Originally published in Lake of the Woods Area News, Volume 55, Number 3, Summer 2025
Lake of the Woods is unmatched anywhere else in the world, from its crystal-clear waters to the colourful sunsets, and let’s not forget the fantastic fishing. It’s the best place to be when the sun is shining and the fish are biting. But what do you do when it’s raining? Bring your family to the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre!
In 2015, Science North partnered with the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre and the City of Kenora to bring new visitor experiences to the people of Northwestern Ontario and beyond. Science North is a science education organization, with the main operation in Sudbury, Ontario, and satellite bases in Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Science North’s mission is to ensure that all people have equitable access to science programming and to help people understand the science happening around them in their everyday lives.
Through this partnership, the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre offers a variety of interactive exhibits and educational programs that are the perfect place to spend your rainy days. Since installing the first experience in 2015, Science North has added two more experiences that will keep your family busy and learning.
Nature Exchange
Visitors can explore the natural history of the region through the Nature Exchange experience. Nature Exchange inspires visitors to engage with the science in the world around them as they trade items from nature with items in the Nature Exchange collection. It is based on an existing model at Science North, with over 50,000 registered traders collecting and learning about items found in nature and then sharing that information with staff to earn points and add new items to their own personal collection. This is a fantastic way to learn about the flora and fauna in the region and discover how fascinating our natural world really is.
THINK Hub
If you’re more interested in engineering and design, check out the THINK Hub, which is a place to Think, Hack, Innovate, Network and Know. At the THINK Hub, visitors can engage with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) through hands-on experimentation with real tools, materials and processes. They’ll have the chance to use the scientific method, explore design thinking, and use their creativity to solve an array of challenges.
Jane Goodall Reasons for Hope
And new last year, Science North installed the Jane Goodall Reasons for Hope exhibit, with an accompanying film that is 25 minutes in length. The film follows Dr. Goodall through a global journey to showcase good news stories that reinforce Jane’s four pillars of hope: the resilience of nature, the power of youth, the indomitable human spirit, and the amazing human intellect. The exhibit complements these four pillars with interactive activities that will help visitors understand the hope Dr. Goodall maintains. Learn how to help a turtle cross the road, hear inspiring stories from youth and work together to balance a wetland ecosystem.
Given the complexities of today’s modern world, it is crucial for youth to engage with science early on and develop their ability to be curious and think critically. The Science North experiences at the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre provide an opportunity for people of all ages to develop these skills and understand the importance of science in their everyday lives. So, next time the weather takes a turn or maybe just on a day when you want to try something new head over to the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre and discover the wonders that await you!
