San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum (SDCDM) held their First Annual Health & Wellness Week September 19-23 at their Museum located in Escondido, CA. Each day they offered free check-ups and workshops around a different theme in partnership with local health and wellness organizations who provided free services on-site. The week welcomed more than 1,500 visitors and was a chance for SDCDM to engage with community partners and provide health and wellness resources to Museum visitors and the community at large.

As this was the Museum’s inaugural event, SDCDM decided it was important to focus on health and wellness themes that were relevant to the community.  They then engaged with other community partners to determine whether they would be available to provide their services at the museum during the proposed week.

"Once we had the idea to create our first Health & Wellness Week, we knew we had to have community partners available to provide the free check-ups and workshops,” said Danielle Mendoza, Director of Marketing & Events for SDCDM. “We are so lucky to be a Live Well San Diego Recognized Partner.  County staff were able to offer resources and help us make connections with other Live Well San Diego Recognized Partners who could support the event.”

Planning for the event wasn't always easy because of all of the other programs SDCDM has ongoing this fall, but it was an important message and service that the SDCDM wanted to provide for their visitors and the community.  At the event, families were able to learn together in a safe community space that welcomes all. Visitors were very complimentary of the services they received during the week, which established the beginnings of what will be ongoing partnerships with each of the community organizations that participated.

"We were thrilled to be able to collaborate with our community partners to provide important information and services around Health & Wellness,” said Executive Director, Javier Guerrero.  “We strive to be a model community children’s museum providing access to authentic hands-on learning experiences that develop the whole child, lifelong learners and global citizens.”

Thanks to the great success of the event, SDCDM plans to hold the Health & Wellness Week next year and will continue to establish and foster relationships with their community partners to enhance the event, as well as other educational programs at the Museum.

San Diego Children's Discovery Museum is always looking for new community partners to collaborate with to better the community. If you are interested in getting involved with the Museum, please contact Danielle Mendoza, Director of Marketing & Events, at DanielleM@sdcdm.org or call (760)233-7755 x1003.