Spring 2006

www.cdm.org

Community service, media production, and digital arts are the cornerstones of the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose’s Discovery Youth and Summer of Service programs. In operation after school, on Saturdays, and during the summer, the museum’s youth programs engage 10- to 15-year-olds in volunteer opportunities working with younger children in the museum’s galleries.

In the last year, youth collectively contributed more than 5,000 hours of service to their community during their free time. As one past participant told an outside evaluator, “The museum helped show me the impact I can have on the world, and all of the good I can bring about through community service.”

In addition, young people gain valuable media skills as they learn video production, web design, and video editing, as well as software programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. A media literacy component encourages young people to consider audience and message, and to analyze various industry techniques. Discovery Youth participants have developed their own website, www.getchy.com, and they create more than 20 other high-quality productions annually, including self-portraits that have been displayed throughout the community, including at Adobe Corporate Headquarters.

The programs’ success is demonstrated in the number of participants who return each year, bring their siblings along, and continue their involvement with the museum as part of the Discovery Youth Leadership Team, or as staff members.

The Children’s Discovery Museum is grateful to Koret for its generous support, which clearly makes a difference in the lives of young people!