Our Story
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The Community Early Learning Center of the Fox Valley was born from a simple but powerful idea: supporting young children and families should be easier.
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In 2008–2009, the Appleton Area School District’s Future Needs Study revealed a common challenge—families were often overwhelmed trying to navigate multiple programs, agencies, and locations to find the support they needed. What they wanted was clear: one place where everything could come together.
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That vision began to take shape in 2011, when community leaders came together to imagine a more connected, collaborative approach to early childhood services. When the former St. Mary Catholic Central School site became available in 2013, the opportunity to bring that vision to life became real.
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In September 2014, after extensive renovations, the doors officially opened.
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Today, the Community Early Learning Center stands as a welcoming hub where children, families, and educators come together—making it easier to access the resources, relationships, and support every child deserves.
Who Do
We
Serve?
The CELC Service Area includes the Fox Valley and Beyond.
Through early childhood development, outreach, shared learning opportunities, dissemination of best practice learnings and other research outcomes, the CELC serves:
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Families of young children in the greater Fox Valley.
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Educators, care providers, and early childhood service agencies from surrounding counties (Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, and Shawano).
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Communities in the region and throughout the state by sharing best practice research and newly acquired knowledge about early education using observation and experiential learning.
Thank You To Our Donors
