Science North launches new trading experience in the city

THUNDER BAY -- A new interactive visitor experience has been launched at a public library branch.

Northern Nature Trading is a collaboration between the Mary J.L. Black Library and Science North. The Thunder Bay location is one of six spots in Northern Ontario where the project has been introduced.

“It is really important because it allows people to become more inspired and motivated by science and the natural world," said Lora Clausen, staff scientist at Science North, on Friday afternoon.

It’s a simple process.

Individuals are encouraged to bring in items found in the great outdoors and trade for other items found in the library's collection.

Items for trade can be just about anything – shells, rocks, polished stones, plant parts and even fossils.

Participants in the program are then provided with background information about the item they brought in.

Then once the information has been shared with staff, they can be awarded points, which can be used to add new items to their collection or compiled in a database for later use.

"The idea behind gaining and awarding points for each items is that we really encourage people to learn more information about the items so that they can really connect with nature," Clausen said.

Science North has registered more than 50,000 traders to date, ranging from Kenora and Red Lake to North Bay, Timmins and most communities in between.

To make things even easier, the databases from each location are connected, so a Thunder Bay resident traveling to another community, like Timmins, can access their account and trade at those stations.

It’s these interactions that have Clausen most excited about the trading experience.

"I really love listening to people tell their stories when they bring in items, telling us how they found it and what they know, I love the interactions with the people,” she said.

"I think it will be very popular in the Thunder Bay community.”