NEWS RELEASE Contact: Citrus PR for San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Lauren Walsh Forgione 760-889-2909 / [email protected] San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum is Off to Great Places! Today is their day! Families take note of major achievements at the new museum facility including new board leadership, camp and class offerings and exhibits Escondido, CA - Date - San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (SDCDM) has reached significant milestones on its way to become a premier children’s discovery museum in southern California. Since its soft opening this past December, SDCDM has hosted thousands of kids at its new facility bringing attention to its mission to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination and experimentation. A series of very significant donations have been made possible by Brian Bonar including: funding the Explorer Discovery Sailboat; furniture donated by the Bonar Family Trust; new façade signage on the building as well as door and fence to the Children’s Discovery Garden provided by Smart-Tek Automated Services, Dalrada Financial Corporation, and AMS Outsourcing; and title sponsorship of Caribbean Nights benefit event May 3rd by Bandy Canyon Ranch. SDCDM has also received funding from the Rokenbok Educational Foundation. These funds will support the two organizations collaboration in creating curriculum that teaches skills and literacies promoting success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). . SDCDM Partners with Major Organizations to Host Educational Events On March 2, more than 150 kids from nearby Title 1 schools and preschools were read to from the book, Oh the Places You’ll Go! In the book, Dr. Suess wrote, “You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!” The Read Across America event was one of a series that brought in local students and kids to gain exposure to reading, world cultures and science. In addition, on February 22, more than 350 area Girls Scouts and their families visited SDCDM for World Thinking Day, which inspired attendees to learn about people’s cultures through music, interactive class experiences and cultural performances. The Museum has also had the pleasure of hosting both public and private events at the new space such as: the Escondido Charitable Foundations Five Year Anniversary Party on January 20 and the North County Chamber of Commerce Mixer on March 14. Upcoming events at SDCDM include: the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren event on April 21 and Caribbean Nights charitable social on May 3, which will be the first preview of the Museum’s new outdoor space. The Museum is also hosting the annual “Dia del Nino” Children’s Day event at Grape Day Park, across the street from SDCDM, on Saturday, April 28. Latest Construction Changes Bring Enhanced Features to the SDCDM The list of construction improvements continue with a new doorway to the future Children’s Discovery Garden to be installed in early April, new classroom set up and renovations, a finished Explorer Discovery Sailboat, the wall take-down to begin installation of the doorway to the Children’s Discovery Garden, new signage in place and landscape architect designs underway for the Children’s Discovery Garden and fencing. The Museum continues to look for partners for current and future projects, which are made possible due to corporate and private support. New Camp Offerings SDCDM will host a number of kid’s camp offerings in the near future including Spring Break Camps teaching kids about Grossology and Going Global from April 2 through April 13 and Summer Camps throughout June, July and August. New Exhibits SDCDM’s new Miniature Microscope Station is a preview to a larger exhibit coming soon on microscopes and magnification as well as microscopes for the classroom. Future SDCDM exhibits include: Going Global, in conjunction with KPBS and the San Diego Girl Scouts World Thinking day; Green Science Exhibit, coming this spring funded by Stater Brothers Charity, Union Bank and the Escondido Rotary; and The Toddler Tidepool, which would expand the Discovery Sailboat; and the Ancient Egypt exhibit. New Board Members Larry Zeiger, Rebecca Raymond and Kelly Mowery are the newest members to join the SDCDM Board with diverse backgrounds in performing and media arts, non-profits, world cultures and business management. The current Board roster includes: Catherine Sanders, Board Chair Erick Altona-Board, Vice-Chair Rodger Gieseke, Board Treasurer Carmen Nava, Board Secretary Dr. Christy Fortney, Member Bob Mac Mahon, Member Leila Sackfield, Member Kim Dunham, Member “We are incredibly proud of the support we’ve received from the community. We set forth to move mountains and we’re in close reach of our first peak,” said Javier Guerrero, executive director of SDCDM. “Right now, continued fundraising is critical to help us reach our goals. The Board is in full support of strategic collaborations with local businesses and organizations. I know we’re going to surpass everyone’s expectations of what we can achieve in building SDCDM to be the best we can be!” About SDCDM San Diego Children's Discovery Museum’s (SDCDM) mission is to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination, and experimentation. The museum serves local families, school and play groups, and visitors from across southern California and beyond. The new 6,000 square-foot facility located at 320 North Broadway, Escondido CA 92025 has an additional 6,000 square-foot outdoor space. The site allows for exciting exhibits for interactive children's play such as Rokenbok, Imagination Playground, Sensation Station, Keva Planks and Origami-try. New exhibits at the facility include a brand new Explorer Discovery Sailboat with toddler area, newly designed Puppet Theatre with new puppets and a large Imagination Stage with musical instruments and new costumes for kids to enjoy. Future exhibits will include the launch of Ancient Egypt as well as Life, Earth and Physical Science Stations in 2012. With additional fundraising support, SDCDM plans to open a Children's Discovery Garden spring in 2012. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. SDCDM was founded as a non-profit organization in 2001 as Escondido Children's Museum, with the focus of learning through play and inspiring children from newborn to age 12 to learn about our world through exploration, imagination and experimentation. Admission costs at the new location is $6 per person, $3 for military and disabled, and free for children 12 months and younger. Memberships, group discounts, birthday parties, and spring and summer camps are available. San Diego Children's Discovery Museum is affiliated with the Association of Children's Museums. ###