About MCCLC

Illustration of a young green plant with roots, stem, leaves, and a flower bud.

Mission & Vision

Initiatives

History

 Campus

Giving

Mission & Vision

Graphic of three green leaves arranged in a circular pattern on a black background.
Group of 14 people, both men and women, posing outdoors in front of a wooden fence, some sitting and some standing, dressed in casual hiking clothes.

At Madison County Community Learning Centers (MCCLC), our MISSION is to create hands-on, inclusive learning environments that empower individuals of all ages to grow, thrive, and lead. We foster personal development, community engagement, and lifelong learning—making all our services accessible, regardless of financial standing.

We envision a resilient, connected community where education, well-being, and mutual support are woven into everyday life. Through our Community Learning Hub, we are building a future where people rise together, develop meaningful skills, and create sustainable, thriving lives in Madison County and beyond.

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Our Initiatives

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Our 501c3 nonprofit is a vibrant network of interconnected programs that work together to fulfill our mission of cultivating thriving communities by expanding access to education, nourishing food, and holistic well-being. Through farm-based learning, out-of-school programming, cultural celebration, and community-driven initiatives, we foster environments where individuals and families can grow, connect, and flourish.

Children and teenagers on a stage, holding hands and taking a bow after a performance, with a wooden pole and stage curtains in the background.

Childhood Education

Woodson Branch Nature School (K–8) Empowering students to be confident, adaptable, and innovative leaders, ready to contribute positively to their communities and take their learning to the next level.

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Group of women holding broomsticks made of straw, posing on a wooden deck.

Community Education

Creating optimal spaces and programs, for people of all ages, to teach regenerative agriculture, Eco Arts, survival, and STEAM, strengthening balance and connection within our wider community.

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A woman and two young children gardening outdoors in a sunny field with flowers and trees in the background.

Farm & Food

Using our community-accessible farm as a living lab for regenerative agriculture, where we foster healthier bodies, minds, and ecosystems while modeling sustainable food production.

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Five people working together outdoors on a sunny day, installing a plastic-covered greenhouse or shelter. They are focused on securing the plastic, with a wooden structure and leafless trees in the background.

Community Resilience

Ensuring accessibility for all, especially in times of need, through scholarships, sliding-scale programs, food access, and mental health support, while equipping children and families to be part of the solution during crises.

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Our Story

Hot Spring Community Preschool logo with stylized text and a yellow and green design element.

Our story began in 2008 with the founding of the Hot Springs Community Learning Center, created to serve families in our mountain community with preschool, transitional kindergarten, after-school programs, homeschool support, and summer camps.

Guided by the vision of Deborah Delisle, the school was nurtured by a small but passionate community of families and educators seeking a different kind of education; one rooted in nature, creativity, and meaningful connection to the world around them.

Centered around a deep belief that children learn best through connection, to place, to purpose, and to one another, we grew from just ten students in our earliest days to serving more than one hundred children each year, all while maintaining a five-star rating from the State of North Carolina.

Deep Roots, Growing Branches

A turning point in our journey came in 2016, when the Cato Foundation, led by the continued generosity and vision of Edgar Cato, made it possible for us to put down permanent roots. Through this extraordinary gift, we were able to purchase the land that would become the home of Woodson Branch Nature School, and Edgar’s support did not end with the gift of land…

For years afterward, he lovingly and patiently helped steward the campus, maintaining the grounds, caring for the property, and ensuring that this special place would continue to grow and flourish for the children who learn here. His quiet dedication, generosity, and belief in our mission helped shape the school in ways that will be felt for generations. Edgar Cato remains a true pillar of our community and an enduring part of the Woodson Branch legacy.

A stylized logo with three green and yellow leaves arranged around a black central shape.

Our Campus

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Today, our students learn and explore across a thriving 30-acre campus in Marshall, North Carolina, where the land itself is part of the classroom. Here you’ll find:

  • Rolling hills and open pasture

  • A blueberry orchard, apple trees, and Elderberry shrubs

  • Indoor classrooms and a restored 1,800-square-foot tobacco barn

  • Forest trails, creeks, and bountiful gardens bordering national forest land

It is a place where curiosity is nurtured, hands get dirty, and learning grows as naturally as the landscape that surrounds us.

Just 10-minutes outside of Hot Springs, NC | Where the Appalachian Trail & the French Broad River meet!

Sign for Woodson Branch Nature School with a wooden shelter above, situated on a grassy area with sparse trees and shrubs in the background.
A gravel path winds through a rural area with a small wooden shed on the right side, a wooden building with closed barn doors, and a hillside covered with trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
An indoor wooden barn with a high ceiling, string lights, and a sign that reads 'Woodson Brauch'. Circular chairs are arranged around the perimeter, and a wooden table with a circular hole in the center is in the middle. There are curtains on the lef
A colorful painted signboard depicting flowers and a starry sky, placed in a grassy field with wild plants and bushes, under a partly cloudy sky.
White house with a porch, surrounded by greenery, with a beige shade sail hanging above the yard.
Classroom or meeting room with wooden ceiling and large tables, green chairs, a whiteboard, a television, and a window with natural light.
A farm with rows of green plants, sunflowers, and a hill covered in trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Backyard with a white house, a woodpile under a small shed, a wooden deck with fencing, a gravel ground, and green trees in the background. A beige shade sail is hanging overhead.
Outdoor area with stone pizza oven under a small wooden roof, three built-in grills, a wooden fence, a gravel ground, surrounded by green trees, with a small wooden structure and some pallets in the background.
A rustic wooden building and a smaller wooden shed with metal roofs are set against green wooded hills under a cloudy sky.
A weathered wooden playground with a slide, climbing ramp, and a fenced area, surrounded by trees.
A small outdoor bookshelf with a glass door, mounted on a wooden post, with books inside, and topped with a red metal roof, situated against a weathered wooden fence.
Wooden community plaything cart with black rubber wheels, situated on dirt ground in a playground area.
Under construction wooden deck with new framing in a backyard, with two wooden benches on gravel ground and some building tools visible.
A cozy indoor space with a wooden ceiling, a blue armchair, a white bookshelf, and artwork on the wall, near an exit door with a window, a large black storage cabinet, and a potted plant.
A rustic wooden barn with an open entrance, surrounded by outdoor picnic tables with umbrellas, trees, and a cloudy sky.
A pile of woven branches and sticks along a grassy edge with green leafy shrubs in the background.
A white house with black accents on a grassy hill, surrounded by green trees, with a garden of white flowers in the foreground and a curved concrete pathway leading up to it.
A rustic wooden porch outside a log cabin with two light-colored cubbie shelves, a window, a door, and some outdoor furniture.
Freshly tilled soil with small plants and rows marked by colorful flags for planting, in a rural farm landscape with greenhouse and wooded hills in the background.
Four children sitting on the grass outdoors near a building, with trees, a mountain, and cloudy, rainy weather in the background.
A forest scene in autumn with tall trees and fallen leaves on the ground. Sunlight filters through the branches. Several people are sitting or standing near a picnic table.
A wooded area with a makeshift shelter constructed from branches and wood, and a person crouching underneath it among fallen leaves.
Scenic rural landscape with a cultivated field in foreground, a greenhouse, a winding road with people walking, and a wooded hillside with bare and evergreen trees under a bright blue sky.

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There are MANY ways to get involved!

  • Maybe you want to support local youth. Maybe you believe in hands-on learning and outdoor education. Or maybe you simply want to invest in the future of Madison County. Whatever your reason, your generosity helps MCCLC provide nature-based learning, leadership programs, and community resources that create lasting impact.

    Learn more here

  • Come see what makes MCCLC special. Nestled in the mountains of Madison County, our campus is home to nature-based classrooms, community gardens, and spaces built for curiosity and connection. Whether you're a prospective family, a community partner, or just passing through, there's nothing like experiencing the magic in person. We’d love to show you around.

    Learn More Here

  • Looking for a space that feels alive with possibility? From workshops and birthday parties to community gatherings and retreats, our campus offers a unique setting rooted in nature, creativity, and connection. If you’re dreaming up something meaningful, we’re here to help you bring it to life.

    Learn More Here

  • Volunteering at MCCLC is a meaningful way to support local children, families, and community programs. Whether you’re helping in classrooms, working on the farm, or sharing your unique skills, your time makes a real difference. Join us and become part of the village that helps our community grow and thrive.

    Learn More Here

  • Invest in something that matters. As a business or individual sponsor, your support helps fund scholarships, expand programming, and keep our community thriving. Sponsorship is more than a donation—it’s a way to align your values with impact that lasts.

    Learn More Here

  • We believe collaboration is how communities thrive. Whether you're an educator, nonprofit, local business, or creative visionary, partnering with MCCLC opens the door to shared resources, aligned missions, and deeper community impact. Let’s build something beautiful together.

    Learn More Here

  • Here is our current Wishlist!

Group of 14 people standing outdoors in front of green hills and sky.
Three children sitting under a green tarp in a forest, with one girl sticking out her tongue, holding a notebook, and the others looking at the camera.
Colorful wooden pallet with handwritten words promoting community sharing, love, and giving, painted in purple, pink, turquoise, blue, and yellow.
A person camping outdoors, cooking over an open fire with three black pots hanging from a metal frame, surrounded by trees and autumn foliage.
Group of people enjoying a gathering on a porch, holding drinks, smiling, and posing for the photo, with trees and bushes in the background.
Two women are smiling and working on a large, partially completed stone sculpture outdoors, with other people and tools visible around them, under a blue canopy.
A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a cap and outdoor clothing, standing in a lush forest, holding some green leaves and talking.
A young girl with long, blonde hair and a green shirt standing outdoors next to a brick fire pit lined with ashes and some wood. There are trees and greenery in the background.
A woman with a floral crown made of yellow and white flowers and a nose piercing, faces a young blonde girl with face paint of a smiling pumpkin, at an outdoor event on a grassy field.
Clothes hanging on a laundry line outside a house, with a tree stump in the foreground and a person standing among trees in the background.
Children and adults enjoying an outdoor market on a wooden deck with a large beige shade sail overhead, surrounded by greenery.
A rural farm scene with a dirt path leading to a small village surrounded by hills and trees, under a cloudy sky.
People gather around outdoor fire pit with hanging pots, some children and one adult simultaneously cooking outdoors during autumn, near a house with a green exterior.
Two children doing a handstand position outdoors on a grassy field, smiling and leaning forward with their hands on the ground, surrounded by trees.
Three young girls posing together at an indoor party or celebration, with colorful decorations and wooden walls in the background.
Children playing a colorful board game at a table outdoors in a covered area.
A person kneeling on the ground playing an acoustic guitar while a group of children sit around watching.