The Discovery Center Celebrates its Legacy With a Donation to kidSTREAM

CAMARILLO, California, August 6, 2025 - After decades of providing hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education through its "museum without walls" programs, The Discovery Center is celebrating its legacy with plans to donate its financial assets, programming, exhibits, and associated resources to kidSTREAM Children’s Museum. This donation propels kidSTREAM to further its mission of creating play-based learning opportunities for children, as we work towards a planned end of year grand opening on an immersive children’s museum in Ventura County.

The Discovery Center has inspired generations of children through dynamic programs and outreach initiatives that encouraged scientific exploration and curiosity. As the organization concludes its chapter, its founders are proud to support kidSTREAM in our ongoing work to bring hands-on STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning experiences to the community.

“For over 25 years, The Discovery Center has been dedicated to bringing engaging science programs to children,” said Carrie Glicksteen, co-founder of The Discovery Center. “We are thankful to our wonderful volunteers and donors who have supported us over the years and as we celebrate our journey, we are thrilled to contribute to kidSTREAM’s efforts, knowing that their mission to inspire curiosity and empower children aligns with our shared passion for STEAM education.”

Dr. Linda Organ, co-founder of The Discovery Center, added, “It has been deeply rewarding to see the creative impact we’ve made on thousands of children over the years.  My life has been enriched to work with our passionate and dedicated volunteers. Supporting kidSTREAM’s work as they build a children’s museum for Ventura County and beyond is a fitting way to continue making a difference in the lives of local kids.”

“We have always believed in the power of hands-on experiences to spark a child’s imagination and interest in STEAM,” said Cathy Fudurich, co-founder of The Discovery Center. “It has been incredibly fulfilling to see the impact we’ve had over the years. Contributing our resources to kidSTREAM is the perfect way to ensure that the love for STEAM and learning continues to grow in our community, while we celebrate the lasting impact of The Discovery Center.”

The influence of The Discovery Center and the impact that early childhood educational experiences can have is brought to life by stories like Anna Casillas, who grew up in Thousand Oaks in the early 2000s. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, Anna recalls how her participation as a volunteer with The Discovery Center’s programs inspired her passion for engineering. “...as a volunteer conducting experiments and promoting discussions with elementary-aged students during The Discovery Center’s local Family Science Nights, we donned lab coats, sharing in the awe with these youngsters,” said Anna. “Seeing their faces light up when they completed an experiment and understood the ‘why’, hearing their parents’ encouragement, thinking through how I could explain the concepts, and interacting with real scientists who led the sessions were so impactful for me and solidified my desire to pursue engineering in college”. 

kidSTREAM, which recently broke ground on construction of an immersive indoor and outdoor children’s museum, will feature hands-on exhibits and programs that emphasize play-based learning. The Discovery Center’s contribution will help advance these efforts as kidSTREAM continues to move closer to opening, scaling its impact to serve over 200,000 children across the region who currently must travel an hour or more to visit a children’s museum..

“We are honored to receive this generous gift from The Discovery Center,” said Michael Shanklin, Executive Director of kidSTREAM. “Their commitment to STEAM outreach has inspired many, and their legacy of sparking curiosity at an early age is something kidSTREAM is excited to expand upon as we prepare to open our doors by the end of the year. This donation will help us build a world-class children’s museum that will increase access to opportunities for children to explore, learn, and discover through interactive, hands-on experiences.”

Bryan Yee, Board Chair of kidSTREAM, added, “The Discovery Center has made a lasting impact on STEAM education in Ventura County, and we are deeply grateful for their support. Early childhood educational experiences have the power to change life trajectories, and this major donation joins a growing community of individuals, volunteers, and organizations coming together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to discover their strengths at a young age and be invested in, so that they can leave their mark on the world."

For more information about kidSTREAM Children's Museum, visit www.kidstream.org. 

About kidSTREAM

kidSTREAM is an emerging children’s museum, coming soon to Ventura County. With a focus on science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math (the “STREAM” in kidSTREAM), we are building a children’s museum that aims to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills in young learners. Because early childhood educational experiences can change a child’s life trajectory, kidSTREAM is committed to access for all children, regardless of socioeconomic,

physical, developmental and emotional ability. Through interactive exhibits, educational programs, and community partnerships, the museum will provide an engaging environment where kids explore, play, and discover.

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Download the Press Release (2025-08-06).

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