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Nature Exchange

Zoomazium's Green Story

Zoomazium Programs

If you cannot find the answers to your questions on this site or need additional information about Zoomazium or Nature Exchange, please call 206-548-2520.

Nature Exchange is open daily for hours click here.

Nature Exchange in Zoomazium

What is Nature Exchange?

Nature Exchange is Woodland Park Zoo’s own special kind of “swap shop” where you can bring in the natural things you find and trade them for things in our collection---shells, rocks, fossils, pine cones and lots of other cool stuff! You can even bring in your favorite nature drawing or a nature-themed journal entry.

Learn more about what you’ve collected at Nature Exchange. The points you earn can be used to trade for fun and interesting items!

Find or observe nature items, learn more about them and earn trading points at Nature Exchange.

Nature Exchange collector form

These forms can be used at home, in nature or at the zoo. Earn points by bringing them to Nature Exchange to share what you've observed.

Nature Exchange Participation Form

Nature Exchange Research Form

Nature Exchange staff is on hand to help you learn more about what you've collected or observed.

1.	FIND/OBSERVE Discover something such as a seashell, cone, rock, or bone that is interesting to you. Draw a picture or write in your journal about your find. Don’t forget to write down the date and place where you found it! Give specifics about color, texture, shape, size, etc. If you want to collect more than a picture or notes, take only one of the objects you find.
2.	BRING Zoo staff will talk with the collector and ask questions like: What is it? Where did it come from? Why is it special? You can use our books and computer at Nature Exchange to learn more. Remember, the more you tell us about your item, the more points you get!
3.	LEARN Using books, the internet or a person you know, find out about your item. What is it? Where did it come from? How was it formed? What makes it special?
4.	EARN "Points" can be used the same day or banked in the Nature Exchange computer and used for future trading. "Points" are awarded by the staff member based on the following: information: What can you share with us about what you've found? Write or tell us something interesting. uniqueness: What makes what you found different from other items that look just like it? quality: What can actually be learned from this item? What condition is it in? Is it broken or in good shape? Is it clean?