Needs From: The Volunteer Center

The Thinkery loves working with group volunteers.  We believe in our volunteers, their ideas and impact. Our volunteers allow us to deliver the quality and quantity of programs needed to serve Central Texas. All volunteers receive training to empower them in their roles at the Thinkery.

 

For starters, please start by filling out our group volunteer application:

https://thinkeryaustin.org/support-us/volunteer/organization/

 

At the Thinkery, we actively encourage participation from corporate foundations and community involvement groups. Group volunteers play an integral role in the Thinkery’s success while helping to build team spirit at your organization. The museum can work with groups, ranging in size for a variety of placements. The schedule we offer can be tailored to your needs, and do not necessarily require working directly with youth.

 

We have lots of fun options for group volunteerism:

For some groups, what tends to work best is a behind-the-scenes material preparation project. A lot of our exhibits and programs involve activities that require materials. This kind of projects lends itself well to networking and team-building. Projects may also involve things like: cutting out shapes, folding brochures or shirts, inventory of items, sorting legos etc.  Also, we work with groups for outreach events too. We often have activities tables set up at community events where we partner volunteers with staff to help facilitate fun activities with kids. These events tend to take place on weekends. This is a fun way to help out if your team wants to do something working more directly with kids.  Camp- Groups can come spend at day at camp! Volunteers would be assisting in thematic camps for pre-K to 5th graders, by helping to lead STEAM activities and going on field trips!  Scout Night- Volunteers will be assisting staff to lead STEAM activities with scouts. For more info about this program: http://thinkeryaustin.org/scout-nights/.  Family Nights- Exciting new program! This will be a fun family event with various themes. Volunteers will be assisting staff and helping to lead activities with kids and families. For more info about this program: https://thinkeryaustin.org/programs-events/special-events/. Volunteers must be 18+ and will be asked to acknowledge our alcohol policy. Another fun opportunity is to help out at our adult night, Thinkery21. Volunteers would be assisting with activities in the museum with adults. Volunteers must be 21 or older, and are not permitted to drink at the event. ONGOING: Birthday Parties – we host over 30 birthday parties each week. Volunteers are extremely helpful in making the parties a rockin’ good time. Groups (3-8 people) can sign up for a birthday shift on the weekend. The volunteers will be split up into 4 parties. Volunteers will be assisting staff with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities during the parties, with guests and families. Interested? Email Dana to find out about dates and times that are open. Volunteers must be 18+ We can also chat about ways to tailor a project to the skill set of your team! Also, you may be interested in our Steam on the Spot program as well: http://thinkeryaustin.org/programs-events/steam-on-the-spot/

 

If you would like, I would be happy to take you on a tour of the facility and talk in person about potential volunteer projects. Once I know more about what projects your team is most interested in, I can follow up with you about upcoming needs or work with you to line up a date.

The Thinkery loves working with individual and group volunteers.  We believe in our volunteers, their ideas and impact. Our volunteers allow us to deliver the quality and quantity of programs needed to serve Central Texas. All volunteers receive training to empower them in their roles at the Thinkery.

Individual volunteers can get involved here is many ways. Individuals can support with our exhibits, programs and activities by helping deliver STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities to families at our museum and at outreach events. There are also opportunities to mentor in schools as part of our EdExchange program that takes STEAM curriculum to schools, as well as our Tour program. Volunteers can also help out behind the scenes in our administrative offices, and by helping with material preparations for our workshops, series and programs. There is a myriad of roles to choose from that involve working with kids and families, as well as behind the scenes roles. Our schedules are flexible, with shifts that fall during weekdays, Wednesday and Friday nights, and weekends. Volunteers can try their hand at lots of different roles without committing to a minimum number of shifts per month. We have a large selection of volunteer opportunities with flexible schedules. I hope we can find a role that will be a great fit for you!

To get started, please begin by filling out an online volunteer application here: https://thinkeryaustin.org/support-us/volunteer/.

Once the application is received and reviewed, you will hear from me regarding our orientation sessions, and some required paperwork, as well a background check.

Please note: all volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.  For information on our teen programs, please visit http://thinkeryaustin.org/volunteens/