New Kid on the block
By Mike Harris, Staff Writer
The kidSTREAM Children’s Museum in Camarillo had its grant opening May 21 and is expected to boost visitors to the city, strengthening the region’s tourism economy.
“We’re thrilled about the opening of the kidSTREAM Children’s Museum in Camarillo,” Yuliana Garcia, executive director of the city’s travel marketer Visit Camarillo, the brand name of the Camarillo Hotel and Tourism Association, told the Business Times.
“We’re grateful that kidSTREAM will add to the continued growth and vibrancy of our local tourism economy,” Garcia said.
Designed as more than a traditional play space, kidSTREAM offers an immersive environment where children explore science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on exhibits and programming, museum officials say.
Rooted in early childhood development the museum’s mission is to inspire young learners to become critical thinkers, innovators, and lifelong learners – blending play with purpose in a way that resonates with modern families seeking meaningful travel experiences, they say.
KidSTREAM is the only children’s museum in Ventura County.
There are other children’s museums on the Central Coast, including the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation in Santa Barbara and the Sal Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.
“KidSTREAM is a transformative addition to Camarillo and a powerful draw for families across the region,” Garcia said in a press release.
Attractions like the museum encourage overnight visitation, support local businesses, and further strengthen Camarillo’s appeal as a family-friendly destination, she said.
According to a 2024 report prepared for the Ventura County Lodging Association, now known as Ventura County Coast, direct travel spending in Camarillo was $193.3 million, generating $16.2 million in direct tax revenue and supporting 1,670 jobs.
Located at the former site of the Camarillo Public Library, kidSTREAM’s 21,000-square-foot campus features interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits inspired by Ventura County’s landscapes and industries -from agriculture experiences with edible gardens to engineering challenges in a dedicated makerspace.
the museum is guided by core values including play, community, sustainability, and inclusion, creating a welcoming space for children and caregivers alike, museum officials say.
“KidSTREAM was built with the belief that children learn best through curiosity, creativity, and connection,” Barry Van Deman, the museum’s interim CEO, said in a press release.
“We’re excited to open a space that not only supports early learning and development but also brings families together through shared discovery and meaningful experiences,” he said.
KidSTREAM dates to 2016 when Kristie Akl, a high school biology teacher and mother of three, joined y community leaders and other parents, gathered around a kitchen table to explore the need for a high-quality children’s museum in Ventura County.
In a grassroots effort involving founding donors and community support, kidSTREAM was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2017, said Dani Hildreth, the museum’s guest experience director.
The museum is funded by corporate and community donors, she said.
Biotech giant Amgen and its foundation, headquartered next door in Thousand Oaks, is the largest donor, giving the museum $2 million.
“We are incredibly proud to play a leading role in the kidSTREAM story,” Scott Heimlich, president of the Amgen Foundation and executive director of philanthropy for Amgen, said in a press release.
Other donors who have given $100,000 or more include the Autism Society of Ventura County, Driscoll’s and the Gene Haas Foundation.
Donors contributing $25,000 or more include Bank of America, The Trade Desk, Ventura County Community Foundation and Yardi Systems.
Hildreth said the museum will be looking at applying for grants in the near future.
“But I think something that’s really unique for kidSTREAM is the support of the community that we’ve had from inception until now,” she said.
Jamshid Damooei, an economist at Thousand Oaks-based California Lutheran University, conducted an economic impact study for the museum in its early stages.
“In a children’s museum, walls of economic and social differentiation are brought down,” he says on the museum’s website.
“A diverse cross-section of children will explore, play and discover together, side-by-side,” Damooei adds, noting that “aspiration is contagious.”
To celebrate the museum’s grand opening, “Early Explorers” memberships are available now, offering families exclusive access to special events, previews, and year-round programming.