About
Catalyst Kids offers themed activities, hands-on fun, and art projects, along with playing games and interactive games. Children take part in group activities, team-building activities, leadership opportunities, and field trips as part of the program.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Price: Free or reduced-cost options may be available. In many of our centers we provide subsidized child care programs.
Catalyst Kids has created enriching, engaging, and exciting child-centered programming for 50 years. The program offers inclusive programs that teach, inspire, and promote self-guided learning opportunities that let each child shine. Catalyst Kids serves children from infants to school-age in Before and Afterschool, Preschool, and Camp programs, with camp offered during school breaks in the summer, spring, and winter. Camps promote learning and skill building in a real-world atmosphere where students collaborate on exciting themes and activities, focus on discovery, play, and engagement, and support Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics concepts. Programs promote an active and healthy lifestyle with healthy snacks, meals, and physical activity, and camp activities include growth through the arts, team-building activities, and leadership opportunities. Staff provide a platform for children to develop their physical, emotional, and social skills by choosing group activities, trying new and silly things, and enjoying themselves with familiar faces.
Programming at Catalyst Kids is described as child-led, family-centered, and community-minded, and is based on the belief that all children are competent and capable learners who learn best through hands-on, active experiences and authentic, positive relationships. Trusting relationships between families and staff are described as the cornerstone of the program. The program strives to be supportive of the family, including parents who are in school, foster families, homeless families, and those working or seeking employment, and welcomes all children and families into its programs. Catalyst Kids operates over 150 centers throughout the State of California, serving over 8,000 children, and is headquartered in Morgan Hill with regional offices in Morgan Hill, Sacramento, and Irvine, California.
All Preschool and Infant/Toddler centers at Catalyst Kids participate in the California Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). All programs participate in a rigorous internal quality rating program that supports improvement and continued growth, and centers are licensed by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Camp Leaders recognize each camper’s unique contribution to the camp experience while bringing their own knowledge, talent, and positivity to help students grow.
Catalyst Kids states that community is at the heart of everything it does and that its programming exists because of the communities it serves. The organization believes in providing responsive services for communities, families, and children, and describes its relationships with community-based organizations and school districts as reciprocal, resulting in cohesive services for children and families. Catalyst Kids partners with twenty-nine school districts to provide before and after school programs, preschool, and camps.
Parents and children describe their experiences with Catalyst Kids in several ways. One parent, Richelle Bon, appreciates how Catalyst works with the school’s teachers and gives students more support with what they are learning at school. The Jarne family reports that Catalyst has helped with improving their child's self-esteem and social skills. Another parent, Kim P., says that Catalyst gives their child a safe place to learn. Gene G. notes that kids come home doing new art projects and playing new games and describes the experience as enriching across multiple domains. Ting W. shares that their kids looked forward to going every day, including summers and breaks, and that teachers are well connected and provide consistency for the children. A Catalyst child, Rowen (age 4), says that every day is a favorite day, that teachers help and make the children smile, and that there are many best friends at Catalyst Kids. Parent Gemma Vincente highlights the diversity of activities each day and week, the focus on summer activities and educational activities, and says that her son has learned about places, things, professional people from field trips, how to play with other kids, how to share games and toys, and to help others, and she believes the people who work at Catalyst make the program amazing. Mary, Prince, and Symai thank Catalyst Kids for giving their daughter a strong educational foundation through the Pre-K program, noting that she became a top student in kindergarten and first grade and that her love of analyzing and learning new things started at Catalyst through projects and interactive games. Parent Jim L. says that, as busy working parents with no family nearby, their family depends on the Catalyst “village” every day and that both children come home happy, healthy, and sharing something new about what they learned.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Price: Free or reduced-cost options may be available. In many of our centers we provide subsidized child care programs.
Catalyst Kids has created enriching, engaging, and exciting child-centered programming for 50 years. The program offers inclusive programs that teach, inspire, and promote self-guided learning opportunities that let each child shine. Catalyst Kids serves children from infants to school-age in Before and Afterschool, Preschool, and Camp programs, with camp offered during school breaks in the summer, spring, and winter. Camps promote learning and skill building in a real-world atmosphere where students collaborate on exciting themes and activities, focus on discovery, play, and engagement, and support Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics concepts. Programs promote an active and healthy lifestyle with healthy snacks, meals, and physical activity, and camp activities include growth through the arts, team-building activities, and leadership opportunities. Staff provide a platform for children to develop their physical, emotional, and social skills by choosing group activities, trying new and silly things, and enjoying themselves with familiar faces.
Programming at Catalyst Kids is described as child-led, family-centered, and community-minded, and is based on the belief that all children are competent and capable learners who learn best through hands-on, active experiences and authentic, positive relationships. Trusting relationships between families and staff are described as the cornerstone of the program. The program strives to be supportive of the family, including parents who are in school, foster families, homeless families, and those working or seeking employment, and welcomes all children and families into its programs. Catalyst Kids operates over 150 centers throughout the State of California, serving over 8,000 children, and is headquartered in Morgan Hill with regional offices in Morgan Hill, Sacramento, and Irvine, California.
All Preschool and Infant/Toddler centers at Catalyst Kids participate in the California Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). All programs participate in a rigorous internal quality rating program that supports improvement and continued growth, and centers are licensed by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Camp Leaders recognize each camper’s unique contribution to the camp experience while bringing their own knowledge, talent, and positivity to help students grow.
Catalyst Kids states that community is at the heart of everything it does and that its programming exists because of the communities it serves. The organization believes in providing responsive services for communities, families, and children, and describes its relationships with community-based organizations and school districts as reciprocal, resulting in cohesive services for children and families. Catalyst Kids partners with twenty-nine school districts to provide before and after school programs, preschool, and camps.
Parents and children describe their experiences with Catalyst Kids in several ways. One parent, Richelle Bon, appreciates how Catalyst works with the school’s teachers and gives students more support with what they are learning at school. The Jarne family reports that Catalyst has helped with improving their child's self-esteem and social skills. Another parent, Kim P., says that Catalyst gives their child a safe place to learn. Gene G. notes that kids come home doing new art projects and playing new games and describes the experience as enriching across multiple domains. Ting W. shares that their kids looked forward to going every day, including summers and breaks, and that teachers are well connected and provide consistency for the children. A Catalyst child, Rowen (age 4), says that every day is a favorite day, that teachers help and make the children smile, and that there are many best friends at Catalyst Kids. Parent Gemma Vincente highlights the diversity of activities each day and week, the focus on summer activities and educational activities, and says that her son has learned about places, things, professional people from field trips, how to play with other kids, how to share games and toys, and to help others, and she believes the people who work at Catalyst make the program amazing. Mary, Prince, and Symai thank Catalyst Kids for giving their daughter a strong educational foundation through the Pre-K program, noting that she became a top student in kindergarten and first grade and that her love of analyzing and learning new things started at Catalyst through projects and interactive games. Parent Jim L. says that, as busy working parents with no family nearby, their family depends on the Catalyst “village” every day and that both children come home happy, healthy, and sharing something new about what they learned.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
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