About Kid Ease

• Kid Ease, Inc.
• Cal/EPA Child Care Center
• About Discovery Tree
• About the Executive Director
• Cal/EPA Contacts
• 2006 Contract with Discovery Tree

Kid Ease, Inc

Kid Ease Child Care Center, Inc., is a non-profit corporation founded by employees of Cal/EPA. Kid Ease leases the center site from the California Department of General Services. Kid Ease is also responsible for the selection and oversight of a provider. Kid Ease is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the center, but is responsible for seeing that the center’s operation conforms to our agreement with the provider. The provider is responsible for creating and administering the program and also for hiring and directing the teaching and support staff. Kid Ease is also financially responsible for permanent improvements made to the center that are necessary for the operation of a child development facility.

Kid Ease is governed by a board of directors. The officers and directors of Kid Ease are all volunteer; no one receives any salary or compensation. The board meets the second Tuesday of the month to identify facility needs and conduct fundraising activities to support the operation of the child development center. The board is elected by the membership annually for one year terms. Click here to view the Board's bylaws.

Kid Ease Inc. is always in need of additional help. If you would like more information on the group, or would like to be involved, please contact Johanna Levine of the Kid Ease board at jlevine@arb.ca.gov.

Cal/EPA Child Care Center

The Cal/EPA child care center is located on the ground floor of the Cal EPA building, and can accommodate 60 infants/toddlers/children. The center has 4,200 sq. ft. of indoor space and 4,800 sq. ft. of outdoor space, 1,420 sq. ft. area for infants and 3,380 sq. ft. area for preschool children. The outdoor play area is designed to utilize nature and recycled and natural materials as much as possible. Yard layout and materials include sandboxes; hard paving and soft flooring for wheeled vehicles; play structures; toddler planting garden boxes; drinking fountains, etc. There is a white curbed passenger loading zone on the I Street side of the building to facilitate child development center pick-up/drop off. All meters on the I Street side are restricted during morning and afternoon drop off/pick up times for use by parents. For security purposes, access to the child development center occurs only from a private entry for parents and Discovery Tree employees on the I Street side of the building.

The Cal/EPA Child Care Center is sponsored by Cal/EPA and its Boards, Departments, and Office. The Child Care Center is provided as a benefit for employees of Cal/EPA, who get priority for enrolling their children and reduced tuition costs. The Child Care Center is overseen by a non-profit, self-supporting Parent Group called Kid Ease.

If you are interested in childcare services please contact the school at (916) 448-1661.

About Discovery Tree Schools, Inc.

Discovery Tree School, Inc. was established in 1979 with the opening of the first center in Fair Oaks. In 1987, due to increasing popularity and a lengthy waiting list, a second site was opened in Citrus Heights. In 1995, Discovery Tree expanded into the Sacramento downtown area. Now, Discovery Trees has five learning centers in downtown Sacramento including the site at the Cal/EPA building.

The Discovery Tree program is unique to the Sacramento area, offering parents an alternative to more traditional preschool/childcare programs. This alternative "developmental" program has been well received by the community as an open learning center environment. Discovery Tree programs applaud diversity and values the fact that all families and children are not the same and does not espouse a regimented, highly structured or pre-made "canned" curriculums. At Discovery Tree, children are viewed as individuals, with their own developmental needs. All areas of development are nurtured: social, emotional, physical, and cognitive. The curriculum utilizes mixed age groupings, focusing on ability rather than chronological age. Hands-on, child centered, discovery learning, fill the child’s day versus the use of "dittos" or workbooks.

The mission of Discovery Tree Schools is to provide an engaging environment in which children can recognize and fulfill their potential to become thinking, caring, productive and responsible individuals in our changing world. Discovery Tree strives to provide experiences and environments that say, "Touch, Explore, and Discover!"

About the Executive Director

Alix Hall is a teacher, small business owner, and education consultant with 26 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. She has been with Discovery Tree Schools as a teacher, director, and co-owner since 1979, developing her own after-school Discovery Club Program (kindergarten-sixth grade) in 1981, and becoming the sole stockholder/executive director in 1991.

Ms. Hall served as vice-president of the board of directors of the National Human Development Foundation (NHDF) through which two state-funded childcare facilities in the Sacramento area provide quality childcare for economically disadvantaged children. Currently, Ms. Hall is vice-chair for the Sacramento County Local Child Care & Development Planning Council that oversees, makes recommendations, and supports child development and family programs, issues, and funding throughout Sacramento County. In addition, she sits on and contributes to the Sacramento County Office of Education: Child Development Division's Public Education Advisory Committee.

Ms. Hall also maintains a consulting business, ALH Unlimited Consulting, specializing in early childhood seminars, workshops, and private consultations. In this capacity, Ms. Hall has gained statewide recognition by developing and conducting cross-cultural seminars designed to increase children’s awareness of other cultures and ethnic groups.