Our People

Staff

Amelia is an Oregon native and a former bookseller and display artist who graduated with a BA in Art from UO. She first studied art and costume design at SOSC in Ashland with costume designers from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Amelia’s post-graduate studies were focused in non-profit management. Past work as a bookseller, display artist, book cover designer, costume and prop-maker, and bookstore event planner have informed her work at Adventure!. She is currently on the board of Lane County Cultural Coalition and volunteers with the Oregon Museums Association. She formerly volunteered as Secretary of a local PTA, has read stories to children in parks through United Way, worked as a long-term substitute preschool teacher at a local preschool co-op, and creates public chalk art and artwork for benefit art shows whenever possible. Together with her teenage child and her spouse of twenty-three years, Amelia enjoys geocaching, making things, hiking, and road trips.

Amelia Reising, Founding Director

she/her

Rylie grew up in Northern California and moved to Oregon to pursue English and Creative Writing degrees at the University of Oregon. She joined Adventure! in 2019, quickly moving into a management position after demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and passion for the museum’s programs. She played an integral part in developing camp curricula and heightened safety protocols during COVID, and began writing grants for the museum in early 2022. Rylie is passionate about the nonprofit sector and helping kids thrive, and dedicates significant time outside of work to further support these endeavors through her volunteerism with Children’s Legacy Foundation Network. She also recently began working as a consultant for the Fern Ridge Library Foundation, further offering and enhancing her skills as a nonprofit development professional. When not actively supporting the vital work these organizations accomplish, Rylie spends time with her cat, dog, friends, niece, books, and crafts.

Rylie Gryczko, Development & HR

she/her

Asher has worked at Adventure! Children’s Museum for the past 5 years and counting. With a deep passion for the work he does, Asher hopes to continue utilizing his leadership skills and creative expertise to further the growth of the museum. When he’s not greeting families at the front desk, Asher can be found at home spending time with his wife as they tend to their two cats, twelve chickens, and many fish tanks.

Asher Brewer, Visitor Services Management & Events

he/him

CJ is lead Employee and Volunteer Floor Trainer at Adventure! Children’s Museum. CJ has been with us for 7 years and when she isn’t completing rounds on the floor, she enjoys knitting, reading, and doing karaoke.

Catherine Weiseke, Visitor Services Training & Facilitation

she/her

Liz has been a preschool teacher for over 30 years, working at the Y, Head Start, and Early Childhood Cares. She has a 15 year-old daughter who loves to volunteer at the museum. Liz loves teaching summer camps, sensory activities, and science experiments, and enjoys getting to know families and regular attendees for her classes. “Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions - opening doors for them in places they could not imagine.” - Yawar Baig.

Liz Hegedus, Visitor Services

she/her

Board of Directors

  • Co-President, she/her

    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 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 helped design, implement, and adapt exhibits in our expansion area, and recently was elected co-president of the board.

  • Co-President, she/her

    Stephanie grew up in the east coast but has been an Oregonian for over a decade, pursuing her M. Ed. at the University of Oregon and dedicating her energy and expertise to local museums and education efforts. She currently works with an organization that teaches job skills to and supports workers with disabilities. 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 Springfield. She was recently elected co-president of the board.

  • Treasurer, she/her

    Krystal is an organizer at heart with a background in a variety of industries. She has a degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of North Texas (Go Mean Green!) and has worked in technical theater, outdoor recreation, biotech, and medical. Project management and operations are near and dear to her heart, as are her husband and young son. She has served on the board of the Eugene chapter of MOMS International (disbanded as of 2020), serves on the boards of MAEVE Eugene and Little Hands Can, served as Den Leaders to a local Cub Scout group, and volunteers regularly around town. In her spare time she loves to craft, read, learn about bees, and support local organizations!

  • Secretary, she/her

    Kami is a California transplant to Oregon. She holds a music degree from the University of the Pacific and a Masters from the University of Oregon. She currently teaches private music lessons and teaches music in the Bethel School District. Kami lives in Eugene with her husband and two awesome sons. She is proud to be the board Secretary of A!CM and eager to help facilitate a children’s museum locally for children to explore. She is an active volunteer with the Eugene Asian Celebration 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 sons’ Japanese language immersion school, performs with a local choir, and has a passion for community and children’s causes. Kami has been a member of A!CM’s board of directors since the project’s inception in 2015.

  • Member-at-Large, she/her

    Kara’s experience as a preschool teacher has proved handy in wrangling and homeschooling her own five children! Kara’s perspective as a homeschooling parent has helped our board grow and improve, and she has assisted in many capacities at the museum: cleaning, organizing, sewing aprons for the bakery, prepping crafts for events, and encouraging her kids to be helpers. Whether in the museum assisting with an event or sharing cookies at a board meeting, Kara’s efforts to help the museum thrive have had a major effect.

  • Member-at-Large, she/her

    Tanja previously owned and operated 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 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 A!CM.