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High Desert Nature Museum seeks to expand exhibits, school partnerships and outdoor space in 2024–2028 plan
Summary
Museum supervisor Celeste Hillebrand presented a four‑year strategic plan that emphasizes enhanced exhibit interpretation, expanded programming for diverse ages, a pilot school district partnership for grade‑level visits, digitizing collections, NAGPRA compliance planning and improvements to outdoor program and branding assets.
Celeste Hillebrand, museum supervisor, presented the High Desert Nature Museum’s strategic plan for 2024–2028 and asked the council to accept the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Commission recommendation to approve the plan.
Hillebrand said the museum’s mission remains to educate the community about the Morongo Basin’s natural, artistic and cultural heritage. The plan sets four goals: (1) develop meaningful visitor experiences by updating exhibit interpretation and extending programming for broader age ranges, (2) increase community partnerships and sponsorships, (3) complete collection curation and digital inventory, and (4) improve facilities, equipment and branding for indoor and outdoor use.
The plan calls for digitizing the museum’s collections (staff estimated roughly 30–40% of collections are currently in the electronic database), a NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) review to identify items subject to the statute and appropriate repatriation or display permissions, and upgrades to the museum backyard and Mini Zoo to expand program and classroom use. Hillebrand noted some work on the plan is already under way following the museum’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
Council members praised the plan and asked questions about accreditation and storage conditions; Hillebrand said accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums remains a long‑term objective but the museum needs to complete collection storage improvements (temperature and humidity control) before applying. The council voted to accept the PRCC recommendation to approve the strategic plan.
