We are so happy to have new tarantulas here at the Park but we don't know what to call them and we need your help!
Stop by the Park from now until Friday, July 26th and enter your two name ideas at our Nature Exchange! The winner will receive 2000 points to use in our Nature Exchange program!
"The BC Wildlife Park Nature Exchange encourages people of all ages to appreciate nature and to learn about the biological and physical components of their environment, through observation, background research and responsible collecting.”
The TD Canada Trust Nature Exchange is open for Trading!
Images courtesy of Katelyn Leitch
1. Bring it in and share
Visitors bring their collected items into The Nature Exchange. Trained staff will discuss the item with the collector: what the object is, where it came from, why it is special and any other details. Collectors are encouraged to further their knowledge of nature through research in the adjacent resource library.
Accepted Items
- Rocks - Plants ( If you find a plant you would like to share with us, bring just a single leaf or a leaf and a fruit or flower. Never uproot an entire plant! Bonus points can be earned by pressing your plant properly before bringing it to the Exchange.) - Research and Photography Projects - Pine cones - Shells
Items NOT Accepted Be certain not to bring any items that are very rare or protected by law. These items are needed most right where they are in nature!
- Animal parts including horns, antlers and feathers. - Birds nests (All bird homes and bird artifacts are protected by law.) - Cultural artifacts
Note: Please limit the items that you bring in to six or less (unless they are part of a collection).
2. The Exchange
"Points" are awarded by the staff member based upon a series of criteria:
Information: What knowledge can you share with us about your item? Uniqueness: What distinguishes your item from other similar items? Quality: What condition is the item in?
It is important to realize that collectors have a direct impact on the value of their exchange. Even the simplest object can be awarded a high point value, if the collector shows initiative. The process of trading provides the necessary motivation. In searching for things to collect and trade, individuals learn to observe, to ask questions, and to think independently.
3. The Account and Points System
"Points" can be used immediately or banked in The Nature Exchange computer trading data bank and used for future trading for items in the constantly rotating "collection" of artifacts and other items that traders can take home to enjoy.
4. Take It Home
Visitors can take their traded items home with them to add to their collections, or bring them back in to trade for other items at a later date. It is important to remember that "points", although they become a form of currency, do not equal money. The sky’s the limit! The trader's positive experience within the learning environment will always be our highest priority.
5. Stay Informed
Ethical collecting, responsible outdoor recreation, and sustainable living practices will be emphasized. The Nature Exchange, in its efforts to help people learn about the world around them, will raise awareness of the relevant wildlife regulations and collecting laws of the Province of British Columbia and Canada. For example, it is unlawful to have BC wildlife as domestic pets or to collect cast off antlers. People will be encouraged to enjoy nature in a sustainable way, and that means that items like bird's nests, flowers or animal bones should be photographed or sketched, but left physically undisturbed for everyone to appreciate.
The Nature Exchange will include an Answers & Resources Library and Trading Zone as well as five distinct zones: Animals, Insects, Plants & Trees, Rocks, Minerals & Fossils, and Skulls and Bones.
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