Momentum Builds to Upgrade Boyd Park

Wed. Jul. 3rd, 2019

Tom Giffey, photos by Tania Matthews

A vision to revitalize Eau Claire’s Boyd Park is becoming clearer thanks to local volunteer and fundraising efforts. This spring, workers from Xcel Energy and Zielie’s Tree Service cleared excess vegetation from the bank of the Eau Claire River on the park’s north side, opening up access to what was ...

Mondovi District Gets Grant to Help Create Charter School for 6th-12th Graders

Wed. Jul. 3rd, 2019

Tom Giffey

With the help of a newly issued state grant, a group of Chippewa Valley parents are working with the Mondovi School District to open an innovative new school for sixth- through 12th-graders in the fall of 2020. The Anthony Acres Charter School will be housed in a former elementary school ...

Toy Dinosaurs Help 5-Year-Old Deal With Death

Mon. Jul. 1st, 2019

Barbara Arnold

Five-year-old Kessler Burdt, a kindergartner at Altoona Elementary School, is wild about dinosaurs. So much so that upon meeting him with his new Mohawk haircut for summer, one could almost see him ...

Working in Tandem to Support Youth

Thu. May. 30th, 2019

Marie Anthony

Together, Ashley and Jonny Stoll were active volunteers for The Lighthouse, a youth center in downtown Eau Claire, and Ashley’s passion for outreach and youth rekindled.

Track to the Future

Thu. May. 9th, 2019

Emily Kuhn

Up to 2,000 spectators will be able to cheer on these athletes from new bleachers while enjoying a new entrance and ticketing area, new concessions facilities, and new restrooms. All of this will be part of Altoona High School’s new sports complex, where ...

Know a Cool Kid Under 10? Let Us Know!

Thu. May. 9th, 2019

V1 Staff

Chippewa Valley Family is looking for passionate youngsters to include in the special “10 Under 10” feature in our July/August issue.

It’s Great, It’s Big, It’s the Hullabaloo!

Mon. May. 6th, 2019

V1 Staff, photos by Andrea Paulseth

The Great Big Hullabaloo will be a dynamic day of kid-centric and family-focused fun on Saturday, June 1, at the Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire. Expect an interactive whirlwind day of ...

What is the The Great Big Hullabaloo?

Thu. Apr. 25th, 2019

V1 Staff

Presented by Chippewa Valley Family, Associated Bank, and Volume One, “The Great Big Hullabaloo” will be a dynamic day of kid-centric and family-focused fun. Expect an interactive whirlwind of music, art, science, technology, theater, dance, and performances ...

Campaign Aims to Reduce Child Poverty

Fri. Mar. 15th, 2019

Tom Giffey

The share of Wisconsin children living in poverty rose 20 percent between 2015 and 2016, according to a report issued last summer by the Institute for Research on Poverty at UW-Madison.

Affordable Child Care for Parents in College

Wed. Mar. 6th, 2019

Judy Berthiaume, UW-Eau Claire

Life is about to get a little less stressful for Britney Rud, a UW-Eau Claire senior who is pursuing her education degree while also raising her young son, William.

Forming a New Family

Wed. Mar. 6th, 2019

Tom Giffey

The museum announced on Tuesday, Feb. 19, that its new building – which is planned for the Block 7 redevelopment site on North Barstow Street in downtown Eau Claire – will house a pre-kindergarten school in partnership with the Eau Claire Area School District as well as a new home for the Family Resource Center for Eau Claire County.

Classic Picture Books Brought to Life

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Tom Giffey

Generations of kids (and their adults) have enjoyed the colorful creations of author and illustrator Eric Carle. From The Very Hungry Caterpillar ...

A New Home for the Children’s Museum?

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Tom Giffey

The Children’s Museum of Eau Claire could have a brand-new downtown Eau Claire home by 2020 if plans by a private developer continue to move forward.

Bank helps pay off school lunch balances

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Just before Christmas, Security Financial Bank, which has branches in five western Wisconsin communities, donated $2,000 each to the Eau Claire, Bloomer, Durand, and River Falls school districts to pay off negative balances in students’ school lunch accounts.

Women’s Giving Circle supports family groups with grants

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

photos by Andrea Paulseth

Seven groups with initiatives helping women and children in the Chippewa Valley recently received a total of $37,250 in grants from the Eau Claire Community Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle Fund.

Expansion on pointe

Thu. Jan. 10th, 2019

Lauren Fisher, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Diamond School of Dance broke ground recently on a new dance instruction facility scheduled to open next August.

The Chippewa Valley's Most Popular Baby Names

Wed. Jan. 9th, 2019

Tom Giffey

Below are lists of the top baby names of the just-completed year at Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals in Eau Claire and Menomonie, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

Chartering a new course

Wed. Jan. 9th, 2019

Katie Larson

Local school districts are struggling with accommodating all students who would like to enroll in alternative opportunities, and some established alternative programs don’t have district support to sustain their work or meet demand.

Third Annual Light Up Eau Claire Brings Fun Downtown

Thu. Dec. 27th, 2018

Lauren Fisher, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Downtown Eau Claire will become a hub of New Year’s Eve excitement Dec. 31 during the Light Up Eau Claire event. Now in its third year, the celebration features live music at multiple downtown venues ...

Raising a Voice for Students in Need

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Haley Wright

Higley – who serves Lakeshore, Longfellow, Meadowview, and Northwoods elementary schools in Eau Claire – was named School Social Worker of the Year for 2018 by the Wisconsin School Social Work Association. She received the award in October at a regional gathering in St. Louis.

Ride the Rocket for Your Health

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Tom Giffey

The Children’s Museum of Eau Claire recently unveiled plans to add several new displays to its second floor that will emphasize healthy lifestyles to kids. The upcoming “Eat! Move! Live!” exhibit is expected to be open by next summer, said Mike McHorney, the museum’s executive director.

Victorian Holidays in the Valley

Wed. Oct. 31st, 2018

Tom Giffey

Even though this photo is from more than 100 years ago – around the time your great-great grandparents were kids – you probably see a lot of things ...

How You Can Teach Just by Talking

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

Tom Giffey

The “Word Gap” sounds like something that would trouble a headline writer or a Scrabble player. In reality, it’s the phrase used to describe the shortfall in the number of words that children who come from low-income families are exposed to by the age of 3.

Nothing Like a Free Lunch

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

Lauren Fisher

Kids in the Kitchen is a free field trip for Eau Claire Area School District fourth-grade classes in which students learn about healthy eating and living at the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley.

Kid History: Dressed for Success

Thu. Sep. 6th, 2018

V1 Staff

Fall has been back-to-school season for generations in the Chippewa Valley, but much about the classroom has changed over time. From the look of this 1893 picture from the Chippewa Valley Museum, one of the major things that has changed is fashion.

Teal Pumpkins Make for an Allergy-safe Halloween

Sat. Sep. 1st, 2018

Halloween can really be a scary time for the millions of families across the country managing food allergies. Food allergies are a potentially life-threatening disease and a growing public health issue. A tiny amount of an allergen has the potential to cause a severe, even life-threatening, reaction.

It’s No Trick: Local Trick-or-Treat Times

Sat. Sep. 1st, 2018

If you’re a candy-loving kid, it’s never too early to plot your trick-or-treating route for Halloween night – or Halloween afternoon, as the case may be.

Your Assignment: Fill a Backpack

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

V1 Staff

As a new school year approaches, parents, children, and community members are being invited to help children in need prepare for the next school year. The Eau Claire Area School District has launched the Adopt-a-Backpack program ...

Kid History: Beating the Heat with 1916 Style

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

Chippewa Valley Museum

When people in the Chippewa Valley need an escape from the summer heat, the water of our lakes and rivers is hard to beat. This was just as true 100 years ago as it is today ...

Elementary Research in more ways than one

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

Pamela Powers, photos by Brett Roseman

Oaklawn School fifth-grader Karlen Knospe found it fascinating to walk through UW-Stout’s Research Day in the Memorial Student Center. “It was awesome,” Knospe said. “I talked with them and got to see their ideas.”

Half a Century of Service to Children

Tue. Jul. 17th, 2018

BJ Hollars

For Leann and Mel Breed, life’s always been about looking out for our children. “They’re our future and we have to take care of them, and we have to inspire them,” Leann says.

Menomonie Fifth-Graders Take Part in Stout Research Day

Fri. Jul. 6th, 2018

Pamela Powers

Oaklawn School fifth-grader Karlen Knospe found it fascinating to walk through UW-Stout’s Research Day in the Memorial Student Center. “It was awesome,” Knospe said. “I talked with them and got to see their ideas ..."

Family Resource Center Faces Financial Challenges

Fri. Jun. 29th, 2018

Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth

Now, however, it’s the center itself that has a big need: A steep decline in funding this year has posed a serious challenge for the organization ...

Kid History: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Fri. Jun. 22nd, 2018

V1 Staff

Warmer weather means the return of baseball to the Chippewa Valley’s playgrounds, parks, and stadiums, most notably 82-year-old Carson Park, which is now home to the Eau  Claire Express ...

Golden Apples Honor Outstanding Educators

Fri. Jun. 1st, 2018

V1 Staff

A group of Eau Claire educators who go above and beyond to help their students achieve were honored at the Third Annual Golden Apple Awards in April ...