Jump to a topic:

• COVID-19/Coronavirus questions
• General Membership questions
• Gift Membership questions

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COVID-19/Coronavirus FAQ:

Due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic, will my membership be extended?

Once the museum re-opens, your Thinkery membership will be extended by the length of our closure so you can spend more time with us in 2021 and enjoy the online and in-person benefits of your membership!

Upon reopening, we will be reaching out to all Members and letting them know the length of their extension. We will also offer digital membership cards with the updated expiration date.

If I renew my membership, am I still eligible for an extension?

Yes! All members who renew will have the time of the extension added on to their next year of membership. Early renewals are a great way to support the museum during this difficult time. We appreciate you!

Are there any additional Member benefits during Thinkery’s closure?

Upon our closure we started sending our Member Memos weekly to keep our Members updated first on museum status updates, new Thinkery at Home content, exclusive deals at partnering restaurants, and more!

I purchased a gift membership during the closure, when will the gift recipient receive it?

Thank you for thinking of Thinkery for a gift for your loved one! We are continuing to process gift memberships as they are received. Since our Membership Team is working remotely, we are currently unable to mail gift packets. Once we return to the office, we will mail out all gift packets as quickly as possible!

However, as a gift-giver, you will receive a confirmation email once your gift has been processed. We included a generic gift notification in the confirmation email that can be printed or emailed. We also have digital notification options that can be sent to the recipient, by request. Just reach out to membership@thinkeryaustin.org.

Since the Museum is closed, is my membership refundable?

Memberships are nonrefundable since they count as a tax-deductible donation to the museum. Memberships will be extended by the length of our closure, so you can spend more time with us when we reopen!  As a nonprofit organization, Thinkery relies on membership support to continue providing virtual story times, design challenges, and more through our Thinkery At Home program. Thank you for your support and understanding.

What is the Thinkery Essential Membership program?

While the museum is closed, for every new membership that is purchased or existing membership that is renewed, Thinkery will donate a Family membership to an essential service provider, as a way for all of us to say ‘thank you!’

How do I request or nominate someone for a Thinkery Essential Membership?

Glad you asked! We are taking into consideration every essential service when determining who to donate these memberships to, including, but not limited to, healthcare workers, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, and more! There are so many people working hard to keep us safe during this time. We’d love to hear from you!

If you know an essential service provider or are one yourself, you can fill out this form to be considered. Memberships will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis when the museum reopens.

Is my membership tax-deductible?

Thinkery is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization. Some or all of your membership gift may be tax-deductible. The applicable amount will be listed on your membership purchase confirmation email. Please reach out to membership@thinkeryaustin.org if you need us to resend it.

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General Membership FAQ:

How long does a membership last?

Memberships provide outstanding benefits like free general admission, special discounts and exclusive access for a full year from the month purchased (expiring at the end of the month.) We will send you a few reminders by mail and email when your membership is up for renewal.

I received a renewal notice asking me to renew my membership before it expires. Will I lose any time off my current member year?

No way! By renewing early, you are helping us to defer much-needed funds to special programs, exhibit development, and other exciting projects. We will never deduct time from your membership year! Your membership will be extended by twelve months from your current expiration date.

I am interested in joining Thinkery as a Member, but I’d like to visit first. What can I do?

Many visitors decide after a fun day at Thinkery that they want to become a Member and come back, again and again, all year long! Visitors who purchase general admission tickets may apply that cost towards an annual membership on the same day as their visit.

Ticket refunds are limited to the number of admissions allowed by the membership and may only be applied with the ticket receipt at the admissions desk the same day as the visit.  General admission ticket refunds may not be applied after the day of the visit or to memberships purchased online.

Do Members have to reserve tickets for admission?

We recommend it! Thinkery has seen such an amazing response from the community, our membership family now more includes 10,000 households! With so many loyal supporters, we are experiencing large crowds of visitors, especially on weekends, school holidays and during special program days. Timed tickets allow us to manage the number of visitors entering the building at a time to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for our guests. During these busy times, we strongly encourage all visitors—Members included—to reserve tickets in advance to ensure a quick and easy check-in, and guaranteed entry.

Please bring your tickets (either printed or displayed on your smartphone) and your membership card for express check-in.

How do I reserve tickets?

You may reserve admission tickets for your next visit, as well as register for camps, birthday parties, events, and other programs at my.thinkeryaustin.org. To ensure you receive your membership benefits and discounts, you will need to register the email address you provided to Thinkery with your membership enrollment and create a password. If you have any issues with logging in or receiving your discount online, reach out to the Membership Team!

Once logged in, choose the date; select tickets according to the ages of your family members; add the tickets to your cart; and finally, check out. A confirmation email with a link to your print-at-home tickets will be sent to you once your order has been processed. We can always resend the confirmation email if needed.

If I join online today, when can I begin making reservations using my membership?

Memberships purchased online may be used immediately for general admission or to purchase programs online at my.thinkeryaustin.org! If you’re joining us for general admission, you can show your confirmation email at Admissions to check-in!

When will I receive my membership card? Can I visit before then?

Your membership welcome materials, including your membership card, will be mailed to you within 2–3 weeks. If you would like to visit Thinkery before you receive these materials, you have a few options:

• You can reserve tickets in advance at my.thinkeryaustin.org.
• If you joined online, you may present the confirmation email receipt you received as a temporary membership card at Admissions.
• You can request a digital card from the Membership Team at no charge, before your visit or at Admissions for your next visit.

Who should I list on my membership?

You may list up to two adults within the same household on your membership — the main account holder and their partner/spouse (if applicable.)  We do not record the names of additional visitors, caregivers, or children for tax purposes and privacy.

Can I put the membership in my child’s name?

Membership cardholders must be at least 18 years old.

What if I lose my membership card?

No worries! Our Admissions staff can verify your membership status during your visit. You may be asked to present your ID in lieu of your membership card. You may also submit a request for a new card or a digital card at the Admissions desk. There is a $5 fee for any replacement cards, but digital cards are free!

Can I have two membership cards?

Additional cards may be printed for a $5 per card processing fee.

Can I use my membership for field trips?

Members may receive up to two free adult admissions when chaperoning field trips. Admission is limited to the adult Members named on the membership card. For more information, see our Field Trips page.

Can I share a membership with my friend or relative’s family?

Memberships are non-transferable and meant to be used by your immediate family/household.  However, you are welcome to bring the occasional guest or extended family member with you during your visit. As a nonprofit organization, Thinkery relies heavily on membership and admission support to continue providing innovative exhibits, outstanding programs and fun learning opportunities for Texas families. This policy is intended to prevent any misuse of memberships. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Can I use my Thinkery membership at other museums?

Members at the Bloomers and Premier levels may receive discounted admission to over 200 participating children’s museums through the Association of Children’s Museums Reciprocal Network (ACM) and free admission to more than 150 technology and science centers through the Association of Science and Technology Centers Passport Program (ASTC).  In order to redeem these benefits, you must present a valid Thinkery membership card with the logos for ACM and ASTC.

ACM policy states that Reciprocal Network (RN) members are entitled to a 50% discount for up to 6 people (including the cardholder). Visitors wishing to get this discount at participating museums need to bring their membership card with the RN logo in color, and the cardholder must be present to receive discounted admission. For more information, please visit the ACM website.

ASTC policy dictates that visitors must live outside a 90-mile radius from the museum they wish to visit in order to receive benefits. Therefore, Austin metro area residents will be unable to present membership cards from other institutions to receive admission benefits at Thinkery. Please visit the ASTC website for more details.

Please note: Because they fall within a 90-mile radius, The DoSeum in San Antonio does not provide free admission to Thinkery Members. As a participating museum in the ACM network however, The DoSeum will provide half-priced admission to Thinkery Members with a Premier Family level or higher membership.

My family is moving, can I give my membership to someone else?

Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you have a Premier Family level or higher membership, you can continue to use it at participating ASTC and ACM institutions for the remainder of your membership year.

Is my membership tax-deductible?

Thinkery is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization. Some or all of your membership gift may be tax-deductible. The applicable amount will be listed on your membership in your confirmation email (if purchased online), as well as your welcome letter.

I’d like to upgrade my membership, but it’s not yet time to renew. What can I do?

You can upgrade to a higher level of membership at any time simply by paying the difference between the two membership levels.  We will provide you with a new membership card, but your membership expiration date will not change.

However, if you choose to renew at the higher level by paying the full price of your desired membership level, your membership renewal will take effect immediately. This will give you the benefits of the higher membership level for the remainder of your membership year—plus another twelve months!

To upgrade your membership, talk to our staff at Admissions or please call the Membership Team at (512) 469-6225.

Can my caregiver bring my children into the museum without me?

 We understand that you can’t always be the one to take your kiddo to Thinkery and wouldn’t want them to miss out! Whether it’s a nanny, babysitter, grandparent, or any other caregiver, they are welcome to check-in using your membership with your permission. They should have your membership card on hand and be able to verify your contact information. If you have a Premier Family or Premier Plus level membership, they can keep the Caregiver Card on hand!

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Gift Memberships FAQ:

Can I give a membership to someone as a gift?

Yes!  Memberships make great gifts for families and last all year long.  Gift memberships are defined as a membership purchased for a family other than your own, living in a different household. You may purchase a gift membership through our website, by calling the Membership Team at (512) 469-6225 or by speaking to any of our friendly Admissions staff.

Can I delay the start of a gift membership?

No. Once we process the membership (within 2-3 business days of purchase) it will be activated in our system. However, all membership expiration dates are extended to the end of the month, so the Member will still receive a full twelve months of membership!

Do I have to include the recipient’s email?

We send the majority of our communication via email. We don’t want anyone to miss out on important updates on upcoming exhibits, events, and special programs. Additionally, emails are used as a login for our online ticketing system and will be required to reserve tickets. If you are unsure of sharing the recipient’s address, please feel free to leave it out. Members can provide their email address at any time. To avoid ruining any surprises, gift recipients will not receive a confirmation email at the time of the gift membership purchase.

Will Thinkery send the membership materials to me or to the gift recipient?

We will send the packet directly to the recipient unless otherwise requested. Please contact the Membership Team with any special delivery requests.

Have more questions? Contact the Membership Team at (512) 469-6225 or membership@thinkeryaustin.org. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Thinkery soon and thank you for your support!

Membership benefits are non-transferable and are to be used by the Member’s household and guests only.  Members may receive up to two free admissions when chaperoning field trips. Admission is limited to the adult Members named on the membership card. As a nonprofit organization, Thinkery relies on membership and admission support to continue providing innovative exhibits, outstanding programs, and fun learning opportunities for Texas families. This policy is intended to prevent any misuse of memberships, which results in loss of revenue for our community programs. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Membership contributions are tax-deductible. Thinkery is a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN: 74-2288789