The New Children’s Museum has multiple access programs designed to reach deeply into local communities and stimulate, cultivate and nurture creativity for children and families. One of the San Diego communities we strive to support is the military. San Diego is home to the largest population of active duty military, returning veterans and military families in the nation – totaling over half a million people. These families face unique challenges serving our country, including frequent moves, deployments and readjustments to home life. Our military access program focuses on providing military families an affordable, enriching place for them to feel appreciated and at home.
To accomplish this, we provide discounted admission for military families all year long – $10 for military with ID versus $14 for general admission. The Museum also participates in Blue Star Museums with over 2,000 museums nationwide to provide free admission between Memorial Day and Labor day each year. Plus, through our Partners In Creativity program, we organize tailored art-making workshops for Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) and USO San Diego.
But the most rewarding part of this access program are the stories shared with us of its impact on real military families.
One member shared with us how the Museum has become her refuge. She and her family had moved to San Diego less than a year ago and have no family in town. Her husband was deployed nine days after their youngest was born. It’s the highlight of the week for her and the kids to catch the train down to the Museum from the Oceanside area and she feels her kids are safe and stimulated with learning opportunities.
It’s inspiring stories like this that show how the Museum offers a safe and welcoming place for families to think, play and create together. And it’s why from November 11 through November 17, we’re providing free admission to all military families to celebrate Veterans Day. We encourage you to help us this week in thanking our military by donating $10 (free admission for one person) or $40 for a family of four.
