The Coulee Clown Club was organized in 1980 with the purpose of supporting local non-profit social organizations, such as hospitals, nursing homes, community parades and special populations. The first Clown Camp as held in the summer of 1980 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. By 1991, the purposes were changed to promote the art, education and enjoyment of clowning in the La Crosse area; to assist Club members to achieve their personal clowning goals; and to make a scholarship available to Club members. The group is affiliated with the World Clown Association as Alley #5.
