SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM

CURRENT GOALS

HAPPY TRAILS To address the lack of opportunities for today’s urban children to connect with nature, Children’s Discovery Museum has launched a new family environmental education program called Happy Trails. Building upon the Museum’s environmental expertise and unique outdoor learning environment, Happy Trails blazes a path for urban families to engage in outdoor exploration.

MPACT Millennials: Piloting Adaptive Change and Training engages a new generation of Museum leaders, and advances institutional understanding about the needs and expectations of today’s parents, to better understand what resonates with this audience of Millennials that is vital to our Museum’s future.

EXPLORATION PORTAL Looking ahead, we seek to generate support for the next phase of outdoor expansion: a multi-use Exploration Portal that sparks creativity and curiosity through introductory experiences in science and the arts, offering a street-side point of entry for visiting groups.

A. Creativity Through the Arts
B. Science Learning
C. Environmental Stewardship
D. Early Childhood Development
E. Inclusion & Cultural Competence
F. Childhood Obesity Prevention
G. Community Service Learning
H. In-House Exhibit Development
I. Learning Research
J. Partnerships & Resource Development

A.
Art Loft, Art Studio & Art Gallery
Cultural Celebrations
Sunday Matinees & Summer Music Series

B.
Major Exhibits
Question Quest
BioSITE Open House
Family Science Nights

C.
Bill’s Backyard: Bridge to Nature
BioSITE (Students Investigating Their Environment)

D.
The Wonder Cabinet Early Learning Laboratory
Educare Partnership
NSPIRE Initiative

E.
Audience Development Initiatives
Library & Family Resource Center Outreach
Cultural Celebrations
Cultural Competence Learning Institute

F.
Major Exhibits
Foodshed Café
Kids Like to Move It

G.
Discovery Youth
Summer of Service
Martin Luther King Day

H.
Satellite Exhibits at Educare California
Prototyping Labs
Discovery Express Train

I.
On-Site Research Lab
Partnerships with the University of California, Santa Cruz and Stanford University
In-House Research

J.
Corporate Sponsor Programs
Legacy for Children Award
Team Teal and Corporate Volunteers
Community Partner Organizations & Cultural Celebrations Advisors

BILL’S BACKYARD We completed major outdoor expansion, launching a half-acre, one-of-a-kind nature education environment. Thanks to overwhelming cmmunity support, Bill’s Backyard offers a bridge to nature for urban children and families--sparking curiosity, promoting science learning and environmental stewardship, and encouraging families to connect with the natural world.

PORTICO MURAL Our Museum contributed to San Jose’s beautification goals through largescale mural artworks. Visiting families are now welcomed by a dramatic immersive experience of brightly colored motifs and symbols, created by acclaimed artist Jaque Fragua.

MUSEUMS FOR ALL We announced participation in Museums for All, a national initiative of the Association of Children’s Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Designed to remove financial barriers for low income families, Museums for All makes it possible for families to build lifelong museum habits that promote learning and discovery.