Middle School U - Part of the Wisconsin Youth Company

Aldo Leopold Nature Center's naturalists are all experienced and well trained experts in their field. They offer year-round, hands-on nature experiences that include hikes, experimentation and crafts. The Nature Center serves school groups, individuals, both adult and student, scouting groups and camps. They plan each summer program with the appropriate age group in mind.
American Red Cross- Badger Chapter serves Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland and Sauk counties. American Red Cross instructors teaching the Babysitter Training are certified through the American Red Cross and are enthusiastic, experienced educators.
Archiver’s is a source for creative ways to organize, display and preserve your photographs and much more. They specialize in serving people who love to do scrapbooking, papercrafting, card making and finding ways to help preserve memories. The knowledgeable and friendly associates will help you create just what you are looking for.
Atlas Improv Co. has served the community with shows, classes and private entertainment since 2004. Find out more about Atlas Improv on the web at www.atlasimprov.com, or call at them at 608-259-9999.
Marilaine Blair-Patrick works in the food service department of Edgewood High School. She is certified by the state of Wisconsin in food service sanitation and has completed Wilton cake decorating courses. She makes party cakes and wedding cakes as gifts of love for family and friends. While her three children were growing up, she worked and volunteered with middle school age students through Boy Scouts and at Blessed Sacrament School.
Boulders Climbing Gym has over 8,000 square feet of sculptured climbing walls with some of the most varied and creative angles. Programs focus on teaching belay techniques, safety practices in climbing, climbing technique development, and possibly lead climbing. Instructors have a strong background in outdoor climbing and have taught belay skills and climbing techniques as part of Boulder’s weekly course programs. All instructors have American Red Cross First Aid certification and CPR training.
Cave of the Mounds A long buried treasure, the Cave was discovered in 1939, when a quarry blast revealed the entrance to this sparkling underground wonder. Educational Programs are designed with the Cave experience in mind, encouraging individuals to make connections in relation to their actual experience; and that’s powerful learning.
John Doing recently completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Percussion Performance with a Concentration in African Studies. John currently plays drums and does all marketing for The Actual Quintet and The Red Quartet, and is an active member of Wadoma (West African Dance of Madison), Houses in Motion, The Rhythm Section, and other groups. The UW School of Dance recently hired John as a dance musician, playing piano and percussion. Performing at a professional level on both drum set and percussion, John blends his classical music background with West African, Afro-Latin, Jazz, and Funk styles. John has taught private lessons for several years to students of different musical backgrounds. Students have included: elementary to high school percussion students, local drummers, electric bass players, and band teachers. He has also been a musical mentor through several organizations including local schools and Wisconsin Youth Company. For more information, please visit www.johndoing.com
Kristin Erickson is a nutritional specialist and presenter on the topic of children's nutritional needs. She is also a popular presenter in the Waunakee School District where she is a Para-Educator and works with students who have special needs. Kristin has been a frequent presenter for M.O.P.S. and M.O.M.S. groups in the Chicago-land area. Her first book, Cook for Your Kids! is a collection of kid-friendly recipes designed to help families incorporate the most current nutritional information into popular family favorites.
Alix Evans is a graduate student in UW Madison's department of Slavic Languages. She earned her BA in Russian languages and literature from Wellesley College and studied acting at the Moscow Art Theatre. She has appeared both on stage and film, acting in everything from Shakespeare to musicals. Before beginning her graduate studies, Alix was responsible for developing and teaching the middle school English program at the Khabele School, a progressive student-oriented secondary school in Austin, Texas. She also taught middle and high school drama, and led the Russian Club after school. Alix currently designs original knitwear and sewing patterns, forthcoming in various publications.
Johnathan Garber is a certified yoga instructor and has been practicing yoga since 1988. Johnathan has taught yoga for the Madison and Verona School Districts, Northern Illinois Hospice Association, Suzuki Strings of Madison, and with Families and Schools Together (FAST) as well as community centers, health organizations and in private settings. Johnathan is the Executive Director and lead instructor for Yoga Community Connection, Inc. based in Madison.
Stephanie Golightly Lowden has published two books: Emily's Sadhappy Season published by the Centering Corporation, a grief resource publisher, and Time of the Eagle, a historical fiction novel published by Blue Horse Books. Time of the Eagle takes place 200 years ago among the Ojibwe Indians; it was a finalist for the Book of the Year Award in the Juvenile Fiction category. This is a national contest for independent-press books sponsored by Fore Word magazine. "Eagle" also won Honorable Mention in the Arthur Tofte Juvenile Fiction category of annual contest sponsored by the Council for Wisconsin Writers. Stephanie also visits schools and shares her knowledge of writing with students. She is also a docent at the Wisconsin Historical Museum and a substitute teacher in the Madison School District. Find out more about Stephanie at www.stephanielowden.com.
Patrick Garvey has returned to Wisconsin and Middle School U after an extended stay abroad. He is and has been the Biking Unit Director for the AFTER SCHOOL Day Camps and the lead instructor for all Middle School U biking and bike maintenance courses. Being an avid biker himself, Patrick hopes to share his passion for biking and the outdoors with young people.
Michael Graveen is the Summer Director of Middle School U where he has worked for the past 4 summers as both a youth leader and an instructor. During the school year he is the Site Supervisor at the Leopold AFTER SCHOOL site, finishing his fourth year there. He is an experienced teacher of woodworking with Wisconsin Youth Company and enjoys sharing this hobby with the students. He attended UW-Madison, studying in Secondary Education—Math.
Diane Haas has a degree in Recreation Administration from UW-LaCrosse and has been a Site Supervisor for AFTER SCHOOL for 4 years. She has worked with children in community and military recreation programs, day camps and resident sport camps for almost 20 years. She loves any type of cooking and crafting, traveling and riding her bike in the hills of Wisconsin. She will be returning for her third summer at Middle School U.
Casey Hopp is a UW Madison graduate in elementary education and has been employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District since 2004. He has been involved with the Middle School U program since 2003, including three years as an Assistant Director. Additionally, he enjoys athletics and the outdoors and has been a boys’ cross country and track coach at Madison Memorial High School for the past six years. He looks forward to another fun and educational summer.
Rose Johnson-Brown has supervised youth in after school programming for 2 years in Madison in computer club, cooking, homework club, arts & crafts, and recreation. Rose is a professional photographer and a freelance photo journalist who has been published in local newspapers and magazines. She currently leads the Photojournalism Club for the middle school youth BOOST program. Rose is a youth-friendly music Disc Jockey for Middle School socials. Rose enjoys swimming, traveling, drawing, piano, bass guitar and is learning the flute. She has completed photography coursework at UW-Memorial Union, MATC and the New York Institute of Photography. Rose says, “I first picked up a camera in the 3rd grade. Now, I help students see our community through the eye of the lens by taking pictures of activities, events, points of interest which affect how we live, play, share, learn and grow in our communities and how we can affect others through the photos we take. I look at photography as a way to build community.”
Jonathan Kramka (bio coming soon!)
Pam Lawless has been with the Wisconsin Youth Company for many years as a Site Supervisor and Camp Director. Pam has always enjoyed middle school age students and is looking forward to teaching a few courses this summer.
Jessie Manfrin was raised by an artist so she learned early on to have both a love of playing with art supplies and a bit of an inferiority complex about her skills. In college, she majored in Secondary English Education. She is, therefore, well equipped to teach all kids – “artists” and “non-artists” alike—the basics of telling a story and playing with art. She has taught at middle school, high school and college levels and has taught graphic novels, specifically, to mixed level middle and high school students in Madison and northern Wisconsin. Persepolis is her favorite graphic novel and Allison Bechdel is her favorite illustrator.
Andrea McMillen is returning for her second summer with Middle School U. She served as Assistant Director and Instructor last summer and has also served as an AFTER SCHOOL Site Supervisor and Assistant Day Camp Director.
Joe Monarski is a certified teacher in the Stoughton School District and coach of the Stoughton Community Fencing Club. In addition, he works as a tutor at Sylvan Learning in Madison. Since the 1980s, Joe has spent his summers in youth programs including Middle School U sharing his interests in topics like Fencing, board games and archeology.
Mike Peltola has a degree in Physical Education from UW-Whitewater and has worked for AFTER SCHOOL for eight years. He been a Camp Specialist, Site Supervisor, Assistant Camp Director and is now one of the AFTER SCHOOL Program Directors. He loves the outdoors and fishing. In the past Mike has taught our summer day camp fishing and rocketry units.
Wayne “the Wizard” Peterson has been interested in magic since the age of 10. He has entertained professionally for over 35 years at restaurants, birthday parties and county fairs. Wayne has been teaching magic since the nineties and really enjoys sharing his skills. He belongs to the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians, Houdini Club of Wisconsin and The Wizard’s Club of Chicago. You can find out more about Wayne the Wizard by checking his website at: www.waynethewizard.com
Victor Ponté is an ex-semiprofessional soccer player from Chile. He is a licensed soccer coach who coaches competitive teams in the Madison area. Victor is an archaeologist and teaches Spanish part time at AFTER SCHOOL.
Rutabaga Outdoor Programs At Rutabaga Outdoor Programs it’s their passion to stir up your passion: to excite you about paddling. It doesn't matter if it’s on a local pond or stream, or in some tropical lagoon thousands of miles from Wisconsin. Rutabaga’s certified instructors are here to open doors to new adventures and to enrich the value of your experiences. They hope to help you create new possibilities for yourself and your exploration of the world. They look forward to another season of teaching, learning and paddling together as you discover the magic that exists out on the water.
Supreme Water Sports’ watercraft instruction includes educational games and activities designed to enhance teamwork, self esteem, confidence and safety. Lead instructors are trained and certified in instruction with the American Canoe Association, US Sailing, Wilderness First Response with Wilderness Medical Associates, and Life guarding/First Aid/CPR for the professional rescuer with the American Red Cross. Supreme Water Sports has a rigorous spring training program for all employees to get them acclimated to teaching in the summer.
Sarah Tarpey has an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and has taught culinary skills to middle school and high school students. She has done cooking, baking and catering at French and Italian restaurants. Sarah is currently a program specialist at AFTER SCHOOL and is pursuing a degree in business management. She plans on one day teaching culinary classes at the high school level.
Alan Tilove, "Mr. Tricks" has been a professional juggler and performer for nearly 25 years. He has been a physical education teacher, gymnastics instructor and recreation specialist and has taught Middle School U courses in the past.
Gail Tomich is a lifelong crafter with a love of art and anything handmade. She has worked with Wisconsin Youth Company for four years as an AFTER SCHOOL Site Supervisor and previously as a teacher’s aide. This is Gail’s third summer as a Middle School U instructor.
Tony Travis is a coordinator of the Wisconsin Youth & Family Center’s Teen Drop-In Program. Tony was introduced to hip hop at a young age and since then has been on a quest to become an M.C. Tony moved out of the Chicago gang lifestyle to Madison in search of a fresh start and the pursuit of more positive life goals. At the age of fifteen Tony had several freestyle “battles” under his belt and decided to start his own company, H.U.G.E. Family Entertainment. He was blessed to have the opportunity to be opening for acts like Bubba Sparxx, Method Man, Funk Master, Flexx and others. With Tony’s life experience and knowledge of becoming a Hip Hop artist he has developed into a very respectable artist and teacher.
Maria Undraitis was born in Russia and has lived in the U.S. for eight years. She earned her Bachelor in Education degree in Russia and taught English as a Second language in elementary and middle school grades. Maria has worked with AFTER SCHOOL as a Site Supervisor at Thoreau and an Assistant Director at summer camps for four years. Maria enjoys cooking and trying new recipes. She encourages her students to value whole and healthy foods as well as cooking from scratch. Maria likes to share little kitchen secrets and recipes from Eastern European cuisine that she learned from her mother and grandmother. Maria is fascinated with handmade art and crafts and often challenges herself and her students with projects. She believes it is important to expose students to new experiences providing them opportunities to discover their talents and experience the feeling of accomplishment after learning new skills.
The Vinery is a teaching stained glass studio. They offer classes in stained glass, glass mosaics, glass fusing, beadmaking, flameworking and art silver clay. Over the last 25 years, the Vinery has taught thousands of students in all these areas. In each of these areas they have many samples to inspire and help with design ideas. They are committed to students learning and having fun!
Wander Wisconsin like Middle School U, Wander Wisconsin is a division of Wisconsin Youth Company. Wander Wisconsin has been leading unique adventures and camping experiences for youth since 1989. In addition to our popular open enrollment trips, we have led trips for after school programs, youth groups, recreation departments, resident camps, day camps and other organizations serving youth. American Camp Association accreditation marks our commitment to safety and quality.
WYOU, Community Television Cable Channel 4, has a fully functional studio and control room that includes professional sound and video equipment. Every week, in addition to audio and video mixing, multiple productions utilize animation, chroma-keying, and soundtrack music. The WYOU staff has been teaching youth about television for years, from grade schoolers to college grads.

Course Providers - 2009