Curiodyssey

INSPIRE LOVE FOR SCIENCE AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

CHANGING EXHIBITS/PUBLIC PROGRAMS:OUR EXHIBITS DEPARTMENT OFFERED FUN AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WHILE BEING ADAPTIVE TO CHANGING PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES. WE LAUNCHED AND RAN AUTUMN NIGHTS, AN EVENT, THAT PROVIDED A SAFE, OUTDOOR HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. WE TRANSITIONED TO AN OUTDOOR INSTALLATION OF OUR FIFTH ANNUAL WINTER LIGHTS EVENT, ILLUMINODYSSEY. ILLUMINODYSSEY RAN FOR TWO WEEKENDS BEFORE CLOSING FOR SAFETY DUE TO A SPIKE IN COVID. WE LEVERAGED THE CLOSURE BY IMMEDIATELY DEVELOPING A NEW EXHIBITION, "CREATURE FEETURES", WHICH FEATURED LARGE FORMAT, INSECT PHOTOGRAPHY, ANIMAL TRACK CASTINGS AND THE RELEASE OF SOME OF OUR INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS WHICH WE CONVERTED TO FOOT PEDAL ACTUATED TO MEET OUR VISITORS' EXPECTATIONS FOR HEALTH SAFETY PRACTICES. WE CONTINUED REOPENING INDOOR INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS IN PHASES WHILE MANAGING GUEST TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH DISTANCE MARKINGS AND DIRECTIONAL ARROWS INSTALLED AROUND THE FACILITY.OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS DEEPEN OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD DESPITE THE RESTRICTIONS FROM THE PANDEMIC.OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO BE INNOVATIVE TO REINFORCE IN CHILDREN THEIR NATURAL INQUISITIVENESS AND BUILD THEIR POWERS OF INVESTIGATION AND UNDERSTANDING. CURIODYSSEY WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SAFELY DURING THIS PANDEMIC THROUGH ON-SITE AND REMOTE PROGRAMS.THIS YEAR WE LAUNCHED STEMCORPS. THE STEMCORPS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO CONNECT A CURIODYSSEY TRAINED TEAM OF EDUCATORS, MENTORS, CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT YOUTH FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWER THEM TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) LEARNING.CAMP CURIODYSSEY CONTINUES TO BE OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM. IT ENGAGES CAMPERS IN AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY EXPLORING NATURAL PHENOMENA THROUGH SCIENCE AND IN THE NATURAL WORLD. THE CAMP PROGRAM FOSTERS CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. EACH CAMP PROVIDES PERSONAL, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH FOURTH GRADE YOUTH. THIS YEAR CAMP CURIODYSSEY RETURNED ON-SITE (OUTDOORS) FROM OUR VIRTUAL CAMPS THE PRIOR YEAR.

WILDLIFE HABITATS:CURIODYSSEY HOUSES NEARLY 100 ANIMALS - FROM GOLDEN EAGLES TO RIVER OTTERS - GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL WORLD. ALL OF OUR ANIMALS ARE NON-RELEASABLE, MEANING THEY HAVE BEEN INJURED OR IMPRINTED AND WOULD NOT SURVIVE IF RETURNED TOTHEIR NATURAL HABITATS. OUR ANIMALS REINFORCE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BY TAKING CENTER STAGE IN OUR WILDLIFE HABITATS, SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA) ACCREDITS CURIODYSSEY. THE AZA ACCREDITS FEWER THAN 10% OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS NATIONWIDE. WE PREPARED FOR OUR 5TH 5-YEAR ACCREDITATION DURING THIS PERIOD.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH/GUEST SERVICES:WE REACHED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WEEKLY THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN LOCAL LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS. WE OFFERED FREE ADMISSION AND FREE OR DISCOUNTED FIELD TRIPS TO THE UNDERSERVED. OUR MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, A DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS AND MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR QUALIFYING FAMILIES, CONTINUES TO GROW. OUR MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, A DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES CONTINUES TO GROW. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING OUR WEBSITE AS A RESOURCE FOR SCIENCE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS. MARKETING PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN INFORMING TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND CHILDREN ABOUT OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS AND ENCOURAGING A SCIENTIFIC MINDSET.CURIODYSSEY'S RENTAL SPACES PROVIDE A NATURAL SETTING FOR A VARIETY OF EVENTS, INCLUDING BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WEDDINGS, COMPANY RETREATS, AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS. FOR EVENING EVENTS, GUESTS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND OUR MAIN BUILDING, WHICH HOUSES A VARIETY OF FASCINATING INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS. WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH OUR WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, GUESTS MAY INCLUDE AN UP-CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ONE OF OUR MANY ANIMAL AMBASSADORS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CURIODYSSEY RESCHEDULED MANY OF THE RENTAL EVENTS.

SCHOOL/SERVICE VOLUNTEERS - CURIODYSSEY OFFERS AN ACTIVE SCHOOL SERVICES PROGRAM TO BAY AREA SCHOOLS THAT INCLUDES ON-SITE AND CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS. THE MUSEUM MAKES A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ENJOY THE CURIODYSSEY PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CURIODYSSEY AND CONTRIBUTED OVER 7,774 HOURS IN THE PERIOD ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION - WILDLIFE, EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND ADMINISTRATION.GARDENS - CURIODYSSEY'S 1.3 ACRES OF GARDENS PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS YEAR-ROUND. THE GARDENS ALSO SERVE AS A LABORATORY FOR OUR CLASSES AND PROGRAMS TO INVESTIGATE PLANTS, INSECTS, AND BIRDS.MUSEUM STORE - THE CURIODYSSEY SHOP FULFILLS ANOTHER PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS EDUCATIONAL GOAL BY ALLOWING VISITORS AND MEMBERS TO PURCHASE BOOKS AND MERCHANDISE THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO ITS MISSION.CAPITAL PROGRAMS - DECEMBER 2020 SAW THE KICKOFF OF CURIODYSSEY'S FIRST CAPITAL PROJECT UNDER THE NEW MASTER PLAN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAGICAL BRIDGE AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF OVER 150 DONORS, CURIODYSSEY ADDED WHOOOSH, A 4000 SQUARE FOOT, INCLUSIVE, PHYSICS-IN-ACTION PLAYGROUND, TO THE MAIN MUSEUM CAMPUS. THE PLAYGROUND IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE BUILT IN A ZOO AND MUSEUM, WELCOMING CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES TO PLAY AND EXPERIMENT WITH SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT IN A COLORFUL SPACE. THE PLAYGROUND OFFICIALLY OPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF FY 2022. PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT ALSO BEGAN IN 2021 WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PURSUING OPTIONS TO BUILD THE FIRST OF EIGHT NEW BUILDINGS CONTEMPLATED UNDER THE 2020 MASTER PLAN.