It’s been a great summer filled with a multitude of activities to inspire the creativity of our many enthusiastic young ones as well as Toddlers dropping in for arts, science, and cooking classes. With the overwhelming success of our toddler programs we have chosen to multiply those offerings for the Fall session and hope to see you take advantage of those additional opportunities to have fun and learn new things.

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new Board President, Scott R. Wilson, as he begins his Presidency of the Board of Trustees and provides leadership to help further the mission of the Museum and to keep us fiscally sound and relevant in today’s changing times and needs.

It is with great appreciation that the Museum recognizes Judi Miller, Debra Jensen, Carey Morales, and Carmine Arcaro for individually dedicating over a decade of service to the Museum. If you are frequent visitors of the Museum, you will know them well. If you are new to the Museum, please thank them for their service and dedication to the children and families we strive to serve with quality programs and services every day.

To keep pace with the lessening of earned and contributed revenues this year, the Museum has become leaner in the number of its paid staff. In order to maintain our quality of services and to provide new experiences to our communities, we seek your support of the Museum. This could be in the form of monetary contributions, volunteer time, and fundraising opportunities. Please keep us foremost in your minds as you plan your year ahead and your estate planning. The Museum is a special place where children are challenged to accomplish small and large feats and develop critical cognitive, motor, social, and emotional skills that enable them to reach their full potential now and in the future. Invest now to keep us alive, thriving, and meeting community needs. Make your commitment today by either calling to volunteer or to make a vital contribution. We need your help and the community needs your support! Thank you.

I am honored and humbled to be following in the footsteps of such leaders as former Cathedral City Mayor George Stettler, Palm Desert National Bank President/CEO Randal Miller, Betty Barker, and those before them who have served as Museum President. They did a wonderful job of moving us along our path towards a larger facility, which will help accommodate the current and future needs of the Valley’s families.

We remain committed to a Capital Campaign, which will allow us to add exhibits as well as upgrade our current buildings and grounds. We are fortunate to have the support of many cities, foundations, companies and individuals as we work to move forward and complete this major endeavor.

None of our plans would be possible without the valuable input and expertise of our entire board and the competence and caring of the seasoned staff at the Museum. Amazingly, 80% of the full-time staff have been with the Museum more than 10 years, which is a testimony to the passion and dedication they have for what they do and for the joy they receive working with children.

I’m looking forward to another year of working to provide the families of residents and visitors alike a valuable time to grow and learn while they play and relax together. The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is an invaluable part of the economic vitality of this community, as well as an intrinsic part of what makes living here wonderful. My three children are proof of this themselves!

Thank you for the trust you have placed in me.

Scott R. Wilson
Founding Partner
Wilson Johnson Commercial Real Estate, Inc.
President of the Board