New Creative Learning Space Coming to Bernal Heights This January
Local mother and educator Katherine Rosch is opening Hilltop Creative, a community-focused creative children’s studio designed to spark wonder and strengthen connections.
After 10-15 years of teaching in the Bay Area, Katherine Rosch is bringing her vision back to the community she calls home. This January, she’ll open Hilltop Creative, a new children’s creative studio in Bernal Heights that blends art, sensory exploration, and social learning in an aesthetically warm, welcoming neighborhood space.
The location holds special significance for Rosch, who discovered it while walking through her own neighborhood with her toddler. The space, formerly home to Chloe’s Closet and Book Castle, caught her eye as the perfect setting for her latest venture. “It’s an opportunity to give back to my neighborhood and be an integral part of it,” she says, expressing excitement about serving the community where she lives and is raising her three children.
From PlaySchool SF to Hilltop Creative
Rosch’s educational background runs deep. With a master’s degree from Mills College and years of classroom experience, she previously operated PlaySchool SF, an outdoor homeschool preschool program, before the pandemic disrupted in-person learning. Her credentials extend beyond traditional education; she’s also a Certified Doula with trauma training and experience working with different cohorts, bringing a holistic understanding of child development to her work.
Hilltop Creative is designed to be a creative play space where children can “just be,” explore, play, develop socialization and creativity skills, and build confidence through a mix of programming.
A Space for Wonder and Community
Hilltop Creative describes itself as “a creative children’s studio for families to share moments of wonder and learning,” offering enriching classes and workshops where art, storytelling, and sensory exploration take center stage. The goal is to spark curiosity while strengthening community bonds and enriching social relationships.
The weekly schedule offers multiple entry points for families:
Monday and Wednesday: Drop-in sensory and art classes for caregivers and children 12 months to 5 years old
Tuesday and Thursday: Preschool playgroup from 9:30-11:15 am for ages 2 and up
In addition to regular classes, Hilltop Creative will host camps during school holidays and summer break, including closures such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and ski week. These camps will incorporate local nature activities on the hill, leveraging Bernal Heights’ unique landscape.
The studio will also offer tinkering and woodworking classes for children, providing hands-on experiences that encourage problem-solving and creative thinking. Recognizing that parents need community time, too, Hilltop Creative plans to host movie nights for both younger and older children, giving adults in the neighborhood a chance for date nights or holiday shopping.
Building Momentum Toward January Opening
Rosch has already begun building community connections with a soft opening in December that featured a movie night, giving families their first look at the space and a chance to meet other neighborhood parents. This gentle introduction reflects her broader philosophy: education works best when it’s embedded in community.
The official opening is scheduled for January 5, 2026, when Hilltop Creative will launch its full slate of classes and programming.
As Bernal Heights continues to evolve, Hilltop Creative represents a return to a neighborhood-centered educational space where children can explore, create, and connect, and where families can build the relationships that make a community thrive.
For families interested in learning more about Hilltop Creative’s January opening, the studio promises to be a place where wonder and learning happen together, right in the heart of Bernal Heights.
https://www.hilltopcreative.studio/
San Francisco Family Friendly Calendar
Hilltop Creative Learning Space
Mike Doherty serves as Chief Experience Officer at Greening Projects, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant green areas
