Correcting Principles of TBRI will guide you to a better understanding of your child’s or teen’s needs and equip you to adequately meet those needs.
Please note: This is a faith-based conference put on by the non-profit organization, Show Hope. For more information on the conference content, visit – https://hopeforthejourney.com/
If you have questions about this conference, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Family Movie at Micon Cinemas - Minions 3: Chippewa Falls
2026-07-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Micon Cinemas Chippewa Falls, 475 Chippewa Mall Drive, ##215, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Bellooooo adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families and individuals–join WiFCC to enjoy Minions 3 on Saturday, July 11th at Micon Cinemas Chippewa Falls.
Please plan to meet at the theater at 9am to check in. A drink and popcorn will be included in your registration!
Movie Information:Minions 3 (2026)Rated PG
Please note that WiFCC will always choose family-friendly films rated PG or G, however, we have no control over the content or themes presented in the movie being shown at this event. This includes family dynamics and possible depictions of out-of-care and adoption related topics. Please take a moment to visit sites such as https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ or http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/ to see if this film falls within the scope of what you wish your child to see.
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.
If you have questions about this event, please reach out to Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

WiFCC Day at a State Park: Devil's Lake State Park
2026-07-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Devil’s Lake State Park, S5975 Park Road, Baraboo, WI, 53913, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Wisconsin Family Connections Center invites adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative/kinship, and reunified families to kick off a season of nature exploration with a Day at Devil’s Lake State Park! This event will start with everyone meeting at the Nature Center! The Nature Center makes a great start for your visit to Devil’s Lake State Park. Friendly staff and volunteers will help you become acquainted with the park’s trails, recreational opportunities, unique geology, history and all the natural curiosities of the park.
Before you head out on your adventure, you will have the opportunity to meet and connect with other families. Snacks and water will be provided and all families will receive a season vehicle admission sticker for Wisconsin’s State Parks (limit of one pass per family)!
From the park website: Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Devil’s Lake State Park offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake. Visitors enjoy nearly 30 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnic areas, swimming beaches, paddling opportunities, and year-round naturalist programs. For more information about Devil’s Lake State Park, visit the park website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/devilslake.
Please register as soon as possible as spots are limited! If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to bcalko@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

WiFCC Midsummer Movie Night - Minions 3: Appleton
2026-07-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Marcus Valley Grand Cinema, W3091 Van Roy Road, Appleton, WI, 54915, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Please join WiFCC for a Midsummer Movie Night for Minions 3 in theaters! Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families are welcome to attend. Each family can have up to 8 people from their household attend this event.
We have the auditorium rented out exclusively for our group. Each attendee will receive a movie ticket, a 20 oz fountain beverage, popcorn, and candy of their choice.
Plan to arrive between 5:00pm and 5:20pm to check in and grab your drinks/snacks before the movie starts at 5:30 pm.
Due to the 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.
If you have any questions regarding this event or have any special accommodation requests, please contact Val at vzegers@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Adult Adoptee Board & Brush Night: Oak Creek
2026-07-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Board & Brush Creative Studio Oak Creek – Paint and Sip, 8880 South Howell Avenue, #Suite 860, Oak Creek, WI, 53154, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adult adoptees or any adult who experienced out-of-home care as a youth, please join us for a fun evening at Board & Brush! Each attendee will pick a project to design during this 2 hour class. Pick your design from several options available and create something unique. As a reminder, this is an adult only event. For any attendees who need to secure childcare back home in order to attend, a $25 childcare stipend, one per household, will also be available.
For more information on this location on the projects available please visit their website at: https://boardandbrush.com/oakcreek/
If you have any questions, please contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Fun Night at the La Crosse Children's Museum
2026-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Children’s Museum of La Crosse, 207 5th Avenue South, La Crosse, WI, 54601, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Join WiFCC for a fun-filled evening at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse. The Children’s Museum offers non-traditional learning opportunities that help kids of all ages see, touch, learn, and grow their way through important developmental milestones and have fun while learning.
This is a privately booked event which will allow you access to all of the museum exhibits. Our group will have access to the building from from 5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. This event is open to foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship/relative caregiver and reunified families. Please note that all children at this event need to be accompanied by a supervising adult. There will be a room reserved with pizza and refreshments available for families.
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 any questions or accommodation needs, please contact Breanna at bcalko@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Family Night Out - Mallards Baseball: Madison
2026-07-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Warner Park, 2930 North Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Let the Wisconsin Family Connections Center take you out to the ball game! We are happy to offer individuals and families impacted by adoption or out-of-home care the opportunity to attend a Madison Mallards baseball game together. Each registrant for your family will receive a game ticket, Madison Mallards baseball cap, and a small food voucher. Limit of 6 tickets per household, please. Children 5 and under who do not require a seat can join you without a ticket, but please note these children will NOT receive a seat, cap, or food voucher. This event is for Wisconsin’s adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families and individuals!
The gates will open at 5:05pm and the first pitch will be thrown at 6:05pm. The WiFCC staff will have a place for families to check-in prior to the start of the game, and registrants will receive an email with these details as the date draws nearer. Learn more about the venue and team at: https://northwoodsleague.com/madison-mallards/
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.
No food or beverages can be brought into the ballpark. An exception will be made for one factory sealed bottle of water or one empty refillable container per person. Please check the ballpark’s website for other items NOT allowed in the ballpark here: https://northwoodsleague.com/madison-mallards/ticket-info/. Fans CAN bring blankets and seat cushions.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please reach out directly to Megan at mmiller@cclse.org or 608-769-1493.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Parenting Through Challenge and Healing
2026-07-20 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
For WI caregivers who are parenting youth with a high level of need due to complex trauma histories related to adoption or out-of-home care.

VIRTUAL GROUP: KINnect Relative Caregivers of Children
2026-07-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-17 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-22 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
A virtual group to support relative caregivers, caring for children.

Back-to-School Bash Spons. by WiFCC and JBF: Eau Claire
2026-07-25 09:00 - 11:00 | L.E. Phillips YMCA Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road, Eau Claire, WI, 54701, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Catholic Charities Journeys Program invites adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative caregiver, and reunified families to join us on Saturday, July 25th at the L.E. Phillips YMCA Sports Center for the 3rd annual Back to School Bash sponsored by Jockey Being Family and Wisconsin Family Connections Center. The space will be exclusively rented from 9:00am – 11:00am and will feature bouncy houses, face painting, community resource tables, emergency response vehicles, outdoor activities, school supplies, shoes and more!
Simple, trim style haircuts will be offered for school-aged youth only, on a first come, first serve basis by local cosmetology school students and local stylists.
Light breakfast will be provided. All children from 4-17 years old (or still in high school) will receive a backpack filled with school supplies. Children 0-3 years old will receive a stuffed animal. All children must be registered to receive these items.
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.
If you have any questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Candle Making for Teens and Caregivers with WiFCC: Menomonee Falls
2026-07-28 17:30 - 19:30 | Art Lounge, N88W16567 Main Street, Menomonee Falls, WI, 53051, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Looking to “Melt Your Worries Away”? Caregivers and teens, join WiFCC on Tuesday, July 28th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for a Candle Making Art Class at the Art Lounge in Menomonee Falls. Attendees will be painting and decorating a jar, choosing their own custom scent, and then pouring their soy wax candle. What a relaxing, creative way to spend quality time with your teens and/or caregivers. Please register for one ticket per person, with a maximum of 3 tickets per family. This workshop is designed for caregivers and teens ages 12+ only! The event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care.
Visit the Art Lounge at https://www.artloungewi.com/ for more information on their exciting workshops. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
Please note that at least one of your tickets should be for the accompanying adult. If you have any questions or need additional accommodations for this event, please contact Jamie at jsocolick@cclse.org or (414) 242-5573.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Spiderman Brand New Day (PG-13) Teen/Caregiver Movie Event: Sturtevant
2026-08-03 14:00 - 17:00 | Marcus Renaissance Cinema, 10411 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, WI, 53177, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention caregivers and teens impacted by adoption or out-of-home care–join WiFCC to enjoy the movie Spiderman Brand New Day (PG-13) at the Marcus Renaissance Cinema.
After the record-breaking global success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks an entirely new chapter for Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult living entirely alone, having voluntarily erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves. Crime-fighting in a New York that no longer knows his name, he’s devoted himself entirely to protecting his city — a full-time Spider-Man — but as the demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crimes gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he has ever faced.
The movie will begin promptly at 2pm. Please check-in at the WiFCC table in the lobby anytime after 1:20pm. A drink and popcorn are included!
Movie Information:Spiderman Brand New Day (2026)Rated PG-13
Please register for EVERY PERSON ATTENDING (up to 5 tickets). Your registration number must match the number of people attending a space is limited.
Please note that WiFCC will always aim to choose family-friendly films, however, we have no control over the content or themes presented in the movie being shown at this event. This includes family dynamics and possible depictions of out-of-home-care and adoption related topics. Please take a moment to visit sites such as https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ or http://www.adoptionlcsw.com/ to see if this film falls within the scope of what you wish your child to see. You can see the trailer for the movie here: https://youtu.be/8TZMtslA3UY?si=dE0iDU0OPMIZRAzM. Please note: you may register children under 13 with your parental discretion, but please do not register children under 8 years of age.
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.
If you have any questions regarding this event, or have any special accommodation requests, please contact Christy at ctimm@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

VIRTUAL GROUP: Open Mic Teen Support Group
2026-08-04 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-08 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-06 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
Youth ages 13-17 who are part of an adoptive or guardianship family in Wisconsin

VIRTUAL GROUP: Adult Adoptees
2026-08-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-14 19:00 - 20:00 | WI
A virtual group for adult adoptees in WI

Family Photo Mini Sessions with Amy E Photography: Rice Lake
2026-08-14 17:30 - 20:00 | 37 S Main St, 37 South Main Street, Rice Lake, WI, 54868, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Wisconsin Family Connections Center invites adoptive, foster, guardianship, relative/kinship, and/or reunified families to participate in an opportunity for a mini family photo session in Rice Lake. Each family will have a 15-minute mini session with a professional photographer.
If you have had a photoshoot with WiFCC in the past 2 years, we please ask for you to withhold registering for this event to let families who have not had the opportunity to have family photos taken register. We appreciate your understanding.
Registrants will receive further information about arrival details and exact location closer to the date of photoshoot.
Please note: As these sessions are very time-limited, we will follow the guidelines below:-Each family must register for only one session.-We will not be able to accommodate pets at these photo shoots.-Registrants not arriving by their assigned session start time will forfeit their session.
Photography for these sessions is being provided by Amy E Photography.https://amyephotography.org/
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.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

WiFCC Mom's Summer Night Out - Floral Workshop: De Pere
2026-08-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Ginger Birch, 622 George Street, De Pere, WI, 54115, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

If you are a foster, pre-adoptive, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, or reunified mom, join WiFCC for a fun and creative evening where we join Angie at Ginger Birch to create a beautiful late summer floral arrangement. We’ll learn the basics of fresh floral care & design principles all while having fun!
Each participant will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of flowers to work with and a vessel to go home with.
Contact Val at vzegers@cclse.org with any questions.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

End Of Summer at The Ball Park: Appleton - Spons. by Jockey Being Family
2026-08-23 13:00 - 16:00 | 2400 N Casaloma Dr, 2400 North Casaloma Drive, Appleton, WI, 54913, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Attention adoptive, foster, guardianship & relative/kinship families! It’s an end-of-summer day at the ballpark! Jockey Being Family and the WiFCC is sponsoring an event for your families at Fox Cities Stadium for a Timber Rattlers game! We have reserved three loft suites for our families! Included in the experience will be an all-you-can-eat buffet starting 90 minutes before game time and a ticket to the Kids Zone. Each attendee receives a ticket to the game, access to the all-you-can-eat buffet and three non-alcoholic beverages per person.
You do NOT need to register for a child that is two years old and younger if they do not occupy a seat. They will not need a ticket, so you DO NOT need to include them in your number of attendees. In order to make attendance possible for the greatest number of families, each family can reserve up to 6 tickets.
*Digital Game Tickets and parking passes will be sent to you via email the week prior to the game.If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Val at vzegers@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Family Fun Day at Ferguson's Orchard: Eau Claire
2026-09-12 09:30 - 10:30 | Fergusons Orchards, 6470 Balsam Road, Eau Claire, WI, 54701, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship and reunified families – join WiFCC at Ferguson’s Orchard on Saturday, September 12th, 2026 starting at 10:00am. Ferguson’s offers a corn pit, friendly farm animals, corn maze, straw bale pyramid and much more!
Please plan to arrive between 10:00am and 11:00am to check in with WiFCC staff and gain entrance into the orchard. After checking in between 10:00am and 11:00am, feel free to stay a few hours or the whole day! The orchard is open until 6:00pm. The tickets will be season passes and able to be used for the remainder of their season.
The cost of apples, pumpkins, store products, and attractions are NOT covered by basic admission. Please note: we must have the names of each attendee so they can secure their season pass to the orchard. Ages 2 and under are free and do not need to be included in your list of attendees for the season pass.
There is a maximum of 5 tickets per household. Any additional tickets needed can be purchased online prior to the event or at the orchard the day of the event. To purchase tickets and to learn more about the orchard, visit their website: https://fergusonsorchard.com/eau-claire-home/.
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.
If you have any questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org.
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.

Family Fun Day at Burch Barn: Spooner
2026-09-26 10:00 - 11:00 | The Burch Barn, N5921 County Highway K, Spooner, WI, 54801, United States
Registration for this event is required on Eventbrite.

Adoptive, foster, guardianship, kinship, and reunified families – bring the family out for some fall fun! Come and enjoy the many attractions The Burch Barn Pumpkin Patch offers – get lost in the corn maze, dig around in the corn pit, win a derby horse race, explore the pedal carts, or slide down the gunny sack slide.
We ask that families arrive between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to check in with WiFCC staff near the entrance and gain entry. The barn is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm and your family is welcome to stay for a few hours or for the whole day.
To learn more about The Burch Barn check out their website here: https://www.burchbarn.com/ The cost of concessions and/or store products are not covered by basic admission.
If you have questions about this event, contact Madeline at mcurry@cclse.org or 715-491-4752 (call/text).
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
Cancellations for events must be made at least 72 hours in advance. If 3 or more late cancellations or no-shows occur within a six-month period, the household’s event registrations in the following six months will default to a waitlist.

This event is limited to Wisconsin residents impacted by adoption or out-of-home care and their immediate household.
