BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board members can be reached by email sent to AdventureChildrensMuseum@gmail.com Volunteers are invited to email AdventureMuseumVolunteers@gmail.com
Amelia Reising
Founding Director / Board President
Amelia is an Oregon native and a former bookseller and display artist who graduated from the art department at the University of Oregon. She first studied art and costume design at what was then Southern Oregon State College, working under costume designers from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Amelia’s post-graduate studies were focused in non-profit management. Her work as a graphic designer and as a costumer and props maker for local theater (Free Shakespeare and Roving Park Players) helped her hone many skills that aid in the planning of ACM and personal projects. Together with her young son and her spouse of sixteen years, Amelia enjoys geocaching, making things, and road trips. She volunteers as Secretary of a local PTA, has worked reading to children in parks through the United Way, worked as a parent-teacher and substitute preschool teacher at a local preschool co-op, and participates in chalk art competitions and several local benefit art shows every year. She also designs book-related materials for the Pacific Northwest Bookseller’s Association as a contractor, and freelances in cover and marketing design.
Christine Adams
Vice-President
Christine is a mother of two young children, a vocation aided by her training and background in large animal management and husbandry. Though she worked for years caring for large cats (lions and tigers) in other states, locally, Christine has volunteered with the Cascade Raptor Center and has fostered shelter animals. Her volunteerism has extended to the classroom as a parent-teacher at a local preschool co-op, where she also served on the board of directors. At her son’s Spanish language immersion school, Christine serves in parent leadership and heads up various fundraising efforts. Christine’s humble service to her community has continued at Adventure! since very early on in the project; she joined the board just a few months after the board formed, and was instrumental in establishing our first museum space at the Valley River Center. She has also been a staunch advocate of networking with other museum folks, convincing the board to join the Oregon Museums Association and attend conference sessions to help us grow in expertise and connections. Christine was promoted to board Vice President in 2019.
Kami Hendrix
Secretary and Strategic Planning Chair
Kami is a California transplant to Oregon. She holds a music degree from University of the Pacific and has pursued graduate studies from the University of Oregon. She currently teaches private music lessons and volunteers teaching a Thursday morning music class for young children at Adventure! Children’s Museum. Kami lives in Eugene with her husband and two awesome sons. She is proud to be the board Secretary of ACM and eager to help facilitate a children’s museum locally for her sons to explore. She is an active volunteer with many local organizations, and has served on the boards of Eugene’s Parent-Child Preschool, Mom’s Club, and Tiny Tots Playground. Kami has also volunteered as PTO Secretary for her son’s Japanese language immersion school and has a passion for community and children’s causes.
Tanja Petal
Diversity and Outreach Board Member
Tanja owns a small, mobile bookstore specializing in multicultural books for children. Through school book fairs, fundraisers, community events, and teaching workshops in cultural and reading literacy, she’s actively engaged in bringing cultural awareness to her community. Her educational background is in general science and from Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. With her spouse and their 12-year-old son, she likes to explore, hike, garden, cook, and celebrate with family and friends. Through international travel and hosting foreign exchange students, she’s experienced many different lifestyles and learned the deepest humility and respect for cultures different from her own. Detail-oriented, and with a shared passion and vision, she is thrilled to serve on the board of ACM!
Denicia Ahrenholtz
Expansion Project Manager, Grants & Fundraising Chair, and Board Member at Large
Denicia is an Oregon native who has traveled and lived in various other locales far and wide, before coming home to roost. Nicia has a background in art and literature and has a passion for making things. Her current work at a local tech company requires her to be an adept problem-solver and team coordinator, making her an excellent fit for our board of directors. Nicia lives with her husband and two children, who share her love of creating things and her excellent imagination. Denicia has taken an active role in helping design, implement, and adapt exhibits in our expansion area.
Alec B. Chunn
Treasurer
Alec is a Youth Services Librarian at Eugene Public Library. In addition to his library science degree, Alec holds a MA in Children’s Literature from Simmons College and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Before landing here in Eugene, Alec served in AmeriCorps leading storytimes in libraries, preschools, and childcare centers throughout Josephine County. He has also volunteered with SMART. Alec enjoys books, bicycles, and exploring the great outdoors – the ideal day combines all three!
Kendra Henriksen
Board Member at Large
Kendra is an Oregon native who attended high school in Corvallis and the University of Oregon in Eugene. She has worked with children in many of her past jobs, and currently works in special education. Additionally, Kendra has volunteered with Adventure! Children’s Museum at special events for more than two years before recently being elected to the board of directors.
Stephanie Barber
Board Member at Large
Stephanie grew up on the east coast but has been an Oregonian for over a decade, pursuing her M. Ed. at the University of Oregon and diving into museum and school education environments ever since. Stephanie began volunteering with Adventure! Children's Museum in early 2019 and joined our board of directors soon after. Stephanie and her family live in Eugene.
YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
Our youth advisory board is intended to give children and teens a voice in how the museum grows and changes over the years. They will be invited to give feedback on current exhibits, offer ideas for new exhibits, and even volunteer in the museum to help create exhibits and materials for our visitors! Please visit our Events page for info about our next Youth Advisory Board meeting!
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Our advisory committee is populated by community members who actively assist with fundraising and planning for the museum. Time commitments vary from person to person, but however much or however little time you are able to dedicate, we’re happy to have you! If you have interest in joining our Board of Directors or our Advisory Committee, please drop us a line! We know your skills will fit right in.