Community Partner Highlight: Explorium Denton

Welcome to our last community partner highlight of the semester. It's been an incredible journey to show everyone who our wonderful partners are! Now last but not least, we have Dinora Padilla Avina from Explorium Denton!

 

1. Your name and title?
    

Dinora Padilla Avina, Executive Director

 

2.  What is your organization and what does it do?
    

Explorium Denton Children’s Museum. We believe that children should be able to explore their curiosities in a safe environment and to educate children means more than sending them to school. We want to provide opportunities for children to experience the wonder and excitement of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on exhibits, multimedia, and content-rich programs that encourage exploration, engage the learner, and ultimately educate the child.

 

3. What is your organization’s mission?
    

Our Mission: “Engage. Explore. Educate.”

 

4. Why did you choose to work in this field?
    

I choose to work at Explorium because I am passionate about the learn by play method. Explorium provides just that for the children and parents in our community. Every day that we are open there is an opportunity for a child to learn or refine a skill they have been practicing by doing what they are created to do, play! We make it fun, challenging, and exciting to learn in an environment that is safe and child lead.  

 

5. What led you to work with the Center for Leadership and Service?
    

We focus on being educators to the whole community, we don’t just focus on kids. I want the local college student population to have an opportunity to also learn a new skill while in our museum. From getting a crash course on a sewing machine so they can help us with a sewing project to figuring out they like working with kids and families or maybe by coming to volunteer they realized they have other goals. Whatever it is they learn, that is the objective, learn something new by being part of our Explorium family.  

 

6. What is your favorite initiative that you have worked on so far?
    

I really enjoyed the zoom virtual volunteer fair. It was a different feeling but I felt connected to the students who attended the session. I was able to make great connections with a few students who are still coming by to volunteer.

 

7. What would you say to students who want to get involved?
    

I would say to get connected somehow, it is still very meaningful for all parties! We have opportunities to volunteer online and in person. Just ask, and we can figure out the right volunteer job for your comfort level.