Nature Exchange™ is a unique, proprietary concept founded by Science North on the belief that we learn best from our day-to-day activities. Exploring the world outside our doors, picking up and handling real things, and engaging in conversation with meaningful people in our lives – these are fundamental in forming the framework for much of our understanding and respect for the natural world.
The Nature Exchange™ encourages people of all ages to appreciate nature and to learn about the biological and physical components of our environment, through observation, background research and responsible collecting.
Nature Exchange™ is an educational experience designed to encourage us to appreciate the natural world by challenging people to learn about the biological and physical components of our environment. By harnessing our innate powers of observation, driving curiosity and fascination with collecting and trading with one another, Nature Exchange™ inspires excitement for self- motivated learning. This motivation is a strong driver for membership sales and repeat visitation. Data suggests that over 55% of members are active traders at the Nature Exchange™ experience. In addition, 73% of first-time traders return to trade again!
Customizable floorplans.
At some point in our lives, almost all of us have assembled a collection from nature: seashells from a summer holiday, rocks from our travels or insects found in our backyards. Do you remember the pleasure you derived from these simple collections, the feelings of curiosity and fascination as you studied each item?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Visitors bring their found natural objects to the Nature Exchange. Trained staff initiate a discussion with the collector: what the object is, where it came from, why it is special and any other pertinent details. Visitors are encouraged to further their knowledge of nature through research in an adjacent resource library.
Visitors are awarded "points" for their natural objects based on criteria developed in consultation with Nature Exchange hosts. Some criteria are fixed -- ethics of collection methods and regional availability -- while others are more subjective -- the enthusiasm, initiative, and knowledge of the trader.
Visitors can then use the points towards new items from the ever-changing Nature Exchange collection, or the points can be stored in the software’s “banking” system to use later.
Join the network of Nature Exchange locations across North America! Visitors can access their points through the database and make trades at any Nature Exchange location.
Science North – Sudbury, ON
TELUS World of Science – Edmonton, AB
Chattahoochee Nature Center – Roswell, GA
Springs Preserve at the Desert Living Center – Las Vegas, NV
Woodland Park Zoo – Seattle, WA
Tulsa Zoo – Tulsa, OK
Kidspace Museum – Pasadena, CA
Exploration Place – Prince George, BC
Gilroy Gardens – Gilroy, CA
Niagara Glen – Niagara Falls, ON
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Museum – Santa Barbara, CA
Roper Mountain Science Center – Greenville, SC
Pacific Grove Natural History Museum – Pacific Grove, CA
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