Now Enrolling Ages 1.5–5
A Small Early Learning Community Where Children Are Known, Not a Number.
A hands-on, relationship-centered environment where children build confidence, independence, curiosity, and the skills they need for whatever comes next.
Full-Time: $1,300/month (approx. $300/week)
Half-Day: $995/month (approx. $230/week)
Wisconsin Shares accepted.
Have a 4-year-old? Your child may be eligible for our FREE Get Kids Ready preschool program.
Is Your Child Ready for Something More?
Maybe your 1.5, 2- or 3-year-old is showing you just how curious and capable they are.
Maybe your 4- or 5-year-old is ready for more confidence, independence, and preparation for what comes next.
Acton Midwest offers a small, hands-on environment where children are known, supported, and encouraged to discover what they can do.
We’re not just getting kids ready for kindergarten. We’re helping get kids ready for life.
Quick Facts
Ages 1.5–5
Located in Onalaska
Licensed small-group early learning program
Full-Time and Half-Day enrollment
Monday–Friday
Small, relationship-centered environment
Hands-on and outdoor learning
Confidence, independence, and practical life skills
Wisconsin Shares accepted
FREE Get Kids Ready preschool available for eligible 4-year-olds
A Different Kind of Early Learning Environment
Acton Midwest is designed for families who want a smaller, more personal beginning for their child.
We are intentionally small so children can be deeply known, supported, and encouraged to grow as whole people — socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually.
Early learning happens all day through real experiences: outdoor exploration, practical life skills, stories, play, movement, problem-solving, rest, creativity, and meaningful connection.
Children are encouraged to build confidence, independence, curiosity, and the ability to do more for themselves.
Our goal is for each child to feel known, capable, confident, and ready for whatever comes next.
Known. Capable.
Confident. Ready for life.
What Children Experience Each Day
Each day at Acton Midwest is thoughtfully structured to support confidence, independence, curiosity, and growth.
Warm Arrival & Connection
Time to settle in, connect with guides and friends, and begin the day feeling known and welcomed.
Hands-On Learning
Children explore ideas through play, stories, materials, creativity, problem-solving, and real-world experiences.
Outdoor Exploration & Movement
Outdoor time, movement, nature, and physical exploration are an important part of our day.
Practical Life Skills
Children practice doing more for themselves — caring for their belongings, helping with daily routines, making choices, cleaning up, and contributing to their community.
Social & Emotional Growth
Children learn to communicate, navigate friendships, work through challenges, recognize emotions, and become part of a caring community.
Stories, Language & Early Learning
Books, conversation, early literacy, numbers, questions, and discovery are naturally woven throughout the day.
Creativity & Curiosity
Art, music, imaginative play, building, creating, experimenting, and asking questions are encouraged.
Meals, Rest & Daily Rhythms
Children have time for meals, rest, quiet moments, and the predictable routines young children need.
Our goal isn’t to rush childhood. It’s to give children meaningful opportunities to become more confident, capable, curious, and independent every day.
Simple Tuition. Two Enrollment Options.
We want families to understand exactly what to expect. Choose the enrollment option that best fits your family’s needs.
Full-Time Enrollment
Half-Day Program
$1,300/month
(approximately $300/week)Our full-day option for families looking for a consistent early learning experience Monday through Friday.
$995/month
(approximately $230/week)Our half-day option for families looking for a shorter daily schedule while still participating consistently in the Acton Midwest learning experience.
Wisconsin Shares accepted.
Boutique Early Learning
Acton Midwest is a boutique early learning program designed for families who want a smaller, more personal experience for their child.
Children are deeply known, supported as individuals, and encouraged to build confidence, independence, curiosity, and practical life skills throughout the day.
Learning happens through play, outdoor exploration, stories, movement, creativity, social-emotional development, rest rhythms, and guided discovery.
Small by design. Personal by nature. Chosen by families looking for something different.
From a Current Family
“We chose Acton Midwest because it felt calm, intentional, and deeply aligned with how we want our child to learn and grow. The small environment and focus on character made the decision easy for us.”
Families often tell us they are looking for a place where their child will be seen, supported, and guided not lost in a larger setting.
Could Acton Midwest Be a Good Fit for Your Family?
Every child and family is different. Acton Midwest may be a good fit if you are looking for:
A smaller, more personal early learning environment
A place where your child can be truly known
Strong relationships with caring guides
Hands-on learning and real-world experiences
Outdoor exploration and movement
Opportunities to build confidence and independence
Social and emotional development
Practical life skills
A consistent learning community
An environment that recognizes how capable young children can be
If this sounds like what you have been looking for, the next step is simply a conversation.
Meet Laura, Lead Guide
Laura brings years of experience working with children along with a strong background in child development, psychology, and early learning.
She creates a warm, consistent environment where children are deeply known while also being encouraged to try, practice, make choices, solve problems, build relationships, and discover what they can do for themselves.
Laura guides children through play, practical life skills, outdoor exploration, stories, creativity, social-emotional learning, and the everyday experiences that help young children become more confident and independent.
Because Acton Midwest is intentionally small, Laura is able to truly know each child their personality, interests, strengths, needs, and what helps them grow.
Meet Dr. Carolyn
Dr. Carolyn Colleen Bostrack, Ph.D., MBA is the founder of Acton Midwest, an educator, entrepreneur, author, and university professor with a background in organizational leadership, human behavior, learning, and development.
She created Acton Midwest around a simple belief:
Young children are capable of far more than we sometimes realize when they are given the right environment to discover it.
Her work has centered on helping people build confidence, resilience, self-efficacy, leadership, and the ability to navigate real life — principles that strongly influence the Acton Midwest learning experience.
As an educator and entrepreneur, Dr. Carolyn brings together research, real-world learning, leadership development, and an entrepreneurial mindset to create an environment where children are not simply prepared for the next classroom, but are encouraged to become confident, capable, curious, resourceful, and increasingly independent.
Dr. Carolyn also founded the Kidz Biz Fair, a youth entrepreneurship initiative that gives children hands-on opportunities to build businesses, solve problems, practice leadership, and discover what they are capable of.
She founded Acton Midwest for families looking for something different: a boutique early learning community where children are deeply known, relationships matter, and learning happens through hands-on experiences, practical life skills, outdoor exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and meaningful responsibility.
Small by design. Personal by nature. Built around what children are capable of becoming.
Ready to Explore Acton Midwest?
Choosing an early learning environment is a big decision.
A Fit Conversation is our simple first step. It gives us an opportunity to learn a little about your child, understand what you are looking for, answer your questions, and explore whether Acton Midwest may be the right fit for your family.
There is no pressure to enroll. We want families to feel confident about the environment they choose for their child.
What Happens Next?
1. Schedule a Fit Conversation
Tell us a little about your child, your schedule needs, and what you are looking for in an early learning environment.
2. Get to Know Acton
We’ll answer your questions and share more about our approach, daily rhythm, learning environment, tuition, and available enrollment options.
3. Visit the Studio
If Acton sounds like it may be a good fit, we’ll invite you to visit the studio, meet the team, and experience the environment for yourself.
4. Enroll
If Acton feels right for your family and space is available, we’ll guide you through the enrollment process.
Your Child Is Capable of More Than You May Realize.
The right environment can give them the space, relationships, encouragement, and opportunities to discover it.
At Acton Midwest, children are known, supported, and encouraged to become more confident, capable, curious, and independent every day.
Ages 1.5–5 | Onalaska, Wisconsin
