Published on April 15, 2025 by Ethan Rotberg, Senior Communications Specialist | Evergreen
You don’t always need a lab coat or textbook to learn about science.
In fact, some of the best science lessons happen unexpectedly, right outdoors in our public spaces. Think about how your local park changes with the seasons, how your grocery store parking lot puddles after it rains, or even how a hawk hunts in urban green spaces.
Learning about the local environment? That’s science!
In time for Earth Month, we’re teaming up with the Ontario Science Centre, who bring science to life through one-of-a-kind experiences, sparking curiosity, creativity and wonder. Their team is at Evergreen Brick Works this month with free activities exploring water and sustainability in our local environment.
“We hope people will see that science is everywhere,” says Victoria Gee, Researcher-Programmer at the Ontario Science Centre. “It’s not just something that lives in textbooks — it can be made into hands-on experiences, and that you can find wherever you go!”
We agree! Getting hands-on is one of the best ways to connect with the world around you. Public spaces support that kind of learning. They’re not just good for the planet — they also offer new ways to explore sustainability.
To dig more into this idea, we spoke with the Ontario Science Centre about their pop-up programming and how they’re making science accessible and fun.
Victoria Gee, Researcher-Programmer at the Ontario Science Centre, during the pop-up event at Evergreen Brick Works.
How do we spark the next generation of climate champions and curious ecologists? Creative, hands-on experiences can play a big role.
“To engage with something — to fully immerse yourself in learning — means to build a deeper relationship with it. Hands-on experiences foster active engagement, creativity and real-world problem-solving,” says Gee.
Gee says she is continually surprised by the minds of children when playing with science. A great example, she shares, happened during their annual free community event, Pride in STEM.
“Part of the festivities involved three hands-on activities — making kaleidoscopes, chromatography flowers and pinwheel hats. The assumption is to complete all three activities separately, but one young visitor asked me if they could combine all three to create a mega-flower-rainbow-kinetic-hat. How clever! I was amazed by their thought process and asked them to walk me through every detail before, during and after its creation.”
Moments like that aren’t one-offs — they’re baked into how the Ontario Science Centre designs its programming. By creating hands-on activities that are open-ended and playful, they’re making science accessible to everyone, no matter their age or background. Gee says parents are often just as engaged — sometimes even more — depending on the science theme.
“I’ve seen children as young as three and older adults alike spend significant time perfecting a paper airplane or experimenting with an electric circuit.”
Public spaces are more than just places to hang out. They can be informal classrooms for learning about the world around us.
That’s the spirit behind the Ontario Science Centre’s pop-ups and events, bringing science into spaces like Harbourfront Centre and CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto. Gee says this has allowed them to connect with different organizations to create fun and exciting collaborations.
“My favourite part of bringing pop-up experiences to community spaces is definitely engaging with the public,” she says. “When I see the spark of a young child or the joy of an adult when they talk about science or try a new hands-on activity, it refuels me with the love of science that I’ve had since I was young.”
But as energizing as these moments are for the teams behind the scenes, the most rewarding part is how they bring science to life for new people.
“Bringing science experiences directly into public spaces like Evergreen Brick Works makes science accessible, bringing science learning opportunities to those who may not have had a chance to engage with us before. Plus, we’re able to interact with our environment in new and creative ways, says Gee.”
Getting hands-on with science doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.
For caregivers, educators or anyone else interested in bringing more science learning into their daily lives, Gee encourages them to first seek questions to spark a love of science.
“Questions are the first step to discovery. Once you find interest in something, you’re more likely to want to physically engage with it. Curious about chemistry? Bake a cake! There are vital chemical reactions going on in baking. Wondering about wetlands? Play a game of Biodiversity Bingo during a walk in your local marsh. There are many resources online that can help to kick-start small ways to be hands-on with science.”
Check out the Ontario Science Centre’s DIY Science Fun page online for activities for the whole family — or sign up to their eNews for more science fun.
