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Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District

Educational Excellence for a Changing Tomorrow

Cardinal CLC Home

Logo for Cardinal Center Community Learning Center featuring a red cardinal mascot inside a gray circle.

About the Cardinal Community Learning Center

The Cardinal Community Learning Center's mission is to enhance the lives of students, families, and community members by offering exceptional educational and enrichment opportunities that will promote healthy living, community building and lifelong learning.

The Cardinal CLC, is a "school within a school" that serves as a community learning hub for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. A myriad of opportunities offer students a place to explore outside of the traditional classroom and our community members a welcoming environment in which they can feel at home while they learn.

The success of the Cardinal CLC is a result of the abundant resources the area has to offer by way of partnerships with local businesses, civic organizations, community members and caring individuals who want to make a positive impact on our community members.

  • A group of people pose in an industrial workshop, proudly holding handmade metal flowers.
  • Students and a teacher gather around tables in an art classroom, preparing for a project.
  • A large group of adults follows an instructor during a line dancing class inside a gym.
  • A woman and two children pose with slime and crafting supplies in a classroom.

Our Programs

Community Education

Satisfy your "yearning for learning" by enrolling in a class or two!

Community Education connects citizens with local and regional resources, and current trends. Individuals, businesses and organizations share their expertise to expand the knowledge base of participants. All ages, from birth to age 110, are welcome!  

Our diverse, well-rounded program covers topics including culture, arts and crafts, health and wellness, cooking, personal growth, safety, technology, and finance.  

We are always happy to add new instructors and topics to the mix. 

Please contact Jenny Schafer at schafejl@chipfalls.org if interested in teaching a class.

Community Education Website

Voyagers Afterschool

Afterschool programs keep kids safe and inspire them to learn. The Voyagers Afterschool Program helps students explore, grow, and reach their full potential. Students in the program attend school more often, get better grades and are more likely to graduate. They are less likely to use drugs or alcohol.

Voyagers meets on Tuesday and Thursday immediately after the regular school day. Special sessions are also offered throughout the school year.  Along with academic support a variety of enrichment activities are offered in the areas of music, cooking , theater, arts, community service, career exploration, and technology, just to name a few. All students from 6th to 8th grade who live within the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District boundaries are welcome to participate in the Voyagers program.

The greater Chippewa Falls area is generous in supporting our students. Instructors include CFAUSD staff as well as representatives from businesses and organizations, and community members willing to share their talents of hobbies.

Voyagers Afterschool Website

Student Connections

Student Connections is a FREE support group program that empowers CFAUSD secondary students with emotional well-being, connection, and essential coping skills.  Groups meeting during the school day with in students' buildings and are open to all.
Program Features:
  • Free of Charge
  • Voluntary & Student Centered
  • Led during the school day
  • Led by trained facilitators in partnership with school staff & community providers
Focus Area:
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Stress Management
  • Self-Awareness
  • Resilience Building
  • Healthy Relationships & Belonging

Student Connections Website

Homelessness

Definition of Homelessness (per the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act):
The phrase “homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to economic hardship. It includes children and youth who are temporarily sharing the housing of another person due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason or are living in emergency shelters, in a motel, hotel, car, campground or similar situation due to lack of housing.

Homelessness Website

Cardinal Store

The Cardinal Community Learning Center is excited to launch the Cardinal Store, a free resource designed to ensure every CFAUSD student has access to the basic necessities they need to feel supported and ready to learn. Open during the school year from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on school days, the store offers essential items—including clothing, shoes, personal care products, and school supplies—to any district staff member supporting a student in need. Located on the 1st floor of the Korger-Chestnut Building (140 W. Elm Street, next to Room 106 in the former On-Site Chiropractic space), this store is completely cost-free for families thanks to the incredible generosity and donations from our local community.

Additional Programs

  • Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that helps families build stronger relationships, improve communication, and support youth success. This engaging program is taught virtually for 11 weeks by trained local coaches, making it convenient for busy families in our community.

    During this program, families gain skills to:
    Improve communication and patience
    Strengthen problem-solving and reduce conflict
    Prioritize quality family time
    Involve children in family decisions—leading to more positive attitudes and behaviors

    100% of families who have participated the past five years would recommend this program! Any family who lives in the Chippewa Falls School District boundary area is able to participate!

    This program will be offered in the fall of 2027.

    For questions or more information please contact:

    Wendy Hanson at hansonwj@chipfalls.org or 715-726-2400 ext. 2467

    Ann Zenner at zennerak@chipfalls.org or 715-726-2588

  • The goal of Family Connections is to support parents and caregivers, to strengthen families through education and increase involvement in positive activities. 

    Family Connections will produce an online publication including community and school district opportunities four times per year: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.  Parents and caregivers will receive this publication via email and will also be able to access the directory on our website.

    If you would like to include information in the Family Connections Newsletter please contact Chelsey Schwartz at 715-726-2416 or schwarcj@chipfalls.org.

    Family Connections Newsletter

Community Foundation of Chippewa County Fund

The CFAUSD has an endowment fund through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County that supports after school activities and other programs in the district through the Cardinal CLC. The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Cardinal CLC Endowment Fund provides annual distributions for our organization to use. Because it is an endowment, the gifts or contributions will always be there. The income from this investment will continually fund on-going efforts.  

Gifts can be made to our endowment through the Community Foundation fo Chippewa County. You can make gifts of cash, appreciated securities or legacy gifts through life insurance, retirement plans and bequests. To make a secure online donation to the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Cardinal CLC Endowment Fund click the donation link on this page. If you prefer to send a donation by check, please make it out to CFCC P.O. Box 153, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.

Donation Link

Logo for the Community Foundation of Chippewa County featuring three orange trees above gray text.

Cardinal Community Learning Center Staff

Zenner, Ann

CCLC Director & McKinney-Vento Liaison

Schwartz, Chelsey

CCLC Accounting Administrative Assistant

Kwick, Tricia

CCLC Student Programs Coordinator

Schafer, Jenny

CCLC Community Education Coordinator

Christensen, Deb

CCLC Program Assistant

Korger-Chestnut Address and Hours:

140 W. Elm St.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm