Boys & Girls Club Breaks Ground on Dayton Early Learning Center
Big things are happening for little learners in Dayton. Dirt is officially being pushed – and concrete poured – for the new Boys & Girls Club Early Learning Center (ELC), a long-anticipated addition that will expand youth services to 64 of Dayton Valley’s youngest children.
The new building will sit right next to the existing Boys & Girls Club clubhouse, creating a single, connected campus that will help more families in the area.
“It’s really, really, really exciting that kids in Dayton are soon going to be able to be Boys & Girls Club members from infancy all the way through high school graduation,” said Director of Development for Boys & Girls Club of Mason Valley Nick Beaton.
Currently, the Dayton clubhouse serves youth ages 5 to 18, and a small pilot preschool program is operating with 12 children. That pilot helped the organization confirm what many parents already knew – early childhood care is in high demand.
In 2025, Dayton had roughly 100 licensed childcare spots for a community with three elementary schools. When Boys & Girls Club reached out to existing providers, the response was not concern about competition – it was relief. Waiting lists were long, and the need was clear.
The new Dayton ELC is designed to help meet that demand without undercutting other providers. Instead, the goal is collaboration and support—offering high-quality care with extended hours that better reflect the reality of Dayton area families, many of whom commute long distances for work.
“We’re not going to come in and undercut on fees,” explained Beaton. “We’re not going to come in and blow everybody out of the water on pay. We want to help solve the situation and not take kids from any other daycare there.”
Construction is currently on schedule, and if all continues to go well, waiting list registration is expected to open mid-Spring before the planned opening in Q3 2026. While final operating hours have not been officially set, the team is hoping for expanded hours similar to the clubhouse.
The Dayton ELC is part of a statewide initiative – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) approved in April 2024 for $16.7 million – with 14 total projects, collaborating with seven independent Boys & Girls Clubs. The Dayton ELC was allocated $3.5 million for ground up construction.
Beyond bricks and mortar, this project represents something bigger: continuity, stability, and opportunity for local families. With separate, age-appropriate spaces as kids grow, the Boys & Girls Club is creating a place where Dayton’s youngest residents can start strong—and stay supported for years to come.Top of FormBottom of Form
