Thinkery

Spark After Dark, Austin’s most playful event of the year, is coming up next Tuesday, October 15. This exciting evening will feature creativity, joy, hands-on STEAM demonstrations, and opportunities to support Thinkery's mission of joyful learning for ALL! A special Thank You to our 2024 Spark After Dark sponsors for their incredible support in helping keep Thinkery’s doors open to all! - Presenting Sponsor: H-E-B - Playfulness Sponsors: Austin Subaru & Austin Energy - Belonging Sponsors: Emerson & Mint Builders, LLC - Innovation Sponsors: Beacon Nonprofit Consulting, Jackson Walker LLP, Jocelyn and Andy Tau, MFI FOUNDATION & MUELLER SCOTT Concepts - Collaboration Sponsors: Robo & Team Ramirez - In Kind Sponsors: Brown Distributing Company, Dripping Springs Distilling, Liquid Death, Perissos Vineyard and Winery & Still Austin Whiskey Co. Learn more about Spark After Dark at thinkeryaustin.org/spark

We're Hiring! Thinkery is growing, and we're looking for passionate, creative individuals to help us inspire the next generation of thinkers. We have exciting opportunities available, including: - Senior Development Manager - Little Thinkers Preschool Substitute - Museum Experience Specialist...and more! If you're ready to join our amazing team or know someone who would be a good fit, visit https://lnkd.in/edRwnFs for all the details and apply today! #ThinkeryATX #Hiring #JoinOurTeam

Last week we had our latest gathering of National Instruments (NI) alumni, hosted at the Thinkery, Austin's premier children's museum. Andy Bell, current Thinkery CEO, was a longtime NI'er, and part of a long connection between NI and education. I was fortunate to have spent six years on the board as we transitioned from the Austin Children's Museum to The Thinkery, as well as a stint as Board President (later followed by Richard McDonell, another longtime NI'er). At the gathering, we spent time catching up with longtime colleagues and explored the interactive exhibits, I couldn't help but draw parallels between our experiences at NI and The Thinkery's mission. - Empowering Problem Solvers At NI, we dedicated our careers to empowering engineers and scientists with tools to solve complex challenges. Similarly, The Thinkery aims to inspire and equip children to become confident, creative thinkers through play-based STEAM learning experiences. - Innovation and Curiosity Just as NI's journey was driven by a deep-seated curiosity about the possibilities of technology, The Thinkery fosters joyful curiosity in young (and old) learners. CEO and co-founder, Dr. James Truchard (Dr T) always demonstrated the importance of asking the right questions and exploring new ideas. It's great to see how the Thinkery is embedding that curiosity in future innovators. - Hands-On Learning At NI we always felt we could best help engineers and scientists address great challenges by giving them the tools to create user-defined solutions, especially with LabVIEW. The Thinkery offers hands-on, interactive exhibits that encourage physical, emotional, and cognitive development in children and adults (as you can see in some of the pics, we were having fun with the exhibits). - Building for the Future As we reflect on our time at NI and its impact on industries worldwide, we're inspired by The Thinkery's commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators. Their vision of cultivating a lifelong love of learning in all children resonates deeply with our own experiences. Our gathering at The Thinkery reminded us that the spirit of innovation and problem-solving continues to thrive. We're proud to have been part of NI's legacy and excited about what the future holds. Lorraine Stipek Eloisa Acha Tamra Kerns Tony Vento Víctor M. Dana Fisher Mark Finger Robert Canik Ash Razdan, BSEE, MBA Tom Lucas Dave Wilson Brian Powell Noel Adorno #NIAlumni #Innovation #STEAM #Austin

Expedia Group drives an annual community engagement effort, Month of Caring. Last Friday, our Austin team held a Month of Caring event at Thinkery Austin, Austin's children's museum, to build materials to support their preschool's craft project that will decorate their upcoming fundraiser, Spark After Dark (https://lnkd.in/gZ9f4CzT) As a member of their Board of Directors, I was thrilled to see so much engagement, curiosity about the organization & it's goals, and interest in what we accomplish with Spark; this event is key to continuing support for the Open Door Initiative and Thinkery Del Valle, which ensure all children in the Austin metro area have access to this amazing resource. Thinkery Austin's values align closely with our own at Expedia Group (with a STEAM education flare!). Their core principles - Playfulness, Belonging, Innovation and Collaboration - were highlighted well during this activity. We leaned into our Playful and Collaborative spirits to produce materials efficiently, and also create an AMAZING Expedia Group-themed bouquet! Thanks, team, for your contributions! Becca Russell, Elizabeth Stirling, Anne Van Nort, Daniel Parrott, Jessica Arn CSM, Helena Cho, Cassidy Kimbrough, Lisa Monrreal, MBA

Meet Amy Brack, Vice President and Client Service Director at PNC, and an incredible Thinkery volunteer! Since 2022, Amy has been a dedicated part of our Little Thinkers Preschool, watching little ones grow from PreK 3 to PreK 4 and even celebrating their graduation. “I appreciate getting to know their unique personalities and being my authentic, happy self when I’m around the kids. Being recognized as a familiar friend means the world to me.” We’re so grateful to have Amy’s joyful energy and support to help shape the futures of our Little Thinkers! #ThinkeryATX #HumansofThinkery

Today, I had the honor of participating in the official opening of Thinkery Del Valle, a fantastic new space that will inspire curiosity and learning and bring innovative learning opportunities for the students of Del Valle Independent School District and the surrounding community. Thank you Andy Bell, K.C. Barner and CM Vanessa Fuentes for your inspiring words and for all you do for our community. As part of our CapMetro Cares program, we also unveiled a special bus wrap celebrating this milestone. This colorful addition to our fleet will serve as a moving billboard for creativity and education, reminding us daily of the amazing experiences awaiting children at Thinkery Del Valle. At CapMetro, we believe our role goes beyond transportation – we're about connecting people to opportunities. This partnership with the #ThinkeryTeam is a perfect example of how transit can support education, innovation, and community growth. Proud to be part of this initiative and excited to see the positive impact it will have on the students of Del Valle ISD and the future of Central Texas. 

It's official! We just celebrated Thinkery – Del Valle with an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony. This first-of-its-kind neighborhood museum will serve as a hub for children and families in Del Valle and Central Texas to learn, play, and explore through Thinkery's hands-on, inquiry-driven STEAM outdoor exhibits. We're excited to continue expanding our joyful learning opportunities with the Thinkery STEAM Learning Institute to create joyful learning opportunities for ALL children and families across Central Texas. Thank you to our partners at Del Valle ISD and the Child Development Center for making this milestone possible. We were honored to have Thinkery Board President KC Barner, CEO Andy Bell, DVISD leaders, CapMetro CEO Dottie Watkins, and council member Vanessa Fuentes share inspiring words about the future of STEAM learning in our community. Thinkery-Del Valle is currently not open to the public. Museum hours will be announced soon. Read Thinkery's blog for a full recap and learn more about Thinkery – Del Valle! 🔗https://ow.ly/bW2W50TpvXV

  Thinkery is among the four finalists in the "People's Choice" Uniquely Austin Award category at the Greater Austin Business Awards! This is an incredible opportunity to highlight how we embrace Austin's vibrant culture—and we need your vote to help us win! Voting is ending soon but open until September 16, and your support could make all the difference. Let's come together and show Austin what Thinkery is all about! Please take a moment to cast your vote and help Thinkery win: https://hubs.ly/Q02LKJ450. 

Before the departure of Shaleiah Fox, Thinkery's former Chief Advancement Officer, we sat down with Shaleiah to learn about her journey at Thinkery, from transitioning to motherhood to assuming a leadership role within the organization. For further insight into Shaleiah’s remarkable journey at Thinkery, please visit Thinkery’s Blog - https://lnkd.in/gjcmbtd9

We are so grateful for our partnership with Austin's Thinkery! Thanks to their generous annual pass, families staying at RMHC of Central Texas can enjoy days filled with fun and learning. This amazing resource offers a wonderful distraction for siblings of hospitalized children, helping parents manage their time and keep smiles on everyone's faces. Thank you, Thinkery, for your incredible support!