Catalyst Community Preschool | Catalyst SP Site

Our philosophy stands that the outdoor classroom is the best classroom. Current early childhood research shows that preschoolers learn best through hands-on play – and our entire day is filled with both rich play experiences and play-based learning. Anything that can be done indoors can take place outdoors as well. We will have learning centers both inside and out, and plan our morning to include both free play as well as group times. Our curriculum provides opportunities for our students to explore art, math, science, literacy, drama, sensory play, and more.

Recent early childhood research tells us that children who attend play-based preschool programs perform significantly better in school and have more positive school attitudes by late elementary school, as opposed to children who attend academic-based preschools. At Catalyst Community Preschool, our goal is not only to prepare your child for Kindergarten – we are also looking far beyond that. We aim to create an environment where children are growing daily in their social skills and are becoming creative thinkers, question-askers, and team players. We strive for all our students to love learning and to know that God loves them.

We are blessed with an amazing outdoor space! Your child will get dirty, explore hands-on, and be encouraged to be a creative problem-solver. Our indoor and outdoor classroom areas are carefully planned to provide a safe and educational environment. We encourage age-appropriate independence and risk-taking. Children are encouraged to try new things and staff are trained to create an environment that will facilitate exploration and discovery at your child’s pace.

Some of the outdoor experiences your child will engage in include our mud kitchen, trike path, stage and building arena, outdoor chalkboard, caring for our chickens, garden centers, music wall, excavation pit, outdoor easel, swings, sandbox, water play and more. Adventure awaits!

Classes & Enrollment

Catalyst Community Preschool opened in August 2015 as a ministry of Catalyst Church with the desire to create a quality outdoor classroom preschool program for the community of Santa Paula.

Though our students spend much of their morning learning in our outdoor classroom, we start and end the preschool

morning indoors.

Owl Class: for ages 2 & 3 year olds, no need to be toilet-trained. Teacher to child ratio is 1:7 or better.

Hedgehog Class: for 3 & 4 year olds, no need to be toilet-trained. Teacher to child ratio is 1:9 or better.

Fox Class: for 4 - 6 year olds, must be toilet-trained. Teacher to child ratio is 1:10 or better.

We have caring staff who love God, children, and the outdoors. Our teachers have a minimum of 12 Early Childhood units, as well as several additional trainings. CCP teachers are passionate about creating a quality play-based learning experience tailored to each child’s needs.

2024/25 ENROLLMENT PACKET

Catalyst Community Preschool exists to cultivate in children a love for learning, for the outdoors, for others and for God. Through the arena of the outdoor classroom, children engage in hands-on activities that promote imagination and exploration.

An adventure awaits your child at Catalyst Community Preschool! We believe that each day is full of possibilities, and that learning is fun! Our teachers provide the materials to engage your child, to encourage trying new things, and facilitate topics that spark the imagination.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Joan Bennett, director

Amy Freehauf, assistant director