LONGVIEW—Over the summer, the Children’s Discovery Museum plans to move from its current location on Commerce Avenue to a new home in Kelso’s Catlin Elementary School, where the nonprofit will have more space, and possibly lower rent.
The move comes at a time when the museum is recovering from funding issues that had staff worrying it would close down by the end of summer.
Now, the nonprofit’s future is looking bright.
Its GiveBIG fundraiser, which ran in late April, raised $19,700 of its $20,000 goal. Plus, the Lower Columbia chapter of the philanthropy group 100 Women Who Care donated $10,000 at the end of May as part of their quarterly effort to support area nonprofits, and Cowlitz County Commissioners approved a $50,000 grant to help the museum transition to its new location.
“People in our community have really stepped up and showed that they know how important we are,” museum Executive Director Seth McNally said.
The museum reached out to Kelso School District several months ago to inquire whether the district had any available space, district Chief Financial Officer Scott Westlund said. After meeting with the museum and learning about its mission and programming, the district offered part of Catlin Elementary.
“They offer a lot of really neat exhibits and hands-on learning experiences that especially younger children will be able to benefit and learn from,” Westlund said.
And the district had the space thanks to the creation of a new building after a 2018 bond.
Catlin Elementary was combined with Beacon Hill Elementary into the newly built Lexington Elementary School in 2021. The Catlin building currently houses Kelso Virtual Academy, the district’s tech department and students from Rose Valley Elementary, which is receiving extensive renovations.
Next school year, the Rose Valley students will move back to their own school, opening space for the museum and three preschool classes.
The museum and district are working out rent for the space, as well as if any will be required at all.
As part of the partnership, the museum also plans to provide access for Kelso students through field trips, after-school programs and trips to other Kelso schools to display exhibits. However, its programming is not only for Kelso students; it will continue to be open to anyone who wants to visit.
Another local nonprofit, Lower Columbia School Gardens, also has space at Catlin.
