Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center

In 1981, the Northwest Arkansas community gathered to discuss a challenge: lack of adequate child care services. The need for both parents to work and single parent households were on the rise, but early childhood options were not. Through the vision, financial support, and hard work of Mrs. Walton and other community leaders, the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center opened its doors on September 7, 1982.

The Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center is a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit organization providing high quality early childhood education for children age six weeks to pre-kindergarten. Our campus is the first early childhood program in the nation designed and constructed with an emphasis on a toxic-free environment using only the safest building materials.

Our classrooms have ratios far lower than state mandates and are staffed with experienced and degreed teachers. Parents are provided substantial support services such as a parent resource library, community resources, food assistance and access to early childhood professionals who provide information and activities regarding Kindergarten Readiness Indicators. Our scholarship program ensures that high quality early childhood experiences are available to all members of our community.

Our mission is to build a foundation of lifelong learning for young children in a nurturing, healthy, research based environment focused on intentional play, exploration and family well-being.