Science North facts for kids
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The Science North main building
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| Established | 19 June 1984 |
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| Location | 100 Ramsey Lake Road Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5S9 |
| Type | Science centre |
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| Owner | Government of Ontario |
Science North is an exciting, hands-on science museum located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. It's a super popular spot in Northern Ontario for tourists!
The museum has two cool buildings shaped like snowflakes. They sit right on the edge of Ramsey Lake, a beautiful lake just south of downtown Sudbury. There's also an old ice hockey arena that now holds the main entrance and an IMAX movie theatre.
A special rock tunnel connects the two snowflake buildings. This tunnel goes through a very old geologic fault line, which is like a crack in the Earth's crust that's a billion years old! Builders didn't even know it was there until they started digging in the 1980s. When you reach the bigger snowflake building, you'll find the Vale Cavern auditorium. This space is often used for cool temporary exhibits, special events, and even movie showings.
Inside the main building, look up! You'll see a huge 20-meter skeleton of a fin whale hanging from the ceiling. It was found on Anticosti Island.
Science North also offers boat tours on Ramsey Lake with a boat called the William Ramsey. It's a great way to see the lake's beautiful scenery. There's also the Jim Gordon Boardwalk, which lets you walk from the museum all the way to Bell Park along the lake.
The museum first opened its doors in 1984. It was designed by a famous architect named Raymond Moriyama. Even Queen Elizabeth II was there for the official opening ceremony in October 1984! Science North is run by the government of Ontario, specifically by the Ministry of Culture.
Contents
Discover Science North's Cool Facilities!
Science North is packed with amazing things to see and do across several levels. Let's explore!
First Level Fun
- IMAX With Laser - Get ready for an awesome movie experience! Science North has a 3D IMAX with Laser theatre. It first opened in 1994 and was updated to 3D in 2009.
- Planetarium - Explore the stars and planets in the planetarium, added in June 2009. It has a big 8-meter dome and 36 seats, making you feel like you're in space!
- Vale Cavern - This is a large space used for special events and exhibits.
- TD Canada Trust Toddler's Treehouse - A fun and educational play area designed just for younger children.
Second Level Adventures
- Nature Exchange - This is a unique spot! You can bring natural items you've found, like cool rocks or interesting leaves, and learn about them. You earn points for your discoveries, which you can then use to "buy" other natural items from around the world, like seashells or fossils!
- F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery - Step into a warm, glass-enclosed home for over 400 beautiful butterflies! These butterflies come from 30 different tropical species, and you can watch them fly all around you.
Third Level Explorations
The third floor is divided into four main areas, each focusing on different parts of nature:
Northern Forests
This area is all about the animals that live in northern forests. You might meet animal ambassadors like Maple the porcupine or Saunders the skunk! Other cool animals include Northern Flying Squirrels, Grey Rat Snakes, and Big Brown bats. There's even a special nocturnal room where you can see night-active animals during the day. Don't miss the intricate bee hive, where you can watch bees working behind a glass window!
Lakes and Rivers
Here, you'll learn about animals that live in rivers and lakes. Animal ambassadors include the Common Snapping Turtle, Northern Water Snakes, and local fish found in Northern Ontario lakes. This section helps you understand the water systems around Northern Ontario and the challenges they face. There's also a "stream table" (or sand table) that shows how water causes erosion and shapes the land.
Wetlands
The wetlands area teaches you about these important ecosystems. Lilly Creek, a real marsh, is right next to Science North, and sometimes you can even take tours there to see a wetland up close! Animal ambassadors here include Northern Ontario frogs (like Green Frogs and Bullfrogs), American Toads, and the painted turtle. You can also see the SO2 monitor, which measures sulphur dioxide levels in Sudbury.
Discovery Theatre
Located in the middle of the third and fourth levels, the Discovery Theatre hosts live science shows every day. These shows cover exciting topics from fire to sound! Check the daily schedule to plan your visit around the shows you want to see.
The Northern Garden
This outdoor exhibit is located outside the science centre. It's a great place to learn about native plant species that grow in Northern Ontario, how plants grow, and how to take care of a garden.
Fourth Level Discoveries
- BodyZone - Learn all about your body and DNA, which makes each person unique! There are many exhibits where you can measure your own performance, like on the race track.
- Racetrack - Build your own race car using K'Nex and then race it on two circular tracks!
- Space Place - This lab is all about astronomy and exploring space. You can see a 6-foot (1.8 m) gravity well, a microgravity drop tower, and learn about SNOLAB and Canadian space exploration. Don't miss the "Between the Stars" show, which explores the mystery of dark matter!
- TechLab - A hands-on area where you can explore technology and engineering. You can create circuits, take apart old electronics, and play with pulleys and gears.
- DataBase - In this computer-based area, you can learn how we use computers and coding in our daily lives.
Object Theatres
Science North also features special film and video exhibits that change over time:
- The Global warming Changing Climate Show -- This show, narrated by Rick Mercer, was updated in 2011 and teaches about climate change.
- Between the Stars -- This show explains why scientists believe dark matter exists and how they are trying to find it at SNOLAB.
- Ready, Set, Move! -- This interactive experience encourages and shows how to live a healthy life.
Outdoor Grounds
- Polaris Boulevard - This is a line that goes from a big sundial up the side of the building, pointing directly at Polaris (the North Star)!
- Terra - Stand on this amazing one-millionth scale model of the world, located outside near the main entrance.
- A sculpture - This sculpture honors a local bush plane pilot named Rusty Blakey.
- Lily Creek - A marsh located across from the centre, home to many different creatures.
- The Northern Forest - This outdoor exhibit shows many of the tree species that grow in northern Ontario.
More Fun at Science North!
Science North, which opened in 1984, also runs another cool place in Sudbury called Dynamic Earth. This exhibition focuses on earth sciences and is home to the famous Big Nickel, one of Sudbury's most well-known landmarks!
The Science North Production Team creates amazing multi-media presentations and films for other science museums and educational places across North America. One of their most famous works is the 2023 documentary film Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope, which won several awards!
Science North also works closely with Laurentian University in Sudbury. They partner on scientific and environmental research and even have a graduate program in science communication.
If you love science, Science North also runs fun science education day camps for children during the summer, autumn, and winter breaks!
