Escondido Children's Museum seeks volunteers, funds

By: ERIKA AYN FINCH - For the North County Times | Wednesday, March 3, 2004 10:50 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- The Escondido Children's Museum will soon open a whole new world for local children but in order to make that happen, museum coordinators are looking for a little help from the community.

With the April 3 opening of the museum at its new location at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido approaching, coordinators are hoping to quickly increase its volunteer corps fivefold and boost its budget by 40 percent in the next year.

Founder and executive director Katie Ragazzi said volunteers and funds are the two driving forces behind the success of the museum, which opened less than three years ago in a small storefront on Grand Avenue and quickly became a hit with local families.

That facility closed in January as the focus shifted to renovating the new, larger space.

"I see the museum as an enrichment factory," Ragazzi said. "You need people and fuel to produce and without one or the other you have no product. People assume someone pays for a museum to operate but it takes fuel and people."

Money and volunteers are needed in larger quantities, she added, because the museum's new 4,000-square-foot digs at the arts center are four times larger than the old location. Ragazzi also hopes to be able to keep the museum open six days a week, rather than the previous five-day schedule.

"We are going to add more programs so (the need for volunteers) should increase," said Anne Uebbing, the museum's volunteer coordinator.

The Grand Avenue facility operated with the help of 11 volunteers but the goal now is to recruit 50 volunteers to lead programs at the new museum and in the community.

At the same time, Ragazzi said the museum's $150,000 budget for this fiscal year will jump to at least $250,000 next year.

"A high percentage of the budget this year went to construction costs, new exhibits and new programs," Ragazzi said. "Next year we will need money for operating costs, materials and exhibits."

Ragazzi also would like to add paid staff to the museum. Currently, she is the only paid full-time staffer, with a paid part-time program manager filling out the rest of the employee list.

She envisions being able to add three more paid positions: someone to staff the museum, a full-time program manager and a volunteer coordinator.

The majority of the museum's budget comes from grants and private donations. This year, Ragazzi said they will begin holding fund-raisers, beginning with a sneak peak of the museum April 2 at a cost of $50 per ticket.

The one thing Ragazzi does not have to worry about is paying rent. The city of Escondido provides the space to the museum at the art center rent free, just as it did on Grand Avenue. Mayor Lori Pfeiler said the city believes the museum is just another way to promote cultural awareness.

"We have supported the museum from the very beginning by taking care of their rent," Pfeiler said. "We could just give them a check but they would still have to raise money to take care of their rent. This way, the dollars they do receive go directly to programs."

Uebbing said she now has a roster of 15 volunteers and is actively seeking more. The volunteers will be required to attend a training session March 27. For people who volunteer after that date, Uebbing said she will provide training as they come on board.

Volunteers work in two-hour shifts once a month and a total of two are needed per shift to keep an eye on the children, answer questions and act as cashier for museum admission and merchandise.

"Anybody can volunteer," said Uebbing, who is a volunteer herself, donating 30 hours a week at the museum when she isn't attending Palomar College as a child development major.

"Volunteers will go through an interview and we will find out about their skills and try to connect their skills with the museum," she said. Applicants must provide two references and they will be fingerprinted, Uebbing said.

Brenda Townsend, an Escondido resident who has volunteered with the museum for six months, said she would continue to lend a helping hand.Ý

Townsend was just one of the parents who took advantage of the museum's family volunteer program. By volunteering two hours a month, Townsend receives free admission for herself and her child for the entire year. She can also bring her child with her when she volunteers.

"I used to bring my daughter and her play group to the old location because, even though it was a small location, there was always so much to do," Townsend said. "When I found out about the free membership I signed up to volunteer. Two hours a month is reasonable."

Very reasonable, when you consider a one year membership will cost $75 to $100 per person. Admission to the new museum will be $6 per person so family volunteers receive a great benefit.

Uebbing and Ragazzi both said that because the museum's exhibits emphasize science and international cultures, volunteers with an interest or expertise in those areas are especially welcome.

Many people have also pitched in to help with construction at the new site. The Kiwanis Club of Escondido planted the museum's courtyard garden and has pledged to provide one volunteer per week for staffing. Help has also come from the Woodworkers Association of North County, and from local teens involved in Volunteer San Diego, Escondido Teen Impact and high school key clubs.

"This is an example," Ragazzi said, "of how regular people make the world a better place."

For information, call (760) 233-7737 or visit www.escondidochildrensmuseum.org.

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