Gorge Discovery Center & Gorge Ecology Outdoors Have Announced a Merger
From Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum:
By Mikey Goyette
The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 5, 2023 - Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum (CGDCM) and Gorge Ecology Outdoors (GEO), have announced a merger of the two Columbia River Gorge-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. In early 2023, CGDCM assumed oversight responsibilities and management of all GEO programs, and its organizational and financial responsibilities.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum (CGDCM) and Gorge Ecology Outdoors (GEO), have announced a merger of the two Columbia River Gorge-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. In early 2023, CGDCM assumed oversight responsibilities and management of all GEO programs, and its organizational and financial responsibilities.
CGDCM Executive Director, Laura Matzer, said, “GEO, based in Hood River, has been delivering SECRETS, Science in Action, Gorge Explorers, and additional outdoor science programs throughout the Gorge for 26 years, engaging thousands of students, many introduced to outdoor science learning for the first time. With GEO programs now part of our remit, it is our goal to give GEO’s vital science-based outdoor programming a strong base for growth, longevity, and visibility.”
GEO’s Board Chair, Dan Harkenrider, said the merger was a natural fit. “CGDCM has worked in partnership with GEO for over 15 years to deliver the Gorge Explorers program. With the resources of CGDCM, the organization plans to build and expand programs throughout the region.”
When GEO’s Executive Director, Drew Eastman, announced his intention to step down as Executive Director, GEO’s Board felt that the time might be right to look for increased long-term support and stability in the form of consolidation with their longtime partner. Matzer and the CGDCM Board of Directors have both voiced excitement about the opportunity to include GEO’s programs in CGDCM’s educational offerings.
For information, call 541-296-8600 x 201 or visit gorgediscovery.org.
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Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Hands-on, multi-media exhibitions illuminate the cultural and natural history of the Gorge, including Ice Age geology, Native American culture, Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail, trade, transportation, renewable energy, ecology, live raptors, and more. The museum is wheelchair accessible and family-friendly, with a Kids Explorer room. The Riverfront Trail offers walking, biking, and a native plant nature trail. Located at exit 82 off I-84, at 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon, 97058, adult admission is $12, seniors $10, kids 6 to 16 admission is $7, and admission is free for children 5 and under. Live raptor presentations are held daily on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 2 pm during winter months. The Columbia River Trading Company, the museum’s store, is open daily and free to enter. For more information, phone (541) 296-8600 ext. 201, or visit www.gorgediscovery.org.
Gorge Ecology Outdoors (GEO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of GEO is to nurture every child’s sense of belonging and connection to the Earth through outdoor experiences and education.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum (CGDCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of CGDCM is to inspire stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge and Wasco County, encouraging active lifelong learning about our shared environment and the preservation, collection, and interpretation of the cultural and natural history of the region.
