Science North is Open For Adventure This Spring

Great news for families looking for cool science activities this March: Sudbury’s Science North is open for fun after a long hiatus. From March 11 to 20, Science North (located at 100 Ramsey Lake Road) is open from 10 am to 4 pm, and after that is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Planetarium is open as of March 11. Here’s the scoop on all the fun. Plan your family adventure now!

Two new Wildlife Adventure exhibits

Mikinaak is one of the turtles who lives at Science North. Her name means Snapping Turtle in Ojibwe.

Little Ray’s Nature Centre joins Science North with two new exhibits featuring a variety of live animals on site. Survival of the Slowest takes an in-depth look at why being slow can have its advantages in the natural world, while Frogs and Friends is all about the amazing traits and adaptations that frogs and amphibians use to survive in diverse habitats. Animals you’ll meet include a two-toed sloth, ball python, bearded dragon, reticulated python, hedgehog, box turtle, Brazilian black tarantula, cane toads, blue-tongued skink, Taiwanese beauty snake, tomato frog, Pacman frog, Iberian newts, and axolotls!

Hands-on science

Discover the other exhibits at Science North too!

• On the second floor you can visit tropical butterflies in the F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery, polish a mineral in the Lapidary Lab and handle exotic invertebrates and trade natural artifacts at the Nature Exchange.
• Head to the third floor to Northern Ecosystems, a journey through Ontario’s natural landscapes. There, you can learn all about the wildlife in the north and find out how to help at-risk Ontario species
• Find more interactive fun on the fourth floor, which has a Tech Lab where you can learn about space exploration, build race cars and try out a gyroscope, and a Bio Lab to find out about new biological breakthroughs.
• At the Discovery Theatre, accessible from the third and fourth floors, see way-cool science demos, hosted live by Science North staff, and at Vale Cavern, sit back and watch films about creatures like the Massasauga rattlesnake.
• Have little kids in your group? Toddlers and preschools will have a blast at the Toddler’s Treehouse, an educational play area for kids five and under. 
• At the Fabrication Lab get trained on how to use cool gear like 3D printers or a T-shirt. (This training is available for kids aged 13 and up.)
• Keep the science fun going at home with a stop at the Whizards gift shop before you go: there are hundreds of scientific and educational products to keep young minds engaged and entertained. 

Go for the big time at the movies

At the IMAX theatre, experience extra-bright, extra-clear and extra-vivid digital film combined with a next-level immersive audio and a 26x20-metre screen. The latest screenings are Dune and Spider-Man: No Way Home.  

Watch the stars, indoors or out

Visit the Planetarium which features an 8.4-metre dome screen, digital technology and surround sound for an immersive experience. Under the Same Stars: Minwaadiziwin takes a closer look at the Indigenous world view and how First Peoples were scientists and innovators who tracked the seasons and crafted inventions to survive here in the north. Starting mid-March, weather permitting, you can join a Friday night Star Party. These free events are hosted by Science North Bluecoats and are held at the outdoor Pavilion beside The Patio at Science North. Bring a chair and binoculars and dress warmly, and sign up for viewing time with the telescope (mask required). These events start one hour after sunset and last two hours.

Bonus museum: Rock on with Dynamic Earth

Once you've checked out Science North, make your way to Dynamic Earth he interactive earth sciences museum (located at 122 Big Nickel Rd.) for an amazing adventure. Descend seven storeys below ground to its Underground Experience. Explore the evolution of mining, and check out the new exhibit, Go Deeper: Next Level Mining Innovations. There, you can try out virtual reality, master robotics and much more. 

Before you go

This is the first in-person March Break for Science North since 2019. They’ve worked hard to make it a safe experience, so capacity numbers are capped for the different venues; it’s important to book tickets or register to avoid disappointment. As per provincial requirements, proof of vaccination is no longer needed but masks are required for people age 2 and up unless exemptions apply. 

Special ticket packages are available during March Break: Dynamic Duo (admission to Science North AND Dynamic Earth over two days, access to the special exhibits, a film of your choice at the IMAX Theatre and a Planetarium show) and Play All Day (admission to Science North, an IMAX documentary and a Planetarium show). 

This spring, discover all the fun to be had at Science North! And remember, if you're planning to enjoy a vacation (or staycation) weekend at one of Sudbury's amazing accommodations be sure to claim your 2022 Staycation Tax Credit.

Find more things to do and places to stay in Sudbury!

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