Thinkery

Thinkery

location of The Thinkey in Texas
Established	1983
Location	1830 Simond Ave, Austin, Texas, United States
Coordinates
Type	Children's
Director	Troy M. Livingston
Website	thinkeryaustin.org

Thinkery (formerly the Austin Children's Museum) is a children's museum in Austin, Texas.

History

The museum was originally founded in 1983 without a permanent location, providing traveling exhibits in public places such as malls, parks and libraries. In 1987, a storefront on Fifth Street became the Austin Children's Museum's first established location. In 1997, a fundraising campaign, including a million-dollar donation by Michael and Susan Dell, helped the museum move to a larger space at Colorado and Second Street.

The downtown location closed on September 7, 2013, with the new Thinkery location opening December 7 at the Meredith Learning Lab — a 40,000-square-foot facility in the Mueller Community.

In 2015, nearly 500,000 visitors came to Thinkery.

Overview

Thinkery was designed to meet the demand of the greater Austin region and its families. Thinkery's mission is to provide innovative learning experiences for children and families in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) subjects.

Thinkery addresses a key need for children — engaging hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) to help students develop new skills. According to the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), there is a wide consensus that the development of a core set of skills is essential. The skill set includes:

• Critical thinking
• Synthesizing information
• Being able to apply lessons to the real world
• Innovation and creativity
• Teamwork and collaboration

Research has demonstrated that students learn best through hands-on experiences. These activities can develop students’ critical thinking skills, encourage teamwork and communication, and are especially needed to engage economically disadvantaged and academically struggling students.

The museum offers a robust schedule of activities and programs designed to engage children, educators and lifelong learners. Gallery experiences range from developmentally appropriate sensory experiences to staff-facilitated activities involving a wide variety of tools such as 3D printers, soldering irons, circuits, woodworking materials and more.

Exhibits

Thinkery provides STEAM-focused content on a variety of platforms for visitors of all ages and levels, with new activities, demonstrations and projects on a rotating basis. Thinkery’s permanent galleries include:

• Innovators’ Workshop – Thinkery’s signature 2,500-square-foot gallery focuses on making, creating and inventing as forms of inquiry and creative problem solving. Visitors investigate the intersections of art, science and engineering with the Innovators’ Workshop’s stop motion station, community loom, paint wall and construction landscape.
• Spark Shop – Spark Shop engages children and adults in advanced design challenges, encouraging visitors to explore and experience projectiles, wind tunnels, a Bernoulli Blower and more.
• Light Lab – An interactive exhibit inviting visitors to explore light, shadows, color filters and reflection. Visitors use laser lights to draw, freeze their shadows on a photovoltaic wall and build their own creations using LED pegs.
• Space 8 – A maker lab and learning environment designed exclusively for visitors ages 8 and up. The platform offers multiple activity stations to practice using mechanical and non-mechanical tools, and provides hands-on challenges and projects to deepen understanding of STEAM subjects. Each station introduces new processes, tools and materials.
• Our Backyard – Head outside, where guests are encouraged to scale Thinkery’s universally-accessible, custom-designed climber. Splash in a gentle stream lined with native stone while using tools such as buckets and sieves for water play.
• Currents – Currents, Thinkery’s interactive water gallery, engages visitors in hands-on, open-ended aquatic investigations. Discover the connection between water and sound in 12 activity stations.
• Kitchen Lab – Blending familiar elements of a home kitchen with a science laboratory, Thinkery offers facilitated programs in food preparation, science experiments and art. Kitchen Lab visitors are invited to explore explosions, bake with superfoods, practice pickling and more.
• Let's Grow – An entire wing dedicated to healthy living, Let’s Grow supports early learners’ sensory, social and physical development with a series of exhibit-based learning experiences focused on nutrition, motion and balance.

Thinkery’s galleries offer opportunities for self-guided exploration, as well as activities facilitated by staff members.

Programming

Thinkery offers a suite of educational programs for children and families. While some series are aimed at specific audiences and others are only offered seasonally, all programming underscores the museum’s year-round appeal for children and families:

• Birthday Parties – Celebrate your child’s special day at Thinkery! Partygoers enjoy nonstop fun, discovery and learning with full access to museum exhibits, a private party room, and options for hands-on, educator-led activities.
• Camps – Thinkery offers hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) as a platform for innovation.
• Community Programs – Thinkery strives to provide a friendly, inspiring space to learn for the entire community, regardless of financial status. By providing experiences to underserved audiences, the museum broadens its ability to equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers.
• Early Learners Workshops and Series – Ignite your little one’s imagination with hands-on workshops offered every Saturday morning, following Baby Bloomers. In a smaller group setting, families enjoy specialized exploration on a variety of topics led by Thinkery Early Childhood Educators. Jump start your toddlers learning and sign up for a few classes or an entire eight-week series.
• Baby Bloomers – A specially designed program where Thinkery is open just for visitors age 0-3 years and their families. Baby Bloomers provides caregivers and early learners the opportunity to experience Thinkery together in an environment focused solely on them.
• Event Rentals – Thinkery offers a one-of-a-kind setting for social gatherings, corporate events or weddings. Located in Mueller, Thinkery’s sprawling 40,000-square-foot facility is a singular part of the Austin landscape and an unforgettable venue for a variety of group events. Rental package options are customized to fit your needs.
• Family Night – Enjoy a night of playful exploration with thematic activities at Thinkery’s exclusive after-hours event for families.
• School Programs – Guided tours, community outreach programs and professional development opportunities are offered throughout the year.
• Scout Nights and Sleepovers – Scouts take over Thinkery! Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts are invited to complete badge requirements through signature Thinkery activities during Scout Nights and Sleepovers.
• Spark Club – Cook, experiment and explore in Spark Club on Wednesdays, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Each month, Thinkery’s Spark Club series rotates through different program areas in the museum.
• Thinkery21 – Grown-ups can enjoy an evening at Thinkery on their own. At Thinkery21, Thinkery closes the museum to kids and lets adults, ages 21 and up, eat, drink and mingle while experiencing innovative science and art.
• Workshops Get the entire family diving deep into art and science topics! Each educator-led workshop is held in a small group setting for a focused and collaborative experience.

Recognition

• Thinkery was one of 33 organizations selected to participate in Cognizant’s Making the Future grant program. Thinkery established its Spark Club program as a result of this grant.
• In 2014, Thinkery was one of three organizations in Texas designated as a host site for Maker Corps. Part of the Maker Education Initiative, Thinkery was selected to host a resident Maker and engage local youth in STEAM learning through making-oriented projects.
• The Smithsonian Latino Center selected Thinkery as a host site for their Young Ambassadors Program — a nationally recognized program for graduating high school seniors.
• Thinkery was the first children’s museum selected to participate in Portal to the Public — a National Science Foundation funded program to increase interactions between volunteer scientists and the public.
• Thinkery was chosen as a local site for the City of Austin’s Google Fiber Community Connections program.

Commitment to Accessibility and Diversity

Thinkery makes every effort to be inclusive and inviting to all members of various communities and envisions itself as a resource for all children and families. While admission and family memberships are affordable for many families, several initiatives have been implemented to reduce barriers and encourage visitation by low-income residents, including:

• Community Night – Every Wednesday evening the museum is open from 4–8 p.m. Admission is by donation, with a suggested $1 donation.
• Scholarships – Thinkery offers scholarships for many program participants to ensure they are not turned away. These efforts range from school tour discounts to scholarships for summer camps.
• Open Door Initiative – Thinkery’s Open Door Initiative provides subsidized admissions, camp scholarships and weekly Community Night events to thousands of children and families with limited financial resources.
• Community Organization Membership – Thinkery offers free admission to clients of nonprofit partners who serve low-income families, social and safety needs of children, and families in crisis.

External links

• Thinkery website
• Austin Children's Museum website at Archive.org