Page 3 - 2022 Report to the Community

DEAR BELL FRIEND –
Our 150th anniversary year was an incredible celebration of the best of the Bell Museum and new ways of bringing our mission to life. The Bell community plays
a significant role in this process—and you are an important part of this community! We hope you enjoy hearing more of our reflections on the year through this report.
We made significant progress towards serving communities in Greater Minnesota
in intentional and impactful ways. A highlight included offering a NEW summer
camp program in Grand Rapids hosted at the University of Minnesota’s North Central Research and Outreach Center. We look forward to expanding access to this dynamic program across Minnesota in the coming years.
Summer 2022 was our first year distributing 10,000 Science & Nature Activity Kits
reaching more than 20,000 children and caregivers across the state. This Fall marked
the full return of onsite field trips after a two-year hiatus! We wish you could have
been with us that fifirst week to feel the incredible energy that nearly 200 2nd, 5th, and
7th graders from three schools brought into the building. It is experiences like these that plant the seed of possibility for the next generation in STEM.
The Bell began the process of working towards our 2023–27 strategic plan, which we are very excited to share with you soon! This strategic plan is coming at a time when we have just celebrated 150 years of serving as Minnesota’s natural history museum, and are now preparing to take the next step. This plan will provide a roadmap for the museum as we explore some of today’s greatest challenges.
We hope you enjoy the opportunity to learn more about this past year through
the lens of the Bell Museum and our key focus areas that include: Museum without Boundaries, Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom, Creative by Nature, Curiosity Catalyst, and Research and Collections—as well take a sneak peek of what’s to come in each
of these areas this coming year. Lastly, none of this would be possible without the generosity, passion and engagement from this community. From our donors to our members, our visitors to our community and University partners, each of you has made the Bell what it is today and what it will become tomorrow.
BRIAN BUHR, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences University of Minnesota
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Executive Director, Bell Museum
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UNG, Ed.D.