‘Please do not allow us to become a casualty of this Pandemic,’ Pleads Discovery Museum Director in Letter to the Community
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Redwood Discovery Museum
Dear Humboldt Community,
I’m reaching out to you with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency. For 25 years The Redwood Discovery Museum has been our region’s only interactive museum, and for 69 years Pal Camp has been an invaluable experience for so many of our children. As director of the museum and a parent here in Humboldt County, I cannot overstate the value of either. We are nearing a fifth month in full shutdown of the museum and we are in dire straits. We were incredibly fortunate to be able to offer Pal Camp this summer due to the herculean efforts of so many including our county health department, but sadly it could be our last.
The Redwood Discovery Museum offers interactive exhibits, parenting classes, hosts birthday parties and last year was voted most welcoming location for nursing moms. We love the community we serve and are committed to creating lifelong learners and lovers of science. Each year we get to teach, love, and learn with over 14,000 children through both the museum and while also participating in the County Fair, Friday Night Markets, HCOE Maker Nights, science fairs, Pal Camp, First Five Playgroups, along with many other community events. Along with being involved in the general community, we make it a measure of importance to be sure we educate ourselves in order to provide particular support to those of our growing scientists and discoverers who need it. Through working with the Humboldt Autism Alliance we are able to provide a venue for families of all abilities to have a safe and welcoming place to play and learn.
We work with fantastic local organizations such as the Humboldt Area Foundation and Humboldt Sponsors to create scholarships for our beloved Pal Camp in Freshwater; which not only is important for our campers who attend but also for our Counselors and Junior Counselors who assist in putting on Pal Camp, as it provides vital leadership, life skills, community service and friendship building opportunities for our teen volunteers. Every year our Counselors and Junior Counselors look forward to spending the summer with the campers and each other, as we have truly cultivated a warm, welcoming, environment that not only facilitates but also encourages interactive learning. The bond between leader and camper is truly heartwarming and I have seen this first hand during both normal, and now pandemic-controlled summers.
Since being director of the museum for two years now, I have seen and fully understand the importance of these programs to our children. I personally would hate for our beloved museum to have to close as it has become a vital part of our community. The goal of this summer is to push through the hardships that COVID-19 has inflicted in order to remain open for future generations, as this is Pal Camp’s 69th year. Please do not allow us to become a casualty of this Pandemic. I once again thank each and every one of you for your support, and I sincerely hope that you share these same feelings as I do and will continue to support us through this difficult time.
How can you help? You can make a tax-deductible, one-time or recurring (monthly or quarterly) donation through our secure online portal https://www.discovery-museum.
org/donate.html. We are also able to take donations by email, or you can give us a call 707-443-9694. You can feel great knowing that any financial contribution will have a large and positive impact. Thank you. Sincerely,
Grace Hamaker
Executive Director
Redwood Discovery Museum
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When my sons were younger, our family spent hours “buying groceries,” learning how water flows, taking classes, laughing and wondering here.
In honor of that, and in support of other children finding similar joy, and other mothers who can grab an hour of reading while our tykes cavort safely, Redheaded Blackbelt is donating $20 per month.
If any of you can join in at whatever amount you can afford to give children a place to explore and question and get answers and have fun (and save parents’ sanity at the same time), we think you would be gifting joy to the families of Humboldt County for a long time to come.
Agreed Kym this is an extremely important resource on so many levels.
Im calling mcguire&huffmans offices today to request assistance to keep the museum operational.
Its worth a try!!
Great idea! Thank you!
This is a great place! I hope the community can save this treasure! I wonder if they could do some outdoor events to bring in some revenue? Kids gotta have something fun and educational to do this summer. I know I will do what I can to donate and keep this treasure to the community, I hope others will do the same!
This is the cost of the chicken little shut down trip. Sucks huh? Expect to see LOTS of small business go belly up. Guess who will replace them? More big boxes. You asked for it chicken little, this is the price of your fear and complacency. By the time you all realize the true cost of these unconstitutional shut downs it’ll be too late, no going back, you brought this down on all of us…shit, Sweden’s looking better and better each day.
Spot on! If I can “safely” go to the grocery store, liquor store and dispensary, surely there is a safe way for kids, who have incredible resilience to this virus, to safely go the museum. Until the museum points that out and demands equal treatment under the law, don’t ask me for shit. Talk to your douchebag governor. Hundreds of thousands of lives are being destroyed unnecessarily.
Sweden did not lockdown by law; the population generally saw the wisdom of self-isolating. Still….
One day ago from the NY Times
Sweden has captured international attention by conducting an unorthodox, open-air experiment. It has allowed the world to examine what happens in a pandemic when a government allows life to carry on largely unhindered.
This is what has happened: Not only have thousands more people died than in neighboring countries that imposed lockdowns, but Sweden’s economy has fared little better.
“They literally gained nothing,” said Jacob F. Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. “It’s a self-inflicted wound, and they have no economic gains.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/business/sweden-economy-coronavirus.html
Even as a left wing writer( Bari Weiss) for the Times resigns in protest against their radicalism, intolerance and bias reporting, liberals ignore it and…….link to the Times anyway. Perhaps the John Hopkins study of FL and TX vs CA and NY would be more apt. Or how bout Sweden vs NY-
https://freedombunker.com/2020/07/15/why-sweden-succeeded-in-flattening-the-curve-and-new-york-failed/
Maybe try stepping outside your liberal bubble echoe chamber and see what’s actually going on in the world.
So, you complain that someone links to a mostly neutral site, complain they’re inside a bubble, echo chamber,… and then link to a propaganda and conspiracy site, that posts user-supplied opinion pieces as if they were reporting, and is basically the definition of a biased echo chamber.
Spot on, bushytails!
Neutral my ass! You must live under an MSM rock to think the times is neutral.
ignorant people like y’all are why individual states have worse numbers than entire countries.
not taking this seriously will do far more economic harm. don’t listen to democrats or republicans. listen to the WHOLE-ASS CONSENSUS OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.
some people’s children…
How Do You Explain SAFETY AND SECURITY, to a child, WITH NO MEANS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
You people think about only yourselves just like the political class system is thriving because they got that guaranteed income.
Your virtue signaling is disgusting.
You either support this draconian shut down, or you don’t.
Stop the bleeding heart for all the blowback that is your new reality.
Get your DNR”S READY.
Sweden’s policy was based on an epidemologist’s expertise, looking forward to the long haul of the pandemic histories. Of course if there is isolation people don’t get infected but there’s more to consider like can it be done. In places that succeed in lockdown have a homogeneous ethnicity, a strict to the point of racist immigration system and a relentless bureaucracy. For example Denmark- “Despite a reputation for progressive politics, humanitarianism and a generous welfare state, Denmark has some of the most aggressive anti-immigrant policies in Europe. ” https://time.com/5504331/denmark-migrants-lindholm-island/
Go there!
Literally, folks, this is just about valuing the good in our community and trying to keep it healthy.
Yes, this is the result of decisions we can disagree on because of our political differences but, the consequences of this small treasure closing, no matter what our politics, are bad for our community. Those of us who have the resources can do our small part to help. Or, we can just blame others and refuse to reach out with our small contributions.
Together, we have the resources to save one good thing. Let’s do it.
I agree that this is something worth saving and we love this place too for getting off the mtn and going to the coast and doing some exploring.. But i thibk that disagreeing politically is a myopic way of looking at the fact that people disagree.. Its not all about politics. For instance.. I think trump is a fool and would never vote for him.. Nor would i vote for a pedophile like joe biden… I eat massive amounts of entheogens and raise most of my own food.. I have guns of for tools on my land and for protection.. I think abortion is a womans choice. I am completely against vaccines. I used to smoke a lot of pot, i only eat “organic” real food.. I home school my kids and swim naked in the river. I believe that borders are a rediculous reality on earth and the government should stay out of my life and my pocket book.. I disaree completely with masks being usefuk against a virus. I am married to latina.. See.. Using some pejoritive political rhetoric to descrive myself if beyond rediculous and we need to all look beyond what we are being fed by the mainstream culture wars… And i always appreciate you blog ms kemp for keeping up to date with local affairs you do an amazing job.. No matter what your politics are.
And I appreciate much of what you say just not all of it.
I’m glad we agree on how lovely the Discovery Museum is.
Well disagreement can be beautiful if the humans who disagree can still cut through to the humanity we all share on this little blue rock.. Especially for the children.
Right Kim, let’s spend our time fixing the individual creaky floor boards, when the whole damn house is rotten to the core….
Uh the economy has been shut down for months Kym with no end in sight. The majority of us don’t have the privilege of having our business declared essential through the pandemic, unlike your pot business. We need what little money we have left to save ourselves and our own families. Our community is not healthy and most of us are broke. Its hard to donate money when most of us are down to the last of our savings, if we have any. Ever consider thats why we are so pissed about this continued shut down? This museum is the least of the majority of our worries.
I loved going on field trips here as a kid! Playing store was my favorite part. It is heartbreaking knowing another part of Humboldt is in danger of closing its doors. Children raised here already face so many limitations when it comes to educational fun. I hope the community will really come together and save this one. This shutdown is not justified since the data is SO inaccurate provided from the CDC. Please don’t let the evil ones calling all of the shots for rural Humboldt win by letting this place close too. The Governor has selfishly allowed a winery he invested in to remain open while taking so much away from our community. Remember this, everyone!
If everyone who can afford to pitches in $20, we’ll have made a big difference for this sweet place that has made so many happy.
Lauren, Back up you allegations with facts and links, otherwise your allegation that CDC data is inaccurate is just so much garbage.
I absolutely love this place for my kids but honestly I don’t think asking a community that is already hurting to donate is going to be enough. Everyone is struggling and can’t afford to donate to things right now whether they believe in their missions or not. I hope they’re exhausting government assistance, grants, etc as well.
My kids are attending PAL Camp and we will continue to support!
Zoo’s, Museums, Discovery trail hiking, all are so necessary for children. Give kids cameras and award the best picture… be creative.
Is KOA open in Willits? Go let your kids get spit on by a llama 🙂
Give support to all children’s activities and complain to all “experts” about holding children hostage.
They absolutely can wear masks and distance while enjoying many such activities.
Making children wear masks and distance is cruel and going to cause serious psychological harm… Wake up people. Open up. If costxo and walmart are fine to shop then we can gather.
The government picking winners and losers (who gets to stay open and who closes) is not viable short term or long term. Central control will always fail.
Eliminating the virus or flattening the curve for years is not realistic. It needs to run its course and the at risk should shelter while we get back to work and school.
We have to be free to make a living and to sustain our institutions.
Government budgets for essential services are tanking.
And some of you want the government to subsidies everything? With what money from what source?
The Redwood Discovery Museum also has an Amazon Smile account. 🙂 <3