When the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert was conceptualized and built more than 30 years ago, the cutting-edge center drew families to its immersive exhibits and engendered a spirit of creativity among kids. The nonprofit institution’s inventive and interactive exhibits and programs educate amidst the fun, appealing to the burgeoning curiosity among infants to 8-year-olds from the Valley area and from schools in proximity to its Rancho Mirage location.
While a marvel of innovation at its inception, the museum was due for an overhaul, and CEO Cindy Burreson explains that essential fundraising is underway to underpin the new project.
“With the pandemic, we had to close because we are a hands-on museum,” she said. “When that happened, we realized 85% of our revenue was coming from earned income. The board took a look at what we should do in this situation, and we realized the exhibits had been here a really long time. Parts of the museum had become obsolete, and we wanted to be more on trend and technologically savvy and interesting for kids.”
The museum remains shuttered, but not unlike a caterpillar in dormancy, the reimagined organization will emerge butterfly-like from its chrysalis, which is something children have been learning at the museum for years.
“We decided we were going to come out of this pandemic in a really positive way,” Burreson said.
Working with the original exhibition company, a plan for the revamped museum unfolded, including broadening the audience to include students through high school age with three buildings to cater to various needs.
“The first phase is our main gallery, and we have a $3 million budget to cater to our bread and butter (the demographic of infant to 8) with a lot of exhibitory,” Burreson said. “The second phase will include more programming for kids all the way through high school.”
The main gallery will include six sections — Dream, Experiment, Express, Imagine, Move and Explore — and includes a house that appears to be made of stained glass. The structure, created in dichroic film, is one of Burreson’s favorites. When light hits the film, it creates a prismatic effect over all six exhibits within the main gallery.
“We’re building something inside of the building the likes of which children have not seen before,” Burreson said.
Among new programs for older children are life skills classes often overlooked in the digital era —changing a tire, balancing a checkbook, speaking in public and more, along with 3-D printing, drones and other cutting-edge technology. Community support is crucial to bring the projects to life for a December 2022 grand opening.
“The major crux of our fundraising efforts is presentations, grant writing, talking to donors and appealing to different businesses that can help with fundraising efforts,” Burreson said. “My heart is in this place. I’m completely determined and dedicated to make this happen. The community really deserves it, and we are the only children’s museum in the valley or near here.”
With the closest alternative in Orange County, Burreson is certain community members and businesses will rally to contribute to a space that gets kids off their electronic devices and into a space focused on interaction and education in the most colorful and creative environment.
Burreson said the new museum also is focusing on inclusivity and broadening its audience to include children of all abilities, including those on the spectrum who might be overwhelmed by some environments. The Dream section is specially designed with quiet areas and tactile toys to give them a space to “chill out.”
“We have a responsibility to the community to bring something here that kids are interested in and have them learn and grow and be excited to come here,” Burreson said. “We just need some of the valley’s big donors to step up and help support this gem that our families deserve.”
Donations can be made at www.cdmod.org.
CEO Cindy Burreson
