After serving our community for over three decades, CDMoD was hit hard by the pandemic and having to close our doors. We could no longer serve our community in the way we ordinarily do and as we waited for our world to “reopen” we were forced to think about our own future.
Rather than wait to see when we could reopen or what it might look like, we had to take quick action to reevaluate our future. Our goal was to continue our mission and vision, in part, to be a COMMUNITY RESOURCE for children and families to experience the joy of learning about themselves and the world around them. Realizing that most of our exhibits were over 20 years old we determined that the best way to stay true to that mission was to reimagine the Museum and emerge from the pandemic in a renewed way.
We partnered with the original exhibitory company, Hands On! Studio, to develop a plan for the museum while being mindful of our community’s favorite experiences as well as identifying gaps in the informal learning venues in the Valley so we could help address them. Those discussions yielded a plan for an overhaul of the Main Gallery with over 40 new exhibits and subsequent phases to follow. Experiences will include a 14-foot net climb, a rock-climbing wall, a dedicated toddler space and caregiver resource center, a play theater, and a calm space welcoming kids with sensory sensitivities or those in need of tranquility. Additionally, we determined the need to focus on a variety of topics and experiences through our future exhibits and programming to welcome all our Valley’s families, children of all ages and the differently-abled.
With a fundraising goal of $3 million for this reopening phase, we need our community more than ever. Please visit our website for information on how you can help at www.cdmod.org. With our community’s support, we are scheduled to reopen for Holiday Break 2022 and we look forward to welcoming you back.
Article by Cindy Burreson, CEO
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