Thinkery is an Austin, TX-based nonprofit children’s museum and STEAM learning center. It started in 1983 as the Austin Children’s Museum, a traveling “museum without walls” that took educational programs to schools, parks, libraries, and other community venues. The first 5,000-square-foot facility opened in 1987, and the organization relocated to downtown. The 40,000-square-foot Meredith Learning Lab opened in Austin’s Mueller neighborhood in December 2013 and is now known as the Thinkery.
There are now two Thinkery branches in Central Texas. It’s also home to its signature museum, which offers hands-on, interactive learning experiences focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, and in 2024, it expanded its reach into another community with the opening of Thinkery–Del Valle in partnership with Del Valle ISD. Since its inception, it has helped over one million children and families.
It also offers field trips, family events, birthday parties, venue rentals, memberships, camps, preschool education, and educator development. Currently, summer camps are open to rising kindergarten through grade three students and run from June 1 to August 14, with 5 themes across the domains of nature, making, storytelling, community, and creative activities. There is a maximum of 20 campers per class and a staff/camper ratio of 1:10.
Thinkery also hosts the STEAM Learning Institute, offering research, exhibit development, and professional learning opportunities for educators. Partially funded with an IMLS grant, its Thinkery Connect HQ is composed of a Research Hub, Exhibit Prototyping Zone, and Community Resource Nook.
Thinkery is Austin’s non-profit children’s museum and also provides its education services to schools, families, and community partners. The museum spaces and learning programs are at the core of its hands-on STEAM learning efforts throughout Central Texas.
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