Child Creativity Lab

What Child Creativity Lab does

Child Creativity Lab (CCL) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Peter Chang and headquartered in Santa Ana, California. Its core mission is to address the 'creativity crisis' by delivering hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education to underserved children, primarily in Orange County, California. CCL's technical foundation is anchored in Stanford University's 4-Step Design Thinking Method, which guides students through team-based creative problem-solving using open-ended STEAM Challenge Kits that provide challenges without step-by-step instructions. The signature delivery vehicle is the Makerspace on Wheels (MOW), a mobile program in which trained instructors travel to partner schools, after-school programs, libraries, Girl Scout troops, and community centers with all materials needed to facilitate workshops. The organization supplemented this in-school model with a physical Depot for Creative Reuse — a Santa Ana-based materials distribution center that diverts over 10 tons of usable material from landfills annually by collecting, sorting, and reselling donated materials through annual memberships at $25, $55, and $105 tiers.

CCL operates a diversified, donation-heavy revenue model targeting multiple customer segments in parallel: Title I schools and underserved TK-8 districts (mobile workshops, grant-funded); non-profit youth organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs (after-school enrichment); Girl Scout troops at all levels (badge workshops, $25/person or per-kit quotes); school PTAs and families (Family STEAM Nights with 100-participant cap); educators and administrators (Professional Development at $600 base plus $25/educator over 25); and corporate partners (co-branded kit sponsorships, employee team-building, corporate volunteer events, and material donations). The portfolio includes 16+ products and services — Makerspace on Wheels, STEAM Challenge Kits, Depot for Creative Reuse, Professional Development, Family STEAM Night, Girl Scout Badge Workshops, Co-Branded Kits (e.g., A-Maze-ing Heart Maze with Edwards Lifesciences, Genesis Motors Upcycled Vehicle Challenge), Employee Programming & Team Building, Corporate Team Volunteer Program, Summer Camps (Carnival and Entrepreneur tracks via IPSF), and a Material Donations intake program. In 2023 CCL reported impacting 42,000+ students, the corporate partner base has grown to 85+ organizations (including Edwards Lifesciences, Hyundai Capital America, Pacific Life, Boeing, Disney, IKEA, Samsung, Capital Group, Western Digital, UPS), and the program partner network spans 100+ schools and non-profit organizations. The organization is led by CEO Tracey Hill with founder Peter Chang as visionary, Board Chair Suzanne Ellingson, and a lean operational team of approximately six coordinators plus part-time STEAM instructors.

Name

Child Creativity Lab

Legal name

Child Creativity Lab

Website

https://childcreativitylab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Child Creativity Lab is a 501(c)(3) non-profit delivering hands-on STEAM education to underserved children in Orange County through a mobile Makerspace-on-Wheels program, STEAM Challenge Kits, and a Depot for Creative Reuse, funded by corporate sponsorships, grants, donations, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEAM Education Services (Nonprofit)

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG)

Keywords

• STEAM education programs
• Creative reuse materials
• Mobile makerspace workshops
• Youth enrichment services
• Nonprofit education

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Ana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual contributions to support the organization's mission of providing STEAM education to underserved children.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial support, material donations, employee volunteering, and co-branded kit sponsorships.
3. Grant Funding: Foundation and corporate grants support programs for Title I schools and underserved communities, including Pacific Life, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Southern California Edison, and others.
4. Depot Memberships: Annual memberships (12 months) for community access to the Depot for Creative Reuse with tiered material units: $25 (20 units), $55 (55 units), $105 (120 units).
5. Program Fees: Fees for Makerspace on Wheels workshops, Professional Development sessions, Girl Scout Badge Workshops, Family STEAM Nights, and Summer Camps. Pricing varies by program type and quantity.
6. Co-Branded Kit Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors partner to create custom co-branded STEAM kits that carry company branding while supporting community education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Child Creativity Lab operates hands-on STEAM education programs for children in grades TK-8, delivered primarily through its mobile Makerspace on Wheels workshops, ready-to-use STEAM Challenge Kits, and a Depot for Creative Reuse that supplies upcycled materials. Programs are anchored in Stanford University's 4-Step Design Thinking Method and are distributed to schools, youth-serving nonprofits, Girl Scout troops, families, and corporate partners across Orange County, California.

Product overview

Child Creativity Lab operates a portfolio of interconnected STEAM education products and services unified by a mission to foster creativity in children through hands-on learning with upcycled materials. The core offerings center on the Makerspace on Wheels (MOW) mobile program and STEAM Challenge Kits, supported by the Depot for Creative Reuse which supplies materials diverted from landfills. Additional modules include Professional Development for educators, Family STEAM Night, Girl Scouts Badge Workshops, and Summer Camps (Entrepreneur STEAM Camp and Create Your Own Carnival STEAM Camp). Corporate engagement products encompass Co-Branded Kits, Employee Programming & Team Building, and Corporate Team Volunteer Program. All programs utilize the 4-Step Design Thinking Method from Stanford University and emphasize sustainability through creative reuse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Makerspace on Wheels (MOW) Mobile STEAM workshop program in which trained instructors travel to partner schools, after-school sites, libraries, and community centers with all materials to run hands-on STEAM Challenge Kit workshops using Stanford's 4-Step Design Thinking Method. Designed for K-8 (TK-8) children and the schools/organizations that serve them, including grant-funded delivery to Title I communities.
• STEAM Challenge Kits Open-ended, ready-to-use STEAM learning kits for grades TK-8 that provide challenges without step-by-step solutions, with optional video guidance for select kits. Sold to schools, families, and Girl Scout troops and used as the consumable backbone of Makerspace on Wheels workshops.
• Depot for Creative Reuse Memberships Annual memberships giving educators, families, and makers unitized access ($25 / 20 units; $55 / 55 units; $105 / 120 units) to upcycled creative materials at the physical Santa Ana depot. Functions as both a community engagement channel and a supply source for STEAM Challenge Kits.
• Professional Development Customized interactive training for educators and school teams, sized for groups of 5 to 200 participants, that teach the Stanford 4-Step Design Thinking Method combined with creative-reuse STEAM instruction. Pricing is $600 base for up to 25 educators with $25 per additional participant and an optional $500 Depot training add-on (max 40 participants).
• Family STEAM Night 60-minute hands-on family event in which parents and students team up to solve STEAM challenges together, bringing CCL's design-thinking methodology to PTA, school enrichment, and community engagement audiences. Pricing varies by event factors.
• Girl Scouts Badge Workshops On-site STEAM badge workshops for Girl Scout troops (Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and beyond), with kits available for purchase at the Girl Scout HQ Store in Irvine. Pricing varies by troop size, number of kits, and location.
• Co-Branded STEAM Kits Custom STEAM Challenge Kits co-developed with corporate sponsors that carry the partner's branding and themes (e.g., A-Maze-ing Heart Maze with Edwards Lifesciences; Genesis Motors Upcycled Vehicle with Genesis Motor America). Sold to corporations as part of CSR/sponsorship packages.
• Employee Programming & Team Building Customized team-building events for corporate clients featuring CCL-developed STEAM challenges (e.g., Zipline Carrier Challenge, kit assembly, hands-on activities for employees and their families). Sold as a corporate offering distinct from classroom STEAM programming.
• Corporate Team Volunteer Program Structured corporate volunteer events hosted at the CCL Depot or on-site, in which employee teams assemble STEAM kits or co-facilitate workshops with children as part of a company's CSR/ESG programming.
• Summer Camp 2026 Multi-week summer STEAM camps for grades 1-6 delivered at Solis Park Elementary in Irvine in partnership with IPSF, comprising Create Your Own Carnival STEAM Camp (grades 1-3, building mini-carnival rides from recycled materials) and Entrepreneur STEAM Camp (grades 4-6, Shark Tank-style product/business pitch). Parents register through the IPSF enrollment portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42,000 students impacted in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Edwards LifesciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Flagship co-branded kit partner creating the 'A-Maze-ing Heart Maze' STEAM Challenge. Edwards Lifesciences employees volunteer to teach the program to underserved Orange County students. Hosted 2024 annual gala 'From The Heart' at their Irvine campus. Named Corporate Partner of the Decade.
• Genesis Motor AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Genesis Motors Upcycled Vehicle STEAM Challenge. Funded programs at Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana (Lafayette, February 2025) and TGR STEAM Pittsburgh (July 2025). Expanding generosity beyond STEM into arts.
• Hyundai Capital AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Host of 2023 annual gala 'The Sky's the Limit' at their rooftop terrace. Named Corporate Partner of the Year for longtime generosity impacting thousands of Orange County students. Supports Upcycled Vehicle Summer programs.
• Pacific LifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Grant partner supporting programs and mission moments. Featured as Mission moment partner on Grant Partners page.
• Southern California EdisoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Grant funder and program partner. Students from Huntington Beach High School visited their Grid Technology Development Labs for Eco-Home building challenges using upcycled materials.
• Diamond MattresscoreOthers · 1 January 2022Named Material Partner of the Year (2022) for donating production waste materials. Partnered to up-cycle production waste materials into STEAM educational supplies. Leading sustainability initiatives.
• Cushman & WakefieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheir ASPIRE ERG (Employee Resource Group) conducted Full STEAM volunteer event in October 2021, helping foster next-gen thinkers and innovators.
• Blizzard EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployees mentored local youth at Irvine campus. Students built game characters using upcycled materials as part of STEM education activities.
• IPSF (Irvine Parent Faculty Club)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Summer Camp 2026 programs held at Solis Park Elementary, Irvine. Handles registration through their enrollment portal.
• Boys & Girls Club of Buena ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since COVID-19 pandemic providing hands-on STEAM enrichment. Honored as Champion for Youth at 2024 gala. Serves youth where 61% fall below poverty line.
• Professional PlasticsminorOthersNamed Material Partner of the Year (2023) for donating items used in nearly every one of the thousands of STEAM Challenge Kits provided annually.
• OC Waste & RecyclingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured CCL in resource recovery spotlight, highlighting organization for waste diversion and sustainability impact.
• Orange County United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership organizing programs like Southern California Edison Grid Technology Development Labs visit for high school students.
• USC (University of Southern California)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with USC Joint Educational Project's STEM Education Programs for upcycled car design event on USC campus.
• Acacia ElementaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool program partner in Orange County network.
• Alderwood ElementaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool program partner in Orange County network.
• Anaheim Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary program partner providing community enrichment.
• Boys & Girls Club of FullertonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school program partner in Orange County network.
• Girls Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization partner serving girls in Orange County.
• UCI (University of California Irvine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner with Circle K, Global Medical Training, and DDS programs involved in volunteer activities.
• Olive CrestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare organization partner. Robots built by university students with CCL were donated to Olive Crest facilities.
• OC Rescue MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless services organization partner in Orange County network.
• Pretend CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's museum partner for educational enrichment programs.
• Santa Ana Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library partner providing community STEAM programming.
• TGR FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiger Woods foundation partner for STEAM programming at TGR STEAM Pittsburgh (July 2025).
• The Youth CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization partner in Orange County.
• WaymakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily violence intervention organization partner serving youth.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Black Girls CODE: Non-profit delivering technology and STEAM education to underrepresented youth. Comparable demographic focus and education-outreach model, though concentrated on coding/tech rather than maker education.
• KiwiCo: STEAM-focused subscription box and kit company serving children and families. Comparable in delivering hands-on STEAM kits to end users, though for-profit and consumer-direct rather than non-profit/school-distributed like CCL.

Direct peers

• Citizen Schools: Non-profit providing after-school enrichment and STEM/career-focused programming in underserved schools. Comparable service model (mobile instructors delivering enrichment to partner schools) and target demographic.
• Tinkering School: Hands-on maker and engineering programs for children that emphasize building with real materials. Comparable mission and pedagogical approach to CCL's maker-based STEAM challenges with upcycled materials.
• Iridescent: Non-profit that delivers hands-on STEM education and family engagement programs to underserved communities using a mentor-driven model. Highly comparable mission (STEAM access for underserved youth) and direct overlap with CCL's Title I and community-based delivery.
• Maker Ed: Non-profit advancing maker education in schools and communities through resources, professional development, and program networks. Closely aligned with CCL's maker/STEAM kit philosophy and educator-training approach.

Broad incumbents

• Project Lead The Way: Large national non-profit providing STEM curricula and teacher training for K-12 schools. Comparable in targeting educators and schools for STEAM delivery, but operates at significantly larger scale as a curriculum provider rather than direct-program deliverer.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth services non-profit that partners with providers like CCL for enrichment programming. Comparable in serving Title I and underserved youth populations through partner-driven afterschool programs.
• Science Olympiad: National STEM competition and education non-profit serving K-12 students. Comparable in targeting school-based STEM enrichment, though focused on competitive events rather than hands-on workshops.

Others

• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Non-profit reuse/retail operations that divert materials from landfill and generate earned revenue for a charitable mission. Comparable to CCL's Depot for Creative Reuse model combining sustainability, retail/membership revenue, and mission impact.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/child-creativity-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Child Creativity Lab