The Powerhouse

Gallery - visitor numbers soared this year, surpassing all previous records with a total of 29,179 visitors. Our offerings expanded to include a capitvating traveling exhibit, pterosaurs: ancient rulers of The sky, alongside a growth in our permanent exhibition collection. Membership numbers surged, culminating in a record-breaking number of 526 members by years end, accompanied by a 75% renewal rate. The Powerhouse curated a series of engaging public programs aimed at informing and enriching our community. Among these, we organized a capitvating prehistoric talk, completing our pterosaur exhibit, featuring a local archaeologist sharing insights on fossil discoveries in our region.

Venue rentals -The Powerhouse continued to rent its gallery and outdoor plaza for educational events hosted by local nonprofits, conferences, weddings, and memorial services. Additionally, we welcomed a chautauqua speaker who skillfully portrayed charles darwin, delivering an enthralling narrative of his life and legacy.

Education programs - The Powerhouse education team elevated its commitment to serving southwest Colorado by enhancing our array of initiatives, including revitalized field trips, classroom sessions, community outreach, and after-school programs. Tailored for students from kindergarten to fifth grade, our comprehensive steam (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) lessons delve into The scientific method and cover a diverse range of subjects, from engineering, chemistry, and physics to geology, anthropology, environmental science, and coding. The Powerhouse continued its partnership with durango school district 9-r and san juan boces to grow in-person science and engineering competitions for students across southwest Colorado. Our education department organized its first lego league and destination imagination, growing The number of students and schools involved. The Powerhouse also organized The san juan basin regional science fair to support students in grades four through twelve. In 2023, The Powerhouse expanded its week-long science camps significantly, offering 12 weeks of programming and accomodating over 700 campers. Additionally, we launched two satellite camp programs in cortez and pagosa springs, featuring a sliding scale scholarship initiative to extend our curriculum reach across southwest Colorado. Furthermore, we initiated single-day camps to coincide with professional development days, providing an enriching experience for local students during school closures. The Powerhouse continued offering free educational programming throughout southwest Colorado, continuing to offer free, district-sponsored after school science activities at four outlying elementary schools. We also participated in providing steam learning courses at fifth day programs in bayfield, mancos, cortez, dove creek and ignacio. On campus, we offered four five-week sessions of our steam education after school program: curiosity club. Our science career ladder internship program grew in 2023, expanding our offering to encompass both The school year and summer internship programs. This initiative offers mentorship, peer support, and opportunities to inspire middle and high school students interested in stem fields, fostering The growth of The next generation of learners. We also offered an experiential project internship, inviting five high school students to our campus to build a kitfox airplane and gain real world hands-on experiences.