The Rey Cultural Center and Curious Cottage Preschool
Strategic Plan 2024
Margret and H.A. Rey Center History
In the early 1950s, Hans and Margret Rey made their way to Waterville Valley and became enamored with the dark night sky, which aided Hans in revising his book, The Stars. Each summer they returned, settling into a community that welcomed and loved them.
Although the Reys’ wrote many of the Curious George stories prior to their time in the Valley, George’s playfulness, curiosity, and antics lived on in Hans and Margret who entertained and engaged both children and adults throughout their many years here. Many of Hans’ original drawings are treasured collectibles retained today by the locals and visitors fortunate to have received one. The Reys’ colorful personalities, visionary thinking, and generosity of spirit enhanced the lives of area residents and visitors alike for many years.
Hans died in 1977 at the age of 78. Margret lived nearly another 20 years before she passed away in 1996 at the age of 90. In 1992, she sold their Waterville Valley home, and in cooperation with the new owners, the Highlands, the cottage was then donated to the Town of Waterville Valley. The cottage was moved to a location adjacent to the elementary school on land donated to the Town by the Waterville Company. Along with the Cottage itself, the Town acquired permission to use its current name, the “Curious George Cottage.” True to the spirit of the Reys, the Curious George Cottage was used to enrich the local community and the lives of the people who pass through the Valley. Initially operated as a daycare, Cottage operations were soon taken over by the Waterville Valley Recreation Department, which, under the leadership of Dan Newton, offered a selection of engaging activities from discussion groups to outdoor adventures for all ages. The Curious George Cottage Steering Committee, made up of Waterville Valley community members, guided these early years.
After several years, the Town began to look for ways to improve the financial operations of the Cottage. In 2005, the Town hired Nat Scrimshaw, a local resident and friend of the Reys, to work with the Curious George Cottage Steering Committee to explore the possibility of starting an organization to operate the Cottage and expand its programs. Another group in the community, the Waterville Valley Meeting House Corporation, Inc., had formed to build a community center and gathering place. Since these two groups were working towards similar goals, they decided to merge to form a new organization. The Rey Estate, through the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, made a generous donation to start the nonprofit Margret and H.A. Rey Center in 2006. The bequest from the Rey Estate plus matching funds from a number of Waterville Valley community members and support from the Town of Waterville Valley provided the financial foundation to start the organization that exists today.
Initially, the Rey Center occupied a variety of available spaces in Waterville Valley’s Town Square before eventually locating its offices to the Curious George Cottage, which is also the hub for Rey Center programs as well as the location of the Rey Center Community Gardens.
The Rey Center operates programs throughout Waterville Valley and the primary use of the Curious George Cottage is once again used for early childhood education in the form of The Curious Cottage Preschool. The Cottage campus is also the home of The Rey Community Garden.
Since its acquisition by the town, the Cottage has moved three times. In the summer of 2010 it made its final move to a spot next to the Waterville Valley Recreation Department and Elementary School, and underwent several energy efficiency upgrades. The relocation and renovation are part of the Rey Center’s plan to create a Curious George Cottage Campus with the Cottage as a “green” demonstration house and adjacent has become the home of the community gardens. The relocation and green renovations would not have been possible without the generous support of the Town of Waterville Valley, ABODE Homebuilders, Pella Windows and the NH Electric Coop Foundation.
The lives of Margret and H.A. Rey were filled with continued learning and community service. The Reys were active in writing and illustration; astronomy; natural history; photography; environmental action (including calls for renewable energy); concern for animals; the simple joys of gardening, walking and bicycle-riding; and, of course, children's experiential learning. These life pursuits of the Reys form the basis for Rey Center programs. This mixture of art and science, the physical and intellectual, young and old, and ever-present curiosity, is the foundation for a multigenerational center for learning and exploration.
Mission, Values and Vision Our Mission The Rey Cultural Center honors the Reys’ spirit of curiosity and discovery by increasing understanding of and participation in the arts, sciences, nature and literacy through programs for youth, adults and families.
Our Values Community We cultivate a welcoming environment that promotes a positive experience for the community we serve. We embrace partnership and collaboration to enrich our work and strengthen our community. We encourage diversity through programs that celebrate the human story and we promote all forms of the Arts in Waterville Valley Curiosity We create learning experiences that provide opportunities for discovery, understanding and enjoyment. We encourage participation in arts, science and nature. We believe curiosity is the spark that ignites lifelong learning. Nature We believe in thoughtful stewardship of our natural world. We promote sustainability through education and action. Professionalism We strive to achieve excellence in nonprofit fiscal and organizational management. We follow integrity and honesty in our business practices. We honor our mission as the foundation of our work. Our Vision The Rey Cultural Center will be an educational and cultural center fostering exploration in the spirit of Curious George and the Rey’s. We envision a Center that promotes all forms of art, literacy programs as well as nature- based programming and early childhood education. We intend to support Waterville Valley and its surrounding communities as well as visitors to Waterville Valley.
Strategic Priorities 1. Maintain and build strong programs that further our mission and contribute to organizational sustainability. 1. Evaluate current programs for effectiveness, participant satisfaction, fit with mission, and financial sustainability. Amend and develop programs annually. 2. Develop groups and clubs to support programs and operations with the goal of increasing participation. 2. Build and enrich partnerships with other organizations to extend organizational reach and efficiency. 1. Work with the Town of Waterville Valley Recreation Department to reduce overlap in program services, coordinate program schedules, and collaborate on programs that serve the mission of both entities. 2. Collaborate with the Waterville Valley Resort/Town Square, WVRA, WVAIA and businesses to enhancing the experience of visitors to Waterville Valley. 3. Establish collaboration with other local entities with similar missions to enhance and extend the scope of our programming such as the White Mountain Museum, the Audubon Society and Plymouth State University. 4. Continue growing our early childhood education programming through The Curious Cottage preschool to families in Waterville Valley and surrounding communities. 1. Develop and sustain sufficient fiscal resources to effectively achieve our mission 1. Expand fundraising activities and donor base a. Maintain annual fundraising events. Events include a summer and/or winter Auction based event and the Annual Fund. 2. a. Pursue grant opportunities in the areas of education as available and relevant to current programs.
2. Improve organizational strength and sustainability through Board and Staff development. 1. Maintain Board Governance Plan and Board Development. 2. Develop policy and plan for enrichment and retention and development of staff.
The Rey Cultural Center PO Box 286, Waterville Valley, NH 03215 603-236-3308 www.thereycenter.org