When Sebastian Purvis moved from the U.K. to the Bahamas seven years ago, his goal was to keep teaching. A former teacher with 15 years of experience, he simply wanted to continue working with kids. However, Covid-19 changed his plans — seeing his students struggle sparked an idea that would develop into Catalyst Bahamas. “Catalyst itself stands for an irreversible change, or irreversible growth,” he said. “The idea is essentially to create irreversible growth through an outdoor adventure experience.” During lockdown, Purvis saw firsthand how hard isolation was for the children. “I could see through the screens that kids were just losing all their will to live. I could see the kids going crazy, and watching it was kind of what instigated this idea.” Once restrictions were lifted, he started with small, informal outings — bush and beach walks to get the kids outside. The first outing involved just two kids and a parent. They spent three hours exploring, talking, swimming, and playing games. Word spread, and soon those walks spurred others, growing to the point that Purvis began taking 30 or 40 kids out weekly. Today, those Saturday experiences remain in the Saturday Scouters program, but Catalyst Bahamas also hosts multi-day camps during school breaks for various age groups, along with day camps, overnight experiences, family adventures, beach camping, and glamping. Catalyst Bahamas also offers sports coaching and tutoring. To help with costs, they host fundraisers to help keep the programs free for local families. Purvis’s goal is to help children develop what he calls soft skills — confidence, resilience, responsibility, and collaboration. He’s helping build these skills through immersive, hands-on experiences that engage kids and introduce them to activities and opportunities they might never have encountered before. A recent five-day camp took place during school holidays, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and included archery, kayaking, sports, and a creative activity. “A lot of it is based around being outside and pushing yourself physically, emotionally, or mentally through these challenges,” he said. “It’s sometimes just about gaining that sort of learning about what your physical abilities are, learning about yourself, and gaining that confidence, with teamwork thrown in there.” To expand these opportunities, Catalyst Bahamas is also seeking donations of marine and outdoor gear, including snorkels, fins, kayaks, paddleboards, paddles, and other recreational gear. Equipment donations let more funds go directly toward staffing and programs. Volunteers are also welcome, with background checks required for anyone working with children. Past volunteers have shared specialized skills, including a martial arts demonstration that became a hit. From sponsoring a child to donating funds and supplies, Purvis encourages anyone eager to learn more about his vision and how they can help to contact him directly. seb@catalystbahamas.com +44 7894-951342 @catalyst_bahamas Want more? Check out Triton’s latest issue