Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum 2013 Annual Report

Inspiring

a community

of lifelong

learners.

2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Hello and welcome This past April I had the pleasure of joining the team at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The Discovery) as Executive Director. As a candidate for the position, and one from outside the area, there were three things that really attracted me to the position. First, there is a culture of generosity in this community that is unparalleled in most other regions of the country. Second, there is a huge demand in Reno, and Northern Nevada, for the kinds of hands-on experiential learning that we offer here at The Discovery. Third, and most importantly, Reno is on the verge of a major tipping point. It goes beyond re-branding and driving tourism to the area. Our region is transforming into an even more vibrant and diverse place to live, work, and play, while balancing these changes with an appreciation for the rich history and deep roots in our community. Simply put, it is an exciting time to live in Northern Nevada, and The Discovery has become a catalyst for that positive change.

The pages that follow highlight our accomplishments from 2013, provide a summary of our fiscal health, and report on our major areas of operation. We’ll also share a glimpse into the exciting plans for 2014 and beyond. One theme, that you will undoubtedly pick up on, is that The Discovery is an organization that is transitioning out of start-up mode and into a fully functioning science center. We’re proud of our accomplishments and excited about what we will be bringing to the community in the next year.

We have worked hard to create experiences at The Discovery where everyone in our community can have fun, be engaged, and learn something new, regardless of age or ability.

The great thing about our exhibits and programs is that there’s a different experience every time you come. If you haven’t visited The Discovery in a while, or even if you have, I invite you to come and explore with us. I guarantee you’ll learn something new!

Sincerely, Mat Sinclair, Executive Director 2

Table of contents Letter from the Executive Director......................................... 2 Education..................................................................................... 4 Volunteers.................................................................................... 6 Exhibits......................................................................................... 8 Fundraising................................................................................ 10 Financials.................................................................................... 11 Annual Donors......................................................................... 12 Looking Forward...................................................................... 14

OUR MISSION

The Discovery is a hands-on museum dedicated to inspiring lifelong learning in science, technology, engineering, art, math, and the world around us.

Letter from the Board Chair................................................... 15

The Nevada Discovery Museum, dba Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, was incorporated in 2004 in Nevada for the purpose of inspiring curiosity, creativity and the joy of lifelong learning. The Discovery relies on admissions, memberships, donations, and volunteer support to continue its educational mission, programs and exhibits.

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Education 2013 was a very exciting year for the educational programming at

an intact fuselage and the power of compressed air! As a result of

The Discovery. In addition to welcoming students via our field trip

these weekly celebrations, we not only increased visitation over

and Camp Discovery programs, in 2013 we began offering a wide

the previous summer, but showed visitors the true impact of high

variety of education programs as part of museum admission. The

quality, hands-on educational programming.

change brought about a wealth of positive feedback from visitors of all ages. Beginning in early summer, the museum presented a calendar of themed weekly celebrations ranging from chickens to bubbles. During Chicken Week, the museum was home to a coop of feathered friends, and visitors learned about chickens and the growing urban farm movement.

At the end of the week, one family was the lucky winner of the custom chicken coop built by the museum’s exhibits team. Visitors became paleontologists during Dino Days when they had the opportunity to dig for fossils in fossil pits and learn about the ancient landscape of Nevada. During Spark!Week, visitors conceptualized new flavors of ice cream. At the end of the week, we

changes designed to improve the camp experience for campers and staff. Campers now meet each day for morning assembly to take part in hands-on science demonstrations and share experiences with campers from other age groups. Campers end their week of exciting programming by cheering on their camp educators as they tackle an obstacle relay challenge that includes a speedy ascent through the Cloud Climber, tins of whipped cream, and balance beams! In 2013 we hosted 423 campers in 25 different themed camps ranging from zombies, to sports science, to bugs, to archaeology. In 2014, we will deliver more of the same engaging experiences with the goal of increasing camp enrollment significantly.

Camp Discovery’s affects were felt outside the museum’s walls, as well. When weather permits, campers head to Stewart Park to take

made several flavors and invited visitors to

in some fresh air and eat lunch. We’ve heard from neighbors and

vote for their favorite—“Bacon Mayhem” was

members of the community who say that our use of the park has

the winning flavor. Families shot rockets through the air during Rocket Week. They learned the importance of building 4

In 2013, Camp Discovery also underwent some significant

resulted in a decreased misuse of the park.

In 2013 we also retooled the museum’s field trip structure to create longterm stability for this much-needed program. 10,071 students visited The Discovery on a school field trip, and another 2,649 visitors came to the museum as part of a group reservation.

Prior to the start of the 2013/14 academic year, The Discovery’s field trip program was running at a financial deficit. By working closely with the Washoe County School District, we were able to develop a new pricing structure and logistics that increased the museum’s capacity to serve students. These changes are making field trips a foundation for the educational experiences offered at The Discovery. The new program, which has received rave reviews from educators, includes seven standards-aligned Discovery Lab classes,

10,071 K–8 STUDENTS

visited on a field trip during

the 2012/13 school year

42%

were from underserved schools*

a library of pre- and post-visit materials available on the museum’s website, and 20 Gallery Guides to help educators connect a visit to The Discovery to what they are teaching in the classroom.

Inspiring the way visitors learn and grow is at the heart of The

*Schools with 50% or higher free and reduced lunch program enrollment.

Discovery’s mission. And in 2013, visitors of all ages enjoyed the true breadth of educational experiences The Discovery can offer.

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Volunteers 2013 was a year of transformation and growth for the volunteer

Volunteers bring a wealth of skills, knowledge

program at The Discovery. Our program has grown substantially

and experience that create an extension of the

since the museum opened, thanks to our efforts to decrease

museum’s educational experience that may not

volunteer turnover. This increased stability has created greater

otherwise be possible. Collectively, our volunteers

consistency for volunteers, staff and the museum’s visitors.

can speak nine different languages and range in age

We took time to reflect on the volunteer program and policies, and made improvements. We focused on targeted recruitment, a more comprehensive screening process that includes a mandatory

from 13 to 73. Time is a valuable commodity, and our volunteers give of it generously, resulting in a very robust experience for the museum’s visitors.

interview, and increased training. Initially, our volunteer numbers

In 2014, our goals for the volunteer program include a focus

and hours decreased, as the on-boarding process took more

on young volunteers (age 16-22), expansion of our teen Camp

time and effort to complete. However, we have found that the volunteers who complete

Discovery assistant program, implementation of a college intern program and offering a varied and diverse training schedule.

the orientation and training processes are more engaged and excited about what The Discovery has to offer the community. The result is longer lasting relationships with volunteers who have become the museum’s largest group of advocates for the museum’s mission in our community.

A volunteer advisory council was also created in 2013 to give volunteers a more formal voice in the direction of the program. The council created a mission statement for the volunteer program and will help bring focus to the program as it grows.

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2013 Volunteer Hours by Focus Area Administrative................................................................. 2,205.65 Camp Discovery................................................................. 642.25 Board member................................................................... 330.00 Special events and outreach............................................ 389.75 Museum floor.................................................................. 5,008.75 Total volunteer hours................................................... 8,576.40

Value of volunteer hours $189,991.50* *Based on the valuation of volunteer time by Independent Sector, a leading nonpartisan coalition which is considered a leadership network for nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good in America and around the world.

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Exhibits A hands-on science museum like The Discovery is never a finished

Brain Teasers2

product. Exhibits are always being updated, changed, and

How does your brain solve

added to the museum. With more than 155,000 visitors each

puzzles? Visitors to Da Vinci’s

year, from time to time, some of those exhibits even need to be

Corner now get to attempt

repaired. The Discovery is fortunate to have a dedicated group

to answer that very question

of exhibit developers and technicians to not only help maintain, but create many of the interactive exhibits in each of our eight galleries. Some of the highlights in 2013 include: KEVA Planks Thanks to the

mind-bending challenges.

The Shop One of the biggest trends in science centers across the world is creating areas where visitors get to build, create and experiment in a “tinkering space.” The Discovery’s response to this demand was the

generosity of museum

creation of The Shop, a space where visitors of all ages and abilities

supporters who

get to use real tools and materials to create mini exhibits to take

donated via the

home.

museum’s campaign on Indiegogo.com, The Discovery was able to purchase and install more than 12,000 KEVA Planks for the Build It! gallery. Visitors are inspired by incredible models and design challenges to build and create their very own exhibit.

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while they solve 20 different

Spark!Lab Smithsonian One of the shining stars in The Discovery’s collection is our very own piece of the Smithsonian Institution. Working in cooperation with our friends in Washington, D.C., the Spark!Lab recently underwent a transformation. Not only were new exhibits and displays added, but The Discovery benefited from a Spark!Lab Smithsonian educator who spent the entire year introducing visitors to the great activities found in this gallery.

Custom Exhibits The talented and creative exhibits staff at The Discovery designed, built and installed several new favorites throughout the museum. Some of the exhibits constructed entirely inhouse include: Electrosketch, Bubble Maker, and our very own compressed-air Rocket Launcher. We also added several educational props and tools used by the museum’s floor staff for demonstrations. And we built a classy chicken coop for Chicken Week in July, which was then raffled off, giving a local family an expertly built museum exhibit to house their own feathered flock!

Styrobot Challenge We ended the year with an exhibit experience like none other.

Using nothing but glue and reclaimed Styrofoam, we challenged our visitors to build replica robots. Our visitors responded to the challenge and created the entire Styrobot exhibit themselves.

Ranging in size from a few inches to more than 20 feet tall, more than 20 robots invaded the lobby of The Discovery to greet visitors during the entire winter break. The Discovery awarded a oneyear membership renewal to the family who created the winning Styrobot named “Mr. Twinney.”

Monsterfish

In Search of the Last River Giants The Discovery is currently raising the funds necessary to host the worldwide traveling exhibit debut of National Geographic’s Monsterfish: In Search of the Last River Giants.

This 6,000 square foot exhibit based on the Nat Geo WILD television show hosted by University of Nevada, Reno Associate Professor, Dr. Zeb Hogan, will delight visitors of all ages and is certain to create national recognition for The Discovery as a world-class, hands-on science center.

For more information about how you can help bring Monsterfish to The Discovery, contact Mary O’Brien at 775-398-5910 or mobrien@nvdm.org.

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Fundraising Maintaining a strong foundation of support is essential to

In 2013, we received our first endowment gift, which provides

the success and growth of The Discovery. Admissions and

another stone in the foundation of our long-term plan to create

memberships currently account for only about half of the funds

reserve funds and an investment portfolio for the museum.

necessary to operate the museum. The balance of this critical funding comes from the generosity of our donors.

visionaries created at The Discovery. Now, one of our most

Our friends and namesake, the Terry Lee Wells Foundation, created

important tasks is to Keep Building relationships with our donors,

a challenge grant in May, which offered matching funds for all new

and to encourage greater participation and ties within the

donations received each month, through the end of 2013. As we

community. With the support of our community, The Discovery will

achieved each month’s goal, a matching donation was made by

Keep Building into a world-renowned science center.

the Terry Lee Wells Foundation. Ultimately, The Discovery received the full $500,000 match, thanks to the generosity of our Northern Nevada community. The donation and matching gift from the Terry Lee Wells Foundation has helped The Discovery move toward the financial stability needed to ensure the museum is able to inspire lifelong learners for years to come.

Donors are invaluable for the museum’s general operations, our extraordinary science education initiatives, and our handson galleries and exhibits. We continue to foster creative partnerships with leading education, business, and community organizations, while working with individuals whose

In August, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation forgave a $1 million loan

goals focus on making an impact in

made to The Discovery during the capital campaign that raised the

our community. Together, we will

funds needed to construct the museum. The Hilton Foundation

advance science, technology,

understood that many foundations were reluctant to continue their

engineering, art and math

generosity toward The Discovery for fear it would be used to pay

literacy through the informal

off past debt. In response, Edmund Cain, Vice President for Grant

education and experiences you

Programs with the Foundation, said, “The board was particularly

can only find at The Discovery!

pleased that this contribution will help sustain the museum’s ability to serve the growth and development needs of children in Reno and surrounding communities.”

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Our region is proud of what donors and several community

Financial Statement

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS*

BALANCE SHEET *

Revenue and Other Support

Assets

Gift Revenue Earned Revenue Total Revenue before Interest Income Investment /Interest Income Total Revenue and Other Support

$2,222,873 1,196,599 $3,419,472 1,503 $3,420,975

$1,600,238

Fundraising

294,217

General and Administration

550,307

Depreciation

1,003,753

Total Expenses

$3,448,515

Net Income/(Loss)

$1,425,892

Property and Equipment (Net)

15,959,678

Total Assets

$(27,540)

$17,385,570

Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Total Liabilities

Expenses Program Services

Current Assets

$259,910 $259,910

Net Assets Property & Equipment (Net)

$15,959,678

Undesignated

362,869

Board Designated Reserve

350,000

Permanently Restricted

10,000

Temporarily Restricted

443,113

Total Net Assets

$17,125,660

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$17,385,570

*Unaudited year-to-date financials as of December 31, 2013

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2013 Donors Champions Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Terry Lee Wells Foundation Believers Community Foundation of Western Nevada Thelma B. & Thomas P. Hart Foundation Dorothy Lemelson Nell J. Redfield Foundation Jennifer and Phil Satre Benefactors Anonymous Edna Benna Helen Close Charitable Foundation E.L. Cord Foundation Joan Gibb Kristin and Klaus Grimm Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation Trust Leonette Foundation Charles N. Mathewson CLAT Four Charles N. Mathewson CLAT Two NV Energy Foundation Heidemarie Rochlin John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Charles H. Stout Foundation Warren and Jalé Trepp Jack Van Sickle Foundation Sustainers Anonymous Bayer Properties Bergdahl Associates Cariann Champagne Chinnapong and Nicole Chewjalearn Tony and Margaret Ciorciari Dickson Realty Donald Farrimond and Catherine McCarthy 12

FirstGiving David and Elisabeth Garcia Growing Worldwide Opportunity Foundation Grant and Jennifer Hayashi Fred McElroy and Alice Heiman David and Judy Hess Alana Holland Jim Hulse and Cari Blomquist Kurt and Dina Hunsberger IGT Deven and Blair Khosla Brett Tierney and Kimberly Surratt Kohn Colodny Tony Albregts and Kim Kolar L/P Insurance Services, Inc. Parky and Christine May McDonald Carano Wilson LLP Greg and Keni McKenzie J.P. and Fong Menante Matthew and Lydia Meyer Anonymous Monroe-Schuler Foundation Museum of Science Michael Pagni Eric and Jackie Pulver Race178 John and Sandy Raffealli Elizabeth S. Ray Natalie Reed Reno Sparks Scheels Bruce and Nancy L. Shipman Tom and Kelli Viloria The Harvey & Leslie Wagner Foundation Richard and Afshan West Richard and Tammy Williams Stewards Matt Anderson Nicole Barde Don and Erin Bergin Paul and Judith S. Bible Bryson and Alison Bohlander Joseph and Monica Brandl

Mike and Milly Burgess Burning Man - Black Rock City, LLC Ceol Irish Pub Anthony & Margaret Ciorciari Foundation Ron and Susan Clayton Cari Croghan CVS/Caremark Craig S. Denney Desert Wind Homes Hardeep and Shilpa Dhindsa Kevin and Kelli Dunn Fritsi and Harry Ericson Doug Erwin Mike and Beth Farley Dina and David Fiore Floyd Gaugh Richard and Susan Gobbs Gro Industries Sarah Hardy-Cooper Marilyn Heiman Amy Halley Hill and Brian Hill Nathan and Eva Horvath Robert and Laura Jenkins Bryce and Sarah Judd Deepak Kamath Victoria B. King Tony King Michael Koch Gretchen Legarza Ray and Selene Lee Sanjay and Jill Lillaney Lou and Traci Loftin Norm Angell and Dolly Mack Jon and Linda Madsen Maupin, Cox & LeGoy Mark and Cathy Maurer Kyle McCann and Nicole Stoker Richard and Charlotte McConnell Microsoft Corporation MRB Holdings Nevada Women’s Fund Lebo and Merrill Newman Diane Nicolet Raymond and Humma Oster

Albert and Nancy Pagni Heather Parkin Charles and Marylyn Parmelee Pediatric Dentistry - Jade Miller DDS/Gilbert A. Trujillo DDS George and Candi Peek The Pew Charitable Trusts Rob and Amy Quigley Chandra and Andy Ramirez Razoo Foundation Chris and Wendy Riche Patrick and Susanne Riley Raylene Segura Caryn Swobe Michael and Karen Traynor Patrick and Alissa Turner Vanguard Charitable Brett and Jenn Weible Stephen and Bethany Wells Whole Foods Market Ed and Kathryn Wishart Discoverers Shauna Adams Evan Albers Anonymous Berenice Alejo Big Give Anonymous Ashley Viberg Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Luis and Dana Ayala Lisa Bagley Bank of America United Way Campaign Demetra Barbash Elizabeth Bassett Eric and Tara Batavia Jim and Erin Belosic Donald and Kitty Bergin Ted and Nancy Bernt William and Cookie Bible Forrest and Gretchen Bietz Jacqueline P. Black David Board Polly Boardman

Douglas and Amy Booth Mark and Sandra Bovee Kestra and James Brönneke Brooke Wong Randall Brown Conor and Anne Buckley Richard Bulgeron Lois Bynum John and Susan Campbell Ann M. Carlson D C and Catherine Johnson Judy Caviglia Joe Chavez Tim and Mary Clark Dell Clark Norm and Susan Colb Waneva Conner Susan Cronick David and Tammi Crowther Tony and Stephanie D’Arcy Bill and Gail Dawson Kassie Dickinson Anthony and Jeannine Domoe Tracie Douglas Michael and Erika Dubois Martha Durney Lloyd and Joan Dyer Patricia D. Edwards Allen A. Elser James V. Emme Eugene and Kristie Essa Samantha Flanagan Joice Fong Ronald Fossett Sara Frack Gaia Brown Paul Gentry Jim and Sharen Georgeson Kristin Geraci LaVonne Ghanavati Mark and Clemencia Glenn Thomas and Kathleen Glynn Terry Golden Richard and Sue Goldman Goodsearch

Janet Goodwin-McNiff Paul Gordon Helaine Greenberg Larry and Teri Greenhill Ken and Laurie Anne Grimes Jane M. Grossman Thomas and Cynthia Hall Jolene Hamilton John and Charlene Hargrove Greg and Keri Harper Leath and Dorothy Hayden Heather Lenz Rick Heckman Robert and Mary Hery Tim and Lynn Heydon Elizabeth High Karol Hines Greg and Jill Hitchcock Tyler and Sarah Hoffbuhr Walter Hopgood Gretchen Hughs Impetus Agency Roger and Ellen Jacobsen Carl Jarvinen Michelle Jones JP and Son Lawn & Landscaping Cheryl Justin Brian and Julie Kernan Benjamin and Kelly King Nicholas and Lorelei Klaich Kirsten Kos Kyle and Sandra Krch LuAnn Kutch L.E.K. Consulting Kerry Leedy Ana Leyva Beatrice Li Alan and Susan Liebman Renne Lightner Althea Lim Dashaun M. Lipscomb Terry and Lynne Lock Susan Lombardi Tasha Love William and Kim Luikart

Darrin Maddox Mike and Tina Mandas Thelma Matlin Kim Mazeres Gene McClelland Brien and Colette McKenzie David and Stephanie McKinley Stephanie McMindes Matt Mehlhaff Ralph and Megan Merenda Annette Mortimer Camille Mouchawar Bob and Janet Needham Mary Anne Niarchos Charles and Carel Nielsen Mary O’Brien Tom and Lois Ogden William and Valerie Ortiz Katie Pace Rose Paiva Heidi Parker Shannon and Townley Paton Susan A. Payne Reese and Joanne Perkins Pamela Pesenti Gordon and Cecile Peters Spike Wilson and Janice Pine Robert Preseau Paul and Linda Raftery Bill and Jane Raley Justin and Kitty Rible Paul and Mary Ann Ricciardi Judy Robertson Risa Ronan Gary Rosenbloom A D and Maureen L Rovig Floyd and Nannette Rowley Charles and Linda Russell Michael and Robyn Sackrison Robert and Anne Sapeta Anita Saunders Beverly L. Savage Brian and Meghan Schiedel Lisa Schmidt Adolph and Kathleen Schonder

K R and Frances Shryock Kristal Sidener Christine Silva Mat and Melenda Sinclair James R. Sinclair Sharon Sinclair Jay and Annabelle Smith Richard and Susanne Stout Bill and Jill Straub Peter and Turkey Stremmel Mary Ann Sumpf Michels Swope Middle School George and Lillian Tanabe Tectonics Design Group Kate Thomas David and Barbara Thompson Ray and Bonnie Turner Susan Turpin Charles Walker Aaron and Mechelle Warburton Florina A. Watson Western Nevada Supply Simon and Danielle Williams Jeff Williams Mary Ann Williams John and Virginia Williamson Dan and Tracey Woods XI Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma Joan Young John and Johanna Zee Gifts In-kind 7up Bottling ACHIEVE Fitness, LLC Argonaut Gold ArrowCreek Country Club Arthur Products, Inc. Black Hole Body Piercing Brasserie St. James Byecraft Cabinet Caliper Salon & Spa Campo Restaurant & Bar Ceol Irish Pub Chester’s Harley Davidson of Reno Circus Circus

Concepts By Fine N Funky Craft Wine & Beer Crystal Ice David Boland Dayton Valley Turf Doughboys Donuts Dr Pepper Snapple Group Dusty Wunderlich Eclipse Pizza Co. Edgewood Tahoe Eldorado Hotel and Casino Eric Lerude Ewing Ferrari Lund Real Estate Flo Brands, LLC Frank Stadler and Marcia Lu Freeman’s Natural Hot Dogs Gary Platt GourMelt Granite Construction Grassroots Books Great Basin Brewing Company Great Full Gardens Haipin Cua Harrah’s & Harveys Lake Tahoe Harrah’s Foundation Hotshot The Robot IQ Technology Solutions Jeff Lynch Joe and Terrisa Ha John Ascuaga’s Nugget Joia Junkee Clothing Exchange Kitsch Marvin Mattson Men Wielding Fire Metamorphosis Salon & Day Spa Moana Nursery Never Ender Nicholas Rossi Nick and Dianne Tobey Northern Nevada Hardwood Floors Nothing Bundt Cakes Nothing To It!

Pediatric Associates Pic Box Photo Booth Powder Room Reef Sushi Reno Aces Baseball Club Reno Forklift Company Reno Philharmonic Reno Tahoe Comedy Reno Tahoe Open Foundation Reno Taiko Tsurunokai Round About Rubicon Deli Salon 7 Shoe Sierra Diving Center Silver Peak Restaurant & Brewery Sippees New and Used Kids Clothes Soak Nail Spa & Lounge Southern Wine & Spirits Southwest Airlines Squeeze In St. James Infirmary Starbucks Coffee Company Studio Eight Yoga Sweets Handmade Candies Tahoe Donner Association Tamarack Junction The Generator The National Bowling Stadium The Z Bar Tickle Pink Inn Tim and Randi L. Reed Traffic Jam UNR Wolf Pack Athletics Urban Roots Wedge - A Cheese Shop Worldpak Flexible Packaging, LLC Zimmco Equipment, Inc.

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Looking Forward In the next five years, visitors to The Discovery will witness how

Some of the exciting things happening in 2014 include launching

we will continue to grow and serve the region. By building on our

a brand new camp-in program called “The Discovery at Night.”

strengths, utilizing a strong strategic plan and business plan, and

Starting this winter, groups will be able to spend the night in the

continuing to cultivate supporters, we will focus on three core areas

museum and engage in thematic programing, have exclusive access

for growth:

to the exhibits, and sleep in and among their favorite exhibits.

Focus on experience: a center of excellence in hands-on, inquiry learning.

The Discovery’s educators are also constantly bringing new demonstrations and activities to the floor to help visitors learn more

· Build out the remainder of our gallery spaces

about an endless list of engaging topics.

· Create learning experiences that meet the interests and needs of all ages and abilities

Of course we can’t tell you everything to expect… we invite you to

· Partner with formal education to create a comprehensive learning environment

visit the museum regularly to experience it for yourself!

Focus on service: an organization with a visitor-centered culture. · Provide a positive value-driven experience that results in repeat visitation · Concentrate on the “total guest experience”

An Anatomy Experience

· Become the most visited cultural attraction in Northern Nevada

In 2014, The Discovery plans to cut

Focus on access: a community of learners. · Reach out to the community in new and innovative ways · Remove price as a barrier to participation (financial aid) · Cultivate partnerships that serve the entire community Through disciplined thought, action, and people, The Discovery will transform into a nationally recognized learning institution. These goals are at the heart of the effort to make The Discovery a reality, and are now within our grasp.

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Inside Out:

the ribbon on a brand new gallery called “Inside Out: An Anatomy Experience.” This anatomy focused gallery will allow visitors of all ages to explore the mechanics and inner workings of one of the most intriguing machines—the human body.

For more information about how you can provide support, contact Mary O’Brien at 775-398-5910 or mobrien@nvdm.org.

Letter from the Board Chair I’ve been a fan of The Discovery since the first time I heard about the idea of bringing an institution like this to our community. In fact, I have to pinch myself once in a while, finding it hard to believe it is actually here. My family and I have taken advantage of the exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities since the museum opened its doors in September of 2011, just two and a half years ago. Today, I enjoy the great privilege of serving as the chairman of the board of directors at The Discovery. I carry this responsibility with several other dedicated volunteers and members of our community. As board members, we work in concert with the hard working and talented staff of the museum to create a world-class museum experience that any community around the globe would be proud to have.

The board members who have served before me have made it possible for residents of Northern Nevada and our visitors to have access to incredible exhibits and educational programming that cover topics in science, technology, engineering, art and math. But the work they started is not done, and it is now the job of the current board and staff to continue to grow and develop the museum. Of course, we can’t accomplish this task alone. The Discovery depends on continued support from those who share our hopes and ambitions. The good news is, you can help insure that The Discovery remains a vital part of our community. Here’s how: · You can come and visit the museum. If you like your experience, join us as a member and come as often as you wish. · You can also help by spreading the word about what a great experience you’ve had at the museum. Please share your feedback with us, too. · Also, you can make a contribution to the museum. The Discovery doesn’t receive public funding. Our existence is dependent upon donations, in addition to income we receive from admissions and memberships.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported The Discovery in the past year. Whether you purchased a membership, donated your time and talents, made a financial or in-kind contribution, served as a partner, or helped advance the mission of the organization in any way, your support is appreciated. On behalf of the board, staff, volunteers, and visitors of The Discovery, thank you!

Matt Anderson Chairman of the Board 15

490 S. Center Street 路 Reno, NV 89501 路 775-786-1000 路 nvdm.org