Midvale Heights residents that walk their dogs, are being invited to participate in a research project by Dr. Jonathan Nelson and PhD student Alton Hipps from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Geography Department.

The “'Our Neighborhood Walk” research study investigates the role of GPS-based personal data tracking technologies and interactive story maps in creating and understanding the co-constructed sense-of-place experienced between pet guardian and companion dog while walking together. Specifically, this research study employs a mixed methods approach to collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data collected by pet guardians and their companion dogs to unlock new insights into how humans and canines collectively and individually perceive the built and natural environment while walking together.

This research is being conducted by Dr. Jonathan Nelson and PhD student Alton Hipps from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Geography Department. To be eligible for the study, participants must be 18 years of age or older, speak fluent English, own a smartphone or tablet with a geo-enabled camera, and provide guardianship to at least one dog that they walk on a regular or semi-regular basis.

The study consists of three parts:

1. Onboarding Questionnaire in which participants are introduced to study aims/procedures and asked to share background information about themselves, their companion dogs, walking environments/routines, and experience using maps and personal tracking technologies (no more than 10 minutes to complete online).
2. Field Study in which participants collect a combination of qualitative (e.g., photographs and survey responses) and quantitative data (e.g., GPS traces and heart rate) during a typical dog walk to assess elements of the built and natural environment that they believe influence their personal wellbeing, may influence the well-being of their companion dogs, and make these public spaces more or less conducive for dog walking (no more than 1.5 hours to complete).
3. Concluding Questionnaire in which participants receive an interactive storymap recreating their neighborhood walking experience and are asked to: (a) draft a short reflective essay in response to a series of questions assessing the extent to which the map causes new insights into the places experienced by both pet guardians and their companion dogs while walking together and (b) rate how well twenty one indicators of map trust and design describe the resulting interactive storymap (no more than 30 minutes to complete online).

Participation in this study is voluntary.

If you have questions about the study, please email the Principal Investigator, Jonathan Nelson at and/or Co-Investigator Alton Hipps at .

If you agree to participate, please select the "I agree" button below to advance to the onboarding questionnaire. The first page of the questionnaire will be an information sheet where you can consent to participating in the study.

"I Agree" (links to consent and onboarding questionnaire)

If you have a kindergartener starting at Midvale this fall, the Midvale-Lincoln School Community Organization (SCO) is planning to organize playdates for incoming kindergarteners this summer. (SCO is what Midvale-Lincoln calls their Parent-Teacher Organization.) If you are interested in being added to the list to receive information about the playdates, please add your email using the link below. The link also has a kindergarten FAQ with lots of helpful information for kindergarten families.
Also, if you are interested in MSCR after school care at Midvale for the 2026-27 school year, note that registration will open this Friday, May 1, at 12pm, and the information about it can also be found in the link below.

Information for Kindergarten Caregivers

The Madison School & Community Recreation Elementary Afterschool Programs are looking to fill a few summer positions.

• SREC Program Leader - Van Hise Elementary, part-time, June 12-July 31, off June 19, July 3.
  https://www.mscr.org/jobs/elementary-4k-4th-srec-program-leader-van-hise/

• Fascination Station Sports/Games Speciality Program Leader - Stephens Elementary, full-time, June 12-August 14, off June 19 and July 3.
  https://www.mscr.org/jobs/elementary-fascination-station-day-camp-games-sports-specialty-program-leader-summer-2026/

• Super Center Dance Speciality Leader - Lapham Elementary, full-time, June 12-August 14, off June 19 and July 3.
  https://www.mscr.org/jobs/elementary-super-center-arts-camp-dance-specialty-leader-summer-2026/

• Camp Compass Program Leader SUB - Varies, hours are not guaranteed, but possible to work up to full-time.
  https://www.mscr.org/jobs/elementary-camp-compass-substitute-program-leader-summer-2026/

More information at this link: https://www.mscr.org/jobs