Thinkery

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!

We're excited to introduce three fantastic leaders who have joined the #ThinkeryTeam! Their enthusiasm, skills, and commitment to sparking curiosity and creativity in kids through play-based STEAM education empower all children to cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Join us in welcoming:? Michele Freeman, PHR, Chief People Officer? Leshia Hoot, Chief of Staff for the Executive Leadership Team? Rachel Mallernee, CFRE, Chief Advancement Officer We can’t wait to see the amazing things we’ll accomplish together!?

“Thinkery will always be part of our family's traditions, and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to be part of the Thinkery family.” A picture might be worth a thousand words, but this photo of Lynn Meredith from when we opened the doors to Thinkery - Meredith Learning Lab in Mueller more than ten years ago only begins to tell the story of a multi-decade journey of growth, impact, family, and most importantly joy. Learn more about the Meredith Family and Thinkery’s shared story on our blog! ??thinkeryaustin.org/blog

Thinkery has teamed up with the Association of Children's Museums to present a session at SXSW EDU called "The Untapped Learning Space: Children’s Museums." The session will explore how children’s museums have evolved over the last 125 years to become centers for multi-generational learning, prioritizing play, discovery, connection, and joy. It will feature leaders from children’s museums, including our CEO Andy Bell, Arthur G. Affleck, III, Kelly McKinley, and Jennifer Pace Robinson, who will share innovative ways their organizations engage with communities and approach transforming the way we learn, educate, collaborate, and view play. To support this session, you can vote at https://lnkd.in/gaZ9sWqH.

Thinkery is excited to continue the discussion on AI in education at SXSW EDU. Our session will feature a panel including our CEO Andy Bell, Harold Hughes, Dr.Cristine Legare, and Dr.Bruce Gearing. Together, they will discuss how to prepare Generation Alpha to thrive in an AI-driven world by tapping into their natural creativity and navigating the unique opportunities and challenges of being the first generation to experience AI from the start of their educational journeys. We need your vote for our panel, "AI in Education: Preparing Gen A as the Creators of Tomorrow," to help it secure a spot at the 2025 SXSW EDU stage. To learn more and vote for us visit https://lnkd.in/gTuQwA-m

Yesterday, there was unanimous vote to place the Travis County Cares Resolution on the ballot in November! This initiative will expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare, afterschool programs, and summer learning opportunities for more than 8,000 local children. All children have limitless potential but not all have limitless opportunity. This historic vote is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change this, and Thinkery is so proud to be a part of it as a member of the Affordable Child Care Now! Coalition. #AffordableChildCareNow #JoyfulLearningForAll ??https://ow.ly/PzJo50SXI5o