Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Giving Thanks for Giving Tuesday Support

-from the Executive Director & the Head Curator

We want to send a big "Thank you!" to everyone who supported our #GivingTuesday campaign this year.  

#GivingTuesday is fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.  It kicks off the charitable season when many people and companies focus on their holiday and end of year giving.  Since 2012 #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy, connecting diverse groups of individuals, communities, and organizations around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving.

Last year was the first time the Desert Museum participated in #GivingTuesday.  This year our campaign expanded its social media reach and focused on raising money to support the Education Department.  The Education staff works to develop curriculum based educational field trips for Imperial Valley students, both at the museum and through our the History on the Go program that brings the museum to the classroom.  Educational programs and events, supplies for fairs and field trips, new ideas to try with students: our Education Department does it all! But it is entirely funded through donations and field trip cost of admission ($5 per student).  A perfect place for #GivingTuesday support!






Here's the breakdown of our campaign this year:

  • Goal: $6,000
  • Raised: $1,906
  • 32% of goal reached
  • 16 supporters
  • 3 times what was raised last #GivingTuesday! 





Thanks to everyone for their support as we keep growing our museum and our community outreach


.  If you are interested in donating to the Museum for your end of year giving you can do it through our website or mail to: Imperial Valley Desert Museum Society, P.O. Box 2455, El Centro, CA 92244

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Matches on Giving Tuesday

-from the Executive Director


Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we know what that means: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner! 

If you plan on taking advantage of the great online deals, did you know that you can support the Imperial Valley Desert Museum while you shop?
Shop through the #StartWithaSmile campaign at smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7364621 and Amazon donates to Imperial Valley Desert Museum Society Inc.
When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Imperial Valley Desert Museum Society Inc.…
SMILE.AMAZON.COM


Tuesday, November 29 is the global day of giving after the excitement of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  The Desert Museum has set a goal of reaching $6,000  for the Education Department by the end of the day November 29. You can help make that happen!

Help support our Education Department as they work with Imperial Valley kids!








Saturday, November 19, 2016

Celebrating 100 Years- and Many More!

-Anne C. Morgan, Head Curator & Angelina Coble, Education Department

The mission of the Imperial Valley Desert Museum is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the deserts of Southern California.  The new permanent exhibits help visitors understand the cultural and natural history of the Imperial Valley.  As we finish writing the Museum’s five year strategic plan and partner with the Kumeyaay Diegueno Land Conservancy, the Museum is actively working on new ways to connect people to the great outdoors: nature, wildlife, and geology in all its majesty. Therefore, it seems only natural that the Museum’s staff should participate in some of the National Park Services’ Centennial celebrations! 

America’s National Parks


Sunset in Mojave National Preserve    
In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the first National Park, Yellowstone, into effect.  California’s first National Parks, Sequoia and Yosemite, were established in 1890.  Today America boasts 413 national parks and preserves, eleven in California!  On August 25, 2016 the National Parks Service, which manages all the national parks, monuments, and historic sites, celebrated its 100 year anniversary.  You have probably heard about the NPS’ year long celebration through online campaigns like #FindYourPark or tv commercials encouraging people to get out and enjoy the parks. Did you know that within six hours drive of the Imperial Valley you can get to three National Parks? Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument- the first national monument to be specifically dedicated to the preservation and scientific study of Ice Age fossils!

The Centennial Celebration is not only looking back at the accomplishments of the last 100 years. It is also looking forward to “a second century of stewardship for America’s national parks” through community engagement, recreation, conservation, and preservation.  This past weekend three staff members and two Museum Board members were invited to attend a Star Party and Centennial Celebration in the Mojave National Preserve by David Lamfrom, President of the Mojave National Preserve Conservancy’s Board of Directors.  Here is their experience and how it inspired local outdoor education through the eyes of Angelina Coble, Education Department.

Angelina Coble & Matsay the Museum Education Coyote setting up camp for the night    

Inspiration from the Great Outdoors

We spent the night at the Black Canyon Group Campground in the Mojave National Preserve along with over 100 other visitors. We were able to admire and take in the night sky, planets, and constellations through high-powered telescopes provided by experienced and skilled astronomers. For some of us it was the first time we had ever gazed at the rings of Saturn!
We took turns looking through the telescopes and sitting around the campfire enjoying the atmosphere of like-minded people, who understand and appreciate the awe and grandeur of desert landscapes. During the evening when David was addressing the crowd and thanking everyone for being part of the celebration he mentioned the importance of keeping the night as dark as possible: "we don't want Wi-Fi out here, we don't want our phones to have service out here. We want to preserve the ability to view the night sky without obstructions and distractions.” Another visitor added, "the night sky doesn't belong to the desert, the desert belongs to the night sky."


Edgar Bernal Sevilla in dense forest of Joshua Trees, Mojave National Preserve
The next morning Todd Seuss, superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park, and his spouse Jackie led a hike on the Teutonia Peak Trail where we were able to experience a dense landscape of Joshua Trees.  When we reached the peak of the trail Todd mentioned how much it meant to him to see so many young people (many high school and college students from L.A. seeing the dark skies and desert beauty for the first time) surrounding the campfire the previous evening.
Our hopes and efforts are to continue the conservation and preservation of these lands for the next hundred years, and the only way we can make this possible is through education. As part of the museum’s education staff it is my responsibility to impart to the next generation the importance of caring after and protecting our local desert. As Robin Dodge, secretary of the museum's board of directors said: “We cannot teach you these experiences." This makes me aware that the best way to educate a child in conservation and preservation is by giving them an experience. When a child walks through this museum, I want their visit to impact them for years to come. My dream is to host field trips for future archaeologists, botanists, historians, environmental advocates, and workers in the preservation and conservation field.


Angelina Coble explaining geology to Lexi Romo. IVDM permanent exhibit
I have this opportunity everyday with my 7 year old niece, Lexi, whom I currently have guardianship over and home school. She often comes with me to the museum where she is free to roam through the exhibits and look at them without any time constraints. She is in my closest realm of influence, and I have the ability to raise a pioneer to help lead the way to the next 100 years of preservation and conservation!



 Thank you David Lamfrom, Todd Seuss, as well as all of those that were involved with putting the event together and allowing us the privilege to experience the beauty you are daily surrounded by and continually work to protect.


Dr. Robert Wishner, Cory Landeros, David Lamfrom, Robin Dodge, Edgar Bernal Sevilla, Marcie Rodriguez, & Angelina Coble enjoying Mojave National Preserve

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Giving Tuesday is November 29!

-from the Executive Director



After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the back-to-back days of deals, join us in kicking off the holiday season of giving November 29: Giving Tuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that unites people and organizations for one common goal: to do good!  Over the past four years #GivingTuesday has empowered more than 45,000 organizations in over 75 countries to give back to their communities.  In 2015 #GivingTuesday raised over $116 million online across the globe- double what was raised in 2014!

Ways to gear up for GivingTuesday:



At the IVDM, we have spent the last year devoted to education. We have seen thousands of kids come through the museum and our festival booths.  It takes a lot of effort to plan and deliver programs, events, and field trips and we now have three new staff in our well-trained education department to help make that happen!  We have already booked half of our field trip days for 2017 and have six festivals on our calendar.



Our Education Department, however, is fully funded by donations.  Our youth programs only happen with your help!
 
What Your Donation Buys:
$400= 1 Fair/Festival Coiled Clay Booth
$200= 1 History on the Go classroom trip
$800= Clay and field trip supplies for a year


Even your donation of just $5 supports one child learning about the cultural history of the early people in the Southern California deserts.

On Giving Tuesday, November 29, a global day of giving, we are focusing all donations on Education! Help us reach our goal of $6,000 raised by the end of the day November 29. 

You can donate through our online campaign website or mailing a check to:

Imperial Valley Desert Museum Society
P.O. Box 2455
El Centro, CA 92244
 Mark your calendars, spread the word, and thank you in advance for your support!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Between the Joshua Trees


Welcome to the Mojave!
-by Edgar Bernal Sevilla, Curation/Education Staff

The IVDMuseum staff was invited to the Mojave National PreserveConservancy’s  Centennial celebration and Stargazing event by David Lamfrom, the director of the California Desert and Wildlife Programs branch of the National ParksConservation Association. Stargazing took place the first night, NASA telescopes were brought out and I got to see Saturn, my favorite planet since I was a child. I began acting like a child in front of the NASA telescope handlers, since “HOLY COW YOU CAN SEE THE RINGS!” It was truly a fulfilling moment. 

Edgar in Joshua Tree forest
The next day we went on a hike led by Superintendent of the Mojave National Preserve Todd Suess. We wove through canyons in a familiar desert landscape. However, once past these canyons, we were faced with an unnatural, unfamiliar view. A mile-long dome erupted from the desert floor, and the vegetation changed from familiar chollas and desert shrubs to alien-looking Joshua Trees. I had never seen a Joshua Tree before, so I was fascinated by these “medium-sized-normal-tree-shaped palm trees.” It was also my luck that I was going through the densest Joshua Tree forest in the world!


Edgar & Angelina at Teutonia Peak Trail
 I didn’t realize at the time that our hike leader Todd was the superintendent of the whole preserve! We chatted about his previous jobs, archaeology and paleontology in the Mojave, and the uses of desert plants like mesquites and cacti. The group soon split up into an advanced party, a medium group, and the laggers. Eager to reach the summit, I was a member of the advance party, along with our board VP Dr. Robert Wishner; Todd; hike leader Jackie (who's also Todd's wife); and two other hikers. When David had described the hike to us in the morning, he made it sound like the last part was tougher but gentle. He may have sugarcoated it for us.

I was out of breath by the time we reached the top. The view was worth it though. Behind us, the dome peaked at around our altitude, creating an otherworldly view of melted land with a bubble about to burst. To our sides, rocks greeted us, showing that we weren’t on the mountain’s true summit. In front, mountains extended as far as the eye could see: David Lamfrom pointed to the furthest back and informed us that they were the rim of Death Valley. With my senses overloaded, I decided to lay down on a flat rock and enjoy the gentle winter desert sun. This was my favorite part of the hike. The combination of warm light, cool breeze, and riveting stories made for a fantastic blend of an experience. My favorite story was told by Todd. He told us of a train robbery in the desert, but that instead of gold bullion of passengers wallets, the booty was flatscreens. You read that right. This took place in 2004!

Anyway, this turned out to be a fantastic experience. There is a current of longing for nature running through the social fabric of young adults. I am no exception. A trip like this really helped soothe the part of my soul that itches to experience nature and all of its gifts. And it seems the event was a success, since I can’t wait to bring out my friends. In fact, this blog post is the first in a weekly series of hiking posts that I plan to initiate after this. Hiking adventures await!

Hiking adventure awaits!








Sunday, November 6, 2016

Hiking "Coast to Cactus"

-from Anne C Morgan, Head Curator

Canyoneers Stacey and Rochelle with Ramses
As the weather cools and the season for enjoying the outdoors begins, thoughts turn towards hiking, camping, and exploring the wonderfully diverse region that is Southern California.  Yesterday 25 people came out to the Desert Museum for a book talk to get ready for the season.

San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers Rochelle Gaudette and Stacy Vielma came out to talk about hiking, some of their experiences out on the trails, and the new book written by Canyoneers and published by Sunbelt Publications Coast to Cactus The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors.  "The book is more than just another hiking guide" said Rochelle "it's like having a virtual Canyoneer with you when you can't join us on hikes."  The book looks at the range of habitats found in San Diego County and over 500 species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and more that call the area home, as well as natural and cultural features you might find.

Frank & Lidia looking at plant samples
Visitors got to handle samples of local plants and try to identify them.  Some, like the brittle bush, were well known to locals, while other plants looked so similar that the group had to compare them closely before figuring out what was what.  Chamise, buckwheat, Lemonadeberry, Toyon and others were looked at not only for plant comparisons but also to explore what drought adaptations different plants had developed.

"There is no shortage of fun on our hikes" Stacey told the audience. "We encourage people to examine the world and learn about the ecosystems." Whether you are joining the Canyoneer hikes or going out with your own group there are endless things to discover about the natural world around us, from the coast to the desert.
Coast to Cactus book supplements hiking, & San Diego Natural History Museum exhibit





Coast to Cactus exhibit at NAT

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

OctoberCraft Fun

-by Angelina Coble, Education Staff

Matsay the Museum Coyote dressed as Little Red Riding Hood to give out candy
This October I had the opportunity to plan the fun Halloween crafts for our second OctoberCraft event.  It was the first event I have planned here and it was a lot of fun- for both us and the kids! After visiting for two and a half hours one girl said "It feels like I've only been here 15 minutes!" We had 7 activity stations spread through the museum:

What's better than game pieces you can eat?
Halloween Bingo: A tasty twist on traditional Bingo, the kids got to fill their playing cards with candy
corn.  What's more fun than being able to eat your game pieces?

Foam crafts: The kids were able to put together foam Halloween decorations like pumpkins, ghosts, and frogs, then decorate their costumes, bags or other crafts!
Mason Jars with volunteers
Mason Jar Lanterns: One very popular craft was decorating mason jars.  The kids used glue, tissue paper, and a little paint to make decorative lanterns.  At home an electric tea light will make them shine, and several kids used them during the event to store Halloween candy!

Making a clay spider
Clay: The art of getting your hands dirty!  Everyone enjoyed using their creative skills to sculpt skulls and other figures and, after their masterpieces dried a bit they got to add paint.

Stringing acorns for necklace
Acorn necklaces: The older kids especially liked this activity where they made necklaces and bracelets by stringing colorful beads and acorns together in great combinations.
Dia de los Muertos workshop: Bob Diaz, from El Centro Sears, once again came out to do a wonderful workshop exploring the tradition of Dia de los Muertos.  Kids and adults both discovered more about a holiday they thought they already knew, and made colorful masks for their loved ones.



Shaahuk!
Shaahuk: If you thought Monopoly and Sorry! are competitive games, you should try this!  Shaahuk is a traditional Kumeyaay game where you have to be the first to get your game pieces around the circle representing the Milky Way.  The game was a big hit, children and their parents got very competitive trying to win.  One of the rules of the game is: if a player lands on an occupied space the first player gets sent back to the beginning. So you can see how the game can build up tension!


We had over 76 people come out on Sunday- many in costume!- for our event.  The reason we are able to host these events is thanks to the help and support of our board members, volunteers, and enthusiastic visitors.  We hope to see you all out again for next year's event!  A big thanks to all of you who made this event possible!

Next time you stop by the museum, don't be afraid to challenge me to a game of Shaahuk.  regardless of what anyone else tells you, I still consider myself the reigning champ!