In 2014, Grayson, a two-year old attending our program, was diagnosed with leukemia. It was determined that it was not hereditary. Could this be linked to exposure to toxins in everyday products? As we were heading into the design of our new campus, the question created pause.

Toxins are in a majority of the products we use every day and in building materials, and most chemicals on the market are not regulated. Armed with this information, it was time to design a first of its kind: a healthy campus. An environment focused on eliminating toxins and chemicals for the health of young children.

As a result, the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center is the first non-toxic, chemical-free early childhood campus in the nation. We are committed to sharing our knowledge, building plans and materials, and classroom contents so this model can be recreated across the nation and world. We will also share information with families so parents can make educated decisions when purchasing foods, cleaning products, home furnishings, etc. for their family.