San Diego Children's Discovery Museum
San Diego Children's Discovery Museum
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About this organization
Mission
The mission of San Diego Children's Discovery Museum (SDCDM) is to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination, experimentation, and discovery.
About
INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND GUIDED PLAY ARE CRUCIAL - AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED - ELEMENTS OF CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. CHILDREN NEED TO BE ENGAGED IN LEARNING OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE TO REINFORCE SKILLS ACQUIRED AT SCHOOL. YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN DIFFERENTLY THAN OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PLAY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION. MANY FAMILIES - PARTICULARLY THOSE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S UNDERSERVED AND AT-RISK AREAS - HAVE LITTLE TO NO DISCRETIONARY INCOME TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND STATE BUDGET CUTS CREATE DIFFICULTY FOR EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES BEYOND THE ASSIGNED AND TESTED CURRICULUM. SAN DIEGO CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM (SDCDM) IS THE ONLY RESOURCE OF ITS KIND IN THE AREA, PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE REGION. SDCDM PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND RETENTION. OUR MUSEUM FEATURES FOUR MISSION-ALIGNED PROGRAM AREAS: EXPERIMENTATION (SCIENCE, MATH, ENGINEERING), EXPLORATION (WORLD CULTURES, HISTORY), IMAGINATION (THEATER ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC), AND DISCOVERY (OUTDOOR SPACE FEATURING GARDENS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, WORLD CULTURES, ARTS). ALMOST ALL OF OUR EXHIBITS ARE DESIGNED IN-HOUSE BY A HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE STAFF, THROUGH CONSULTATIONS WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS, AND EDUCATORS. BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SCIENCE, ART, AND WORLD CULTURE PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH CALIFORNIA'S COMMON CORE CURRICULUM STANDARDS AND NEW GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS), CHILDREN CAN PRACTICE AT THE MUSEUM WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING AT SCHOOL.SDCDM IS A PLACE WHERE EDUCATORS AND PARENTS CAN SEE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE LEARNED IN CLASSES, AND CHILDREN WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. OUR MUSEUM PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORATION OF REAL-LIFE TOPICS, SUCH AS WATER CONSERVATION, HISTORY, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, ARTS, THEATER, AND MUSIC. WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD THROUGH PLAY AND EXPLORATION, CHILDREN BEGIN TO MAKE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LIVES AND THEIR WORLD. THESE IMPORTANT INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES ARE A CRUCIAL STEP IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO MAKE CONCRETE CONNECTIONS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY ARE LEARNING.SINCE OUR INCEPTION WE HAVE OUTGROWN TWO MUSEUM FACILITIES, AND IN LATE 2011 WE MOVED INTO A 13,500 SQUARE FOOT SPACE IN DOWNTOWN ESCONDIDO THAT INCLUDES A 6,000 SQUARE FOOT MUSEUM WITH A 7,500 SQUARE FOOT OUTDOOR CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY GARDEN. SINCE MOVING INTO OUR NEW MUSEUM LOCATION, ATTENDANCE INCREASED FROM 15,000 IN 2011 (IN OUR OLD FACILITY) TO A PROJECTED 150,000 THIS YEAR. IN ADDITION TO OUR MANY INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT AREAS, OUR MUSEUM HAS TWO DESIGNATED CLASSROOMS (INDOOR AND OUTDOOR) EQUIPPED WITH A VIDEO PROJECTION SYSTEM, MICROSCOPES, FOSSILS AND ARTIFACTS, AND AN EDUCATIONAL LIBRARY. OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SPACES INCLUDE THE OUTDOOR ART STUDIO AND EXHIBITS WORKSHOP, BASE CAMP (ARCHAEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY, GEOLOGY),NATIVE CALIFORNIA AND NATIVE PLANT GARDEN, EDIBLE GARDEN, POLLINATOR GARDEN AND NATURE PLAY. WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED OUR EDUCATION, OPERATIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THE LAUNCH OF OUR MOBILE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HAS INCREASED OUR OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO REACH OVER 30,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY.OUR "ACCESS FOR ALL" INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HANDS-ON LEARNING BY PROVIDING FIELD TRIP SCHOLARSHIPS AND MOBILE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SCHOLARSHIPS TO AROUND 22,000 CHILDREN AND LOW-INCOME AND TITLE-I SCHOOLS, FREE ADMISSION TO 20,000 ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES, FREE ADMISSION PASSES TO OVER 30,000 ADDITIONAL CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FREE ANNUAL FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS TO OVER 1,500 FAMILIES THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS, AND OVER 500 FREE ANNUAL FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC CHECK OUT IN LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, LOCAL AND ALL COUNTY LIBRARIES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTERS. WE BELIEVE ALL CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL ABILITY, AND WE ARE THE ONLY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDING HANDS-ON SCIENCE, ARTS AND WORLD CULTURES EXPERIENCES IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CREATING A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE REGION.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The purpose of the non-profit is outlined in the filing as “San diego children's discovery museum's mission is to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination and experimentation. our curriculum-aligned programs and exhibits cultivate school readiness and lifelong learning.”.
When discussing its operations, they were defined as: “San diego children's discovery museum's mission is to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination and experimentation. our curriculum-aligned programs and exhibits cultivate school readiness and lifelong learning.”.
- The state where the non-profit operates has been legally reported as CA.
- The filing indicates that the non-profit's address in 2020 is located at 320 N BROADWAY, ESCONDIDO, CA, 92025.
- The non-profit has reported 65 employees on their form as of 2020.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue is greater than $1,000,000.
- Revenue less expenses is -$140,485.
- The organization has 11 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1999.
- The organization pays $1,207,515 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $246,869 in fundraising expenses.