April 4th, 2025

April Change for Good: ScienceWorks

ScienceWorks: Growing Sustainably, Connecting Community

At ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, we believe that learning should be an adventure—one that inspires curiosity, fosters creativity, and brings people together. As we look to the future, our focus is on sustainable growth: improving our visitor experience, adapting to a changing world, and deepening our connection with the community. This April, we are honored to be the Ashland Food Co-op’s Change for Good recipient, giving our community a unique opportunity to support our mission. Your donation helps us create a more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable museum experience for everyone.

Building a More Sustainable Future

Sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about building a resilient, inclusive space where everyone belongs. ScienceWorks is committed to making our facility more sustainable and accessible, ensuring that future generations can continue to explore, learn, and grow. Through strategic partnerships and innovative projects, we are taking steps to improve our infrastructure and minimize our environmental footprint.

One excitig initiative is our collaboration with Wheel the World, a program dedicated to assessing and improving accessibility for travelers with disabilities. This effort will help make ScienceWorks, as well as local businesses and attractions, more inclusive and welcoming. By participating in this initiative, we are strengthening our commitment to providing a space where all visitors can fully engage with hands-on science exploration.

Engaging, Hands-On Learning

Education is at the heart of everything we do. This year, we are expanding our hands-on workshops, interactive exhibits, and special events to reach even more learners. One of our upcoming projects is the Vesper Meadows: Inspired Art traveling exhibit, which will highlight the Vesper Meadows Restoration Preserve, connecting visitors to the science of conservation and ecosystem recovery. Through exhibits like this, we aim to inspire a deeper understanding of our local environment and the importance of sustainability.

Additionally, we are growing our educational programs to better serve underserved communities. By expanding outreach efforts and offering new workshops, we can help foster the next generation of creative thinkers and problem solvers. Science should be accessible to all, and your support ensures that we continue breaking down barriers to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education.

Join Us for Earth Day!

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 25, as we celebrate Earth Day at ScienceWorks! This special event will feature an afternoon of hands-on activities, local vendors, and interactive experiences focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Earth Day is a call to protect our planet for future generations, and we invite you to join us in learning, exploring, and taking action for a more sustainable future.

Why Your Support Matters

ScienceWorks thrives because of our community. Your donation is more than just a gift—it’s an investment in curiosity, education, and connection. It helps us create engaging exhibits, expand programming, and improve our facility to better serve visitors of all ages and abilities.

When you round up at the register in April, you are directly contributing to these efforts. Your generosity supports:

  • New interactive exhibits like the Vesper Meadows: Inspired Art traveling exhibit
  • Expanded educational programs for underserved communities
  • Sustainability initiatives to make our museum more planet-friendly and accessible
  • Inclusive experiences through collaborations like Wheel the World

We are all part of an interconnected ecosystem, and by lifting each other up, we create a thriving, vibrant community. ScienceWorks is proud to be a place where people of all backgrounds can come together to explore, discover, and grow.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Together, we can shape a brighter, more sustainable future—one that sparks curiosity, fosters innovation, and strengthens our community. See you at ScienceWorks!

More Co-op News

July 25th, 2018

Community Cider Backyard Fruit Drive

How often can you browse the shelf at your neighborhood grocery store, see a bottle of hand crafted, local cider and say, “Hey, I help make that!” Well, at the Co-op you can.

June 18th, 2018

2018 Board Election Results

The AFC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the 2018 Board Election. There were three excellent candidates running for two Board positions. In total, 905 votes were cast.

Congratulations to the following candidates who will serve three-year terms on the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors.

Thank you for voting!

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June 7th, 2018

Meet Store Manager Barry Haynes

By Barry Haynes, Store Manager

Twenty three years ago my wife and I began our quest to relocate our family from the midwest to the west coast. We were looking for a beautiful area with an  engaged community that would enable our children to thrive. Equally important, we wanted our new home to have a vibrant natural food store. When we arrived in southern Oregon, we felt as though we hit the jackpot.

June 4th, 2018

Beat the Heat

When the heat of summer takes over, it can be hard on our bodies and moods. Don’t let the scorching temps get you down, cool off with one of these refreshing Staff recommendations.
 

June 4th, 2018

Report from the Board of Directors: Strategic Plan Update

By Jeff Golden, External Relations Committee Chair

Ashland Food Co-op is striding into the future with careful intention. We’re especially focused on the three top priorities of our strategic planning process, a collaboration of our board and management team. A quick update:

April 23rd, 2018

Riding off into the Sunset

 

By Annie Hoy, Retiring Marketing Manager

Since I was born and raised in far West Texas, I cannot help but use some imagery from what is so familiar to me.

April 11th, 2018

Staff Picks: Summer Hikes and Trail Snacks

Our staff loves to head outside and enjoy the gorgeous Oregon outdoors. Here's a few of their favorite trails and the Co-op snacks they like to take with them.

 

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April 11th, 2018

Be a Zero Waste Hero in Four Easy Steps

By Stephanie Koerella, Education Coordinator

Reducing our waste has continued to be of greater concern for Rogue Valley residents, especially since January, when options for recycling became even more limited. While the Ashland Food Co-op is ramping up our efforts to reduce waste as a business, there is a lot that our community can do at home to help the cause.

February 15th, 2018

On the Road to Sustainability

By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator

Forty six years ago, a group of families formed a buying club to access sustainable, local organic food as an alternative to modern industrial agriculture. This humble foundation of social and environmental responsibility started the Ashland Food Co-op and has shaped every decision we’ve ever made. It’s how, over four decades later, that a small buying club became a 30 million dollar, 17,500 square foot Certified Organic Retailer diverting 82% of their discards from the landfill.

February 8th, 2018

Staff Picks: Earth Friendly Products

In celebration of Sustainability Month in April, we asked our Sustainability Committee to share their favorite eco-friendly product.

February 5th, 2018

2018 Kids Summer Camps

We’ve teamed up with Rogue Valley Farm to School to offer three different camps this summer. Each week campers will dive into food production, preparation and exploration, with a mix of farm and kitchen experiences that delight the senses and inspire the soul. Join Rogue Valley Farm to School staff as they cultivate the ability to grow and cook delicious, healthy, seasonal meals. Monday - Wednesday at the Co-op Community Classroom, Thursday & Friday at the Farm at SOU.