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's Change for Good Partner - Maslow Project

Ashland Food Co-op is thrilled to partner with Maslow Project for our Change for Good program! Maslow Project is an incredible organization that works tirelessly to support homeless youth and families in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, and they do this through a range of services including housing assistance, medical care, and educational support.

Bicycle Benefits

Here at the Co-op we are on a mission to promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable practices within our community.

May 2023 Change for Good Partner: Talent Maker City

Talent Maker City's mission is to build a more connected, prosperous, and resilient community through hands-on creativity and innovative STEAM-based learning. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math.) They have a bustling Makerspace facility, brimming with creative energy in downtown Talent offering hands-on STEAM-based workshops and programming for curious minds of all ages!

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

We're always learning and growing here at the Co-op and with the approach of Cinco de Mayo we thought we would share a (very) brief history lesson and some thoughts on celebrating this holiday here in the United States.

February's Change for Good partner: OHRA

 

OHRA logo

OHRA helps low-income people build better lives through access to social service resources. By helping
people move from crisis to stability, OHRA builds more capable individuals, stronger families, and a
better community. We have three core programs:

December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center

December's Change for Good Partner is

Rogue Action Center

Rogue Action Center

The Rogue Action Center (RAC) builds organizing infrastructure, leaders, and community power for a just, inclusive, and sustainable Southern Oregon for everyone.

September Change for Good Partner: Truth to Power

September's Change for Good Partner is

Truth to Power

Truth to Power

Truth to Power cultivates teen activism and community participation through social justice podcasts and transformative projects.