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San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Invests in Museum's STEAM Space

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has awarded a $100,000 grant to the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation to develop an innovative new STEAM space at the San Bernardino County Museum. The new STEM and art-inspired play space will be designed to deliver educational enrichment programs and energize museum visitors, especially county students, with the opportunity to discover their own potential via science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

The funding will be used to develop the museum’s STEAM space which will feature interactive stations including an augmented reality sandbox, circuit bench, wind turbine maker station, Lego building station, an Everbright color wall, a weaving station, and much more!

“This interactive space that combines innovation with honoring traditions and encourages play, will be a creative hub for children in the Inland Empire.” Said Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “By empowering youth to learn in this unique space, our community will inspire our future through education while preserving cultural traditions such as weaving.”

“We are so pleased that San Manuel selected us for this generous grant. The Tribe has been a longtime supporter of both the San Bernardino County Museum and Foundation so we feel extremely fortunate for their continued investment,” expressed Museum Foundation Executive Director Brandon Mulder.

“We are so grateful for the Tribe's partnership and commitment to serve and support local communities,” said Museum Director David Myers. “Our museum is growing and evolving and it is through support like this that we can truly begin to change lives and inspire a positive new tomorrow.”

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and Museum Foundation members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

About San Manuel Band of Mission Indians: The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally-recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California. San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic and cultural development. As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region. For more information, visit http://www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov.

About San Bernardino County Museum Foundation: Established in 1952, the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation solicits, manages, and distributes funds, engages in programs, and advocates for the benefit of the San Bernardino County Museum and its mission. The SBCM Foundation achieves its mission by conducting fund development efforts on behalf of the Museum, including individual, corporate, and foundation contributions. Further, the Foundation partners with the Museum to assist with developing deeper visitor engagement, enhancing stewardship and utilization of its collection, refreshing its facilities, diversifying sources of revenue, and building its organizational capacity.

About San Bernardino County Museum: The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural, and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the County, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

Boy playing with Everbright