Northern Initiatives

MAKING AN IMPACT ACROSS THE NORTH

Becoming integral to the fabric of all communities in Northern Ontario ensures all people across the North will have access to, and be represented in, science experiences. Science North continues to grow its presence through increased partnerships, new outreach events, educational programming, and a strong focus on strengthening our presence in Northwestern Ontario to reach more audiences than ever before.

Science North is proud to be Northern Ontario’s science centre and offers many experiences across Northern Ontario!

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NORTHERN NATURE EXCHANGE

Northern Nature Exchange is a learning environment that encourages people of all ages to appreciate nature and learn about the environment through observation, research, and responsible collecting. Bring in the items you've found in nature and trade them for things in our collection.  

Based on the popular Nature Exchange at Science North and Rockhound Lab at Dynamic Earth, NNE allows visitors, children, and adults alike, to bring items they’ve found in nature and receive points to exchange for other natural items in the NNE collection.

Exchange things like rocks, shells, fossils, and pinecones. You can even exchange notes you made about plants or animals you observed in nature, or an art project about a thunderstorm! Trading is based on points. We award you points for what you know about your item, what makes it different, and the quality of it.

The more you learn about your item, the more points you collect! Save your points in the database to save up and trade for a very special piece at a later date.

Traders can access their account at any of the locations as well as at Science North and Dynamic Earth. Some centres require admission to enter.  

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NORTHERN NATURE EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

NNE — KENORA, ONTARIO

LAKE OF THE WOODS DISCOVERY CENTRE

• For more information about the Kenora Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre, visit visitkenora.ca
  • 931 Lakeview Dr, Kenora, ON, P9N 3P8

NNE — THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO

THE BOREAL MUSEUM

• For more information about The Boreal Museum, visit borealmuseum.com
  • 215 Red River Rd, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 1A5

NNE — SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO

CANADIAN BUSHPLANE HERITAGE CENTRE

• Included with general admission. For more information about the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, visit bushplane.com
  • 50 Pim St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 3G4

NNE — TIMMINS, ONTARIO

SCIENCE TIMMINS

• Included with general admission. For more information about Science Timmins, visit sciencetimmins.com
  • 225 Fifth Ave, Science Village Lane, Timmins, ON, P4N 7C9

NNE — RED LAKE, ONTARIO

RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE

• Included with general admission. For more information about the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre, visit redlakemuseum.com
  • 51A ON-105, Red Lake, ON, P0V 2M0

NNE — SIOUX NARROWS, ONTARIO

NORTHERN ONTARIO SPORTFISHING CENTRE

• For more information about the Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre, visit sportfishingcentre.com
  • 5714 Highway 71, Sioux Narrows, ON, P0X 1N0

NNE — PARRY SOUND, ONTARIO

MUSEUM ON TOWER HILL

• Included with general admission. For more information about the Museum on Tower Hill, visit museumontowerhill.com
  • 17 George St, Parry Sound, ON, P2A 2X4

NNE — NORTH BAY, ONTARIO

NORTH BAY AREA COMING SOON!

SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

1. Nature needs bird’s nests, dead animals, and living plants. Please leave them behind.
2. Take only one each of the different things you find. You only need a few to make a good collection.
3. Take only things that are common and not protected by law. 

Other restrictions apply. Visit the nearest location to learn more about items you can trade.

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THINK HUBS

Visit the Northern THINK Hub where you can Tinker, Hack, Innovate, Network, and Know!

Bring your inspiration and innovation, embrace failure and challenge yourself to try something different! Delve into processes that mirror the scientific method, design thinking, and creative approaches to problem-solving.

Inspired by Science North’s reimagined 4^th floor, activities are designed to allow participants to create products they are proud of and that have personal relevance. Push yourself while learning new skills and concepts and developing positive attitudes for problem-solving engineering.

Challenges require building, making, testing and problem-solving, and provide an opportunity for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. At the THINK Hub, you are in charge of your own experience!

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NOW OPEN AT

THINK — NORTH BAY, ONTARIO

NORTH BAY MUSEUM

• Included with museum general admission. For more information about the North Bay Museum, please visit northbaymuseum.com
  • 100 Ferguson St, North Bay, ON, P1B 1W8

THINK — KENORA, ONTARIO

LAKE OF THE WOODS DISCOVERY CENTRE

• For more information about the Kenora Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre, visit visitkenora.ca
  • 931 Lakeview Dr, Kenora, ON, P9N 3P8

THINK — FORT FRANCES, ONTARIO

FORT FRANCES PUBLIC LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

• Free admission at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. For more information about the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, visit ffpltc.ca
  • 601 Reid Ave, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 0A2​

THINK — SAULT STE. MARIE

SAULT STE. MARIE PUBLIC LIBRARY — NORTH BRANCH

• Free admission at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. For more information about the the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, visit ssmpl.ca
  • C, Northern Ave. East, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 4H6

THINK — TIMMINS, ONTARIO

SCIENCE TIMMINS

• Included with general admission. For more information about Science Timmins, visit sciencetimmins.com
  • 225 Fifth Ave, Science Village Lane, Timmins, ON, P4N 7C9

PROUDLY SUPPORTED AND FUNDED BY

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JANE GOODALL – REASONS FOR HOPE EXHIBIT

Be inspired to make a difference as you experience an exclusive 25-minute version of the film Jane Goodall – Reasons for Hope.

The exhibit will highlight Dr. Jane Goodall’s four pillars of hope: the resilience of nature, the power of youth, the indomitable human spirit, and the amazing human intellect.

Plus, visitors can dive into an interactive exhibit that accompanies the film where they'll learn about biodiversity and our environment.

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

JGRFH — NORTH BAY, ONTARIO

NORTH BAY MUSEUM

• Film only (no exhibit) at this location. Included with museum general admission. For more information about the North Bay Museum, please visit northbaymuseum.com
  • 100 Ferguson St, North Bay, ON, P1B 1W8

JGRFH — THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO

THUNDER BAY MUSEUM

• Included with museum general admission. For more information about the Thunder Bay Museum, please visit thunderbaymuseum.com
  • 425 Donald St. E, Thunder Bay, ON, P7E 5V1

JGRFH — KENORA, ONTARIO

LAKE OF THE WOODS DISCOVERY CENTRE

• For more information about the Kenora Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre, visit visitkenora.ca
  • 931 Lakeview Dr, Kenora, ON, P9N 3P8

JGRFH — SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO

CANADIAN BUSHPLANE HERITAGE CENTRE

• Included with general admission. For more information about the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, visit bushplane.com
  • 50 Pim St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 3G4

JGRFH — COCHRANE, ONTARIO

COCHRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Free admission at the Cochrane Public Library. For more information about the Cochrane Public Library, visit cochrane.olsn.ca
  • 178 4th Ave, Cochrane, ON, P0L 1C0

The Jane Goodall – Reasons for Hope exhibit is proudly supported by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

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ANISHINAABEWIN MAAMNINENDIMOWIN: PANE GII-BITE

Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions Travelling Exhibition 

BOOZHOO GAKINA AWIIYAG!

Come celebrate the ever-evolving world of Indigenous Ingenuity with our travelling exhibition!

Indigenous peoples from North America have long demonstrated a great sense of ingenuity, using nature as inspiration. The world we know today is influenced by their innovations and scientific knowledge. The exhibition invites visitors to experience the innovative processes that give rise to Indigenous knowledge by:

• OBSERVING nature as a source of inspiration
• LISTENING to bearers of knowledge
• EXPERIMENTING with scientific principles
• SHARING acquired knowledge by passing it on to others

This exhibition presents a clever and novel mix of science and culture intended to stir a sense of pride among First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities and celebrate the diversity, interconnectedness, and resourceful ways of knowing and being, that Indigenous knowledge and innovations provide in the global community.

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TOUR INFORMATION

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE LOCATIONS FOR FALL 2025 AND SUMMER 2026 SOON!

A travelling exhibition presented by Science North and Indigenous Tourism Ontario