At San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®), our employees are empowered to give back to our communities, beyond delivering safe and reliable energy services to our 3.7 million customers. As part of our commitment to the communities we are privileged to serve, we support a variety of initiatives through shareholder funds, employee giving programs and volunteerism. Our philanthropic strategic priorities include: climate action, emergency preparedness and safety, economic prosperity and K-16 STEM. We know that for the region to thrive and become more sustainable, we have to do our part to ensure no one is left behind.
Igniting Curiosity Through Interactive Learning
Museums have long served as safe spaces for imagination, learning and exploration. For 25 years, the Children’s Museum of Discovery (formerly the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum) has opened its doors to 1.3 million children and families for that exact purpose. The museum offers hands-on exhibits and programs that deliver early educational experiences focused on science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math (STREAM), along with social-emotional learning. The museum’s Access for All program provides children – primarily those affected by early childhood educational disparities – with equitable access to learning opportunities during the years when it matters most. At the core of their mission is igniting a passion for learning, empowering every child to explore their wildest dreams.
Responding to an Emerging Need in Rural Communities
For many under-represented families, barriers such as transportation make it difficult to visit the museum’s Escondido facility. As a response, the museum introduced a one-of-a-kind traveling educational initiative known as the Mobile Children’s Museum. This initiative fosters early interest in STEM through interactive and age-appropriate hands-on activities that engage children’s natural curiosity. Since its inception in 2015, the Mobile Children’s Museum has reached over 60,000 children, with 90% coming from economically-disadvantaged communities – offering them a chance to experience its many wonders.
Exposure to playful STEM learning builds the foundational framework children need for long-term academic achievement, economic mobility, responsible citizenship and lifelong well-being. The mobile workshops and exhibits provide dynamic, educator-led experiences tailored for preschool through third-grade students. Each grade-specific workshop provides a meaningful STEM experience designed to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
To ensure equitable access, the museum offers Access for All scholarships, which remove financial barriers and expand opportunities for children in communities where transportation, funding and access to enrichment opportunities are limited. The Mobile Children’s Museum currently serves children across a wide range of San Diego County communities, including early education centers, Head Start programs and multiple school districts such as Camp Pendleton, Escondido, Cajon Valley, Fallbrook, Julian, Borrego Springs and Warner Springs.
The Mobile Children’s Museum also provides professional-development opportunities for educators, modeling hands-on learning strategies they can use in their own classrooms. In post-program surveys, nearly 100% of teachers reported they would incorporate concepts and activities from the workshops into their lesson plans.
“Because of our distance away from the city, our children sometimes miss out on educational experiences. We were so pleased that they were able to solve problems, work on cooperation and have some fun with your engineering tasks,” shared a teacher from Julian Elementary.
Meaningful Partnerships Making a Difference
SDG&E has partnered with the Children’s Museum of Discovery since 2011 through its Inspiring Future Leaders initiative, which expands access to K-16 STEM education. SDG&E’s commitment goes beyond shareholder-funded grants, offering professional development for museum staff and encouraging employees to dedicate their time through volunteer work and board service.
“SDG&E has been an incredible partner in helping us bring hands-on STEM learning to more children across our community. Their support, both through grants and enthusiastic volunteers, has truly made a difference in making our programs more accessible and impactful. We are so grateful for their continued commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators,” said Christina Piranio, CEO of the Children’s Museum of Discovery.
To learn more about SDG&E’s community investments, visit www.sdge.com/community.
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