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Thinking Back: Our Favorite Moments and Memories from 2016

2016 was a "super" year at Thinkery! — 2016 was a “super” year at Thinkery!

As we reflect on a truly wonderful year here at Thinkery, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. We are so thankful for you—our Members, our visitors and our friends. Thank you for making us a part of your family this year.

To celebrate, here are some of our favorite moments and memories from 2016.

January

We kicked off 2016 with our sold-out Thinkery21: Super Powers! Science Facts, Fantasy & Fiction on January 14.

Thinkery 2016 - January Family Night — We kept the hits comin’ at our super cool Family Night: Get Super Powered! on January 15.

February

Thinkery 2016 - February Thinkery21 — Love was in the air in February! Whole Foods Market joined us for our February Thinkery 21.

Thinkery 2016 - VolunTeen — Our VolunTeen cohorts created vision boards after reflecting on their personal futures, strengths and goals. So inspiring!

March

Thinkery 2016 - Capital One — During SXSW, Capital One hosted us at the Capital One House at Antone’s. Thinkery guests made 3-D vegetable heads using fresh produce while exploring Ozobots.

Thinkery 2016 - Spring Break Camps — Spring break Thinkery Camps were a blast!

Thinkery 2016 - Think About Music — We partnered with Amazon Music to present Think About Music, an official SXSW event jam-packed with live music and activities led by singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb.

Thinkery 2016 - NanoDays — Nano Days—a celebration of the smallest science—was a complete success thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

April

Thinkery 2016 - April Thinkery21 — Thinkery21: Come to Your Senses explored the science behind each of our five senses.

Thinkery 2016 - April Family Night — Brick enthusiasts went bananas for our 2nd Annual Bricks & Blocks Bonanza on April 8.

Thinkery 2016 - National Volunteer Week — April 10–16 was National Volunteer Week. We loved celebrating our incredible volunteers, VolunTeens and interns!

Thinkery 2016 - Nordstrom — On April 16, Thinkery Members and friends painted ceramic fish tiles for The Domain’s new Nordstrom. And the best part? All proceeds from our painting party benefited Thinkery!

Thinkery 2016 - Bernoulli Blower — We added our brand-new Bernoulli Blower in April!

May

Thanks to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, we expanded our EdExchange program into several branches of the Austin Public Library system. In May, local librarians attended EdExchange training at Thinkery to prepare for Teen STEAM’s launch.

Thinkery 2016 - Maker Faire Austin — Everyone loved constructing electric canjos out of recycled cans and guitar strings at Maker Faire Austin. Our booth was a Staff Pick!

Thinkery 2016 - NIBirthday — On May 14, National Instruments celebrated 40 years in Austin with #NIBirthday, a special birthday party here at Thinkery.

Thinkery 2016 - EdExchange Showcase — Our end-of-year EdExchange Showcase on May 24 highlighted the amazing work of our 2015–2016 EdExchange program participants and their students.

June

Thinkery 2016 - June Thinkery21 — Southwestern University’s John Ross, PhD created cool soap bubble surfaces at Thinkery21: Strength in Numbers.

Our creative and collaborative Think Labs debuted June 4. — Our creative and collaborative Think Labs debuted June 4.

What a fun summer! Thinkery Camps kicked off June 6 with Once Upon a Design. — What a fun summer! Thinkery Camps kicked off June 6 with Once Upon a Design.

Thinkery 2016 - Teen STEAM — We launched our summertime Teen STEAM collaboration with Austin Public Library on June 15.

National Week of Making was June 17–23. From screenprinting to robotics to papercraft, it was a wild week of maker madness! — National Week of Making was June 17–23. From screenprinting to robotics to papercraft, it was a wild week of maker madness!

In Tell Me a Story: Process & Tools to Create, our Summer EdExchange program participants explored digital storytelling. — In Tell Me a Story: Process & Tools to Create, our Summer EdExchange program participants explored digital storytelling.

July

Thinkery 2016 - Community Night — Our weekly Community Nights were very popular in 2016. We loved hanging out with H-E-Buddy and Bacchus!

Thinkery 2016 - Follower Photo — We love this photo from Instagram follower @kirstjen’s July visit to Thinkery! Share your family’s experience using #ThinkeryATX.

Thinkery 2016 - Knitting Around — We spent our summer “Knitting Around” in Design Yard!

In our final Summer EdExchange workshop of 2016, The Way Things Go: Mechanics & Movement, participants tackled puppetry, automata, Rube Goldberg contraptions and take apart toys. — In our final Summer EdExchange workshop of 2016, The Way Things Go: Mechanics & Movement, participants tackled puppetry, automata, Rube Goldberg contraptions and take apart toys.

August

Thinkery 2016 - Member Morning — A Member Morning to remember! On August 7, Thinkery Members were treated to tasty Hat Creek Burger Co. breakfast tacos and delicious Cuvee Coffee.

Our August 23 Volunteer Recognition Event was a special opportunity to thank those who share their time and talents with Thinkery. — Our August 23 Volunteer Recognition Event was a special opportunity to thank those who share their time and talents with Thinkery.

Mmm, cheese! Antonelli’s Cheese Shop joined us August 25 for Thinkery21: Transformations. — Mmm, cheese! Antonelli’s Cheese Shop joined us August 25 for Thinkery21: Transformations.

Thinkery 2016 - Hatch the Chicken — Happy birthday! Our first batch of Hatch the Chicken chicks began pipping on August 29.

September

Thinkery 2016 - EdExchange 2017 — On September 7, we kicked off our 2016–2017 EdExchange cohort.

Thinkery 2016 - Grandparents Day — Our first-ever Grandparents Day was a sweet, special way to spend time with loved ones.

IMAGINARIUM 2016 was a HUGE success! On September 16, Thinkery raised more than $500,000 through sponsorships and night-of fundraising. We’re still GLOWING! — IMAGINARIUM 2016 was a HUGE success! On September 16, Thinkery raised more than $500,000 through sponsorships and night-of fundraising. We’re still GLOWING!

Thinkery 2016 - Austin Museum Day — We love participating in Austin Museum Day every year, and this year was no exception! Visitor Ryan Browne spotted Google co-founder and Alphabet CEO Larry Page enjoying #MuseumDay2016 at Thinkery and snapped this pic.

October

Thinkery 2016 - New Membership — In October, we introduced our brand-new membership levels, benefits and payment plans. We’re thrilled to offer more options to fit your family’s needs!

Thinkery 2016 - Domain Opening — The ceramic fish tiles painted by Thinkery Members and friends were unveiled at a special party at the new Nordstrom in The Domain. What an honor!

Thinkery 2016 - Art Star — We kicked off our new Little Thinkers Club program in October with two fun series—Art Start: Nature as Our Canvas and Tinkering Tots: Make It Move.

Thinkery 2016 - ThinkPOP — On October 15, we partnered with POP Austin for ThinkPOP, an intimate evening of music, drinks and interactive art. Special thanks to Danneel and Jensen Ackles for their generous support!

Thinkery 2016 - Dell EMC World — Director of Education Dr. Robin Gose attended and spoke at the Dell EMC World conference in October.

Thinkery 2016 - October Thinkery21 — When the entire museum turns into an interactive puzzle, everyone has a great time. And as you can imagine, Thinkery21: Inheritance Hunt – The Tequila Fortune was a huge hit.

What a hoot! Our sold-out Family Night: Halloween Hootenanny on October 28 was a kooky way to celebrate the spookiest season of ‘em all. — What a hoot! Our sold-out Family Night: Halloween Hootenanny on October 28 was a kooky way to celebrate the spookiest season of ‘em all.

Thinkery 2016 - Thinkery — Halloween fun at Thinkery!

November

Thinkery 2016 - Making — Our VolunTeens had fun making in Space 8!

Thinkery 2016 - Member Holiday Celebration — Our Member Holiday Celebration on November 11 kicked off the holiday season here at Thinkery!

Thinkery 2016 - Google Field Trip Days — Thanks to a grant from Google for Education, ~3,300 students from 25+ Austin ISD and Austin-area charter schools visited Thinkery in November for FREE. To celebrate this three-week partnership and project, we hosted a special Google Field Trip Days event on November 18.

Thinkery 2016 - Working at Thinkery — We had some fun playing and learning, too!

December

Thinkery 2016 - December Thinkery21 — ‘Twas the season! Thinkery21: JingleBooze was a holly, jolly exploration of seasonal art and science.

Thinkery 2016 - Gingerbread Workshops — Our popular Gingerbread Workshops were a fun and festive way for friends and families to design, build and decorate gingerbread houses.