Creative Discovery Museum

THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUMS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE ALL CHILDREN TO EXPLORE, INNOVATE, CREATE AND PLAY.

THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM USES PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED PRINCIPLES TO ENGAGE THE SENSES, INSPIRE EXPLORATION, AND IGNITE CHILDRENS PASSION FOR LEARNING. WHILE SOME GUESTS MAY VIEW A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM AS MERELY A FUN OUTING, RESEARCH HAS LONG PROVEN THAT PLAY IS THE WORK OF CHILDHOOD. THROUGH PLAY CHILDREN GAIN MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THEIR ADULT LIVES.PRE-COVID, THE MUSEUM SERVED 300,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, THROUGH MUSEUM VISITS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE ADMISSION AND MUCH MORE.

THE MUSEUM ACHIEVES ITS MISSION FIRST THROUGH ITS PERMANENT EXHIBITION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON ARTS, SCIENCES, EARLY CHILDHOOD, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGH TRAVELING EXHIBITS THAT COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE EDUCATION CONTENT OF ITS CORE EXHIBITS. CDM TRADITIONALLY OFFERS A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE MUSEUM THAT COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THE EXHIBITS INCLUDING SCIENCE THEATER DEMONSTRATIONS, INFANT AND TODDLER DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, HOME SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, SUMMER CAMPS, A TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, ARTS PERFORMANCES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, SPECIAL EVENT DAYS AND WALK-UP ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS THE LOCAL SCHOOLS WITH A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCHOOL TOURS AT THE MUSEUM, SCHOOL OUTREACH LESSONS, FAMILY NIGHTS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS. IN 2019, NEARLY 45,000 STUDENTS WERE SERVED THROUGH SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. GIVEN THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THIS NUMBER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS IN 2021, BUT IS EXPECTED TO REBOUND IN 2022.

CDM IS COMMITTED TO BEING AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO FAMILIES. EACH YEAR, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES MORE THAN 50,000 FREE OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS. THE MUSEUM IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE SECOND THURSDAY EVENING OF EVERY MONTH, AND EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 11,000 VISITORS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM ANYONE WITH AN EBT OR FOOD STAMP CARD RECEIVES A 3 ADMISSION FEE. CDM ALSO PROVIDES FREE TICKETS FOR A RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS AND FOSTER PARENTS TO NAME A FEW. A CURRENT STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO WELCOME CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES TO THE MUSEUM AND INCREASE THEIR GLOBAL AWARENESS AND CULTURAL LITERACY THROUGH EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. CDM PUBLISHED SOCIAL STORIES, MADE SENSORY ACCOMMODATING MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO GUESTS, PROVIDED PROGRAMS SUCH AS FREE SENSORY FRIENDLY NIGHTS, CLUB DISCOVERY AN INCLUSIVE, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK TO EXPLORE THE WORLD IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS, AND FRIENDS DISCOVERY CAMP, A SUMMER CAMP SIMILAR TO CLUB DISCOVERY.