Is it legal for my boss to require me to clock out for a mandatory work event?

Hey everyone!

The title basically sums it up. I’m in high school and work in a job where I teach karate to kids. We have a family picnic today for four hours, but staff have to get there early to set up.

To be clear, this was explained to us as a mandatory work event where we must mingle with families and make them ‘feel appreciated’. We’re not allowed to talk with our coworkers or have a fun social hour, but instead have to keep on our working persona.

I assumed because of this we would be clocked in, but I just reread my boss’s email and we’re instructed to clock in for setup and clock out during the picnic itself.

To reiterate—this is a mandatory work event that I would not be attending unless I was staff.

So all in all, this feels pretty shady to me and I was wondering if it’s legal for my boss to do? It seems like they’re taking advantage of high schoolers who don’t necessarily know the norm in workplaces.

Thank you!

(If it helps, I work in Wisconsin.)