Nature Beyond the Norm

Nature Beyond the Norm is an immersive, hands-on workshop that invites participants to rethink what they believe about nature, identity, and the stories we tell about the living world. In this dynamic, four-station experience, you’ll move, create, question, and connect as you explore the rich diversity of life around us. Contribute to a collaborative mosaic inspired by the theme Adapt Today, Thrive Tomorrow, celebrating resilience and the many ways species respond to change.

Meet a live bird of prey from RAPTOR Inc. and dive into the station Who Is This Owl Really?, where an identity deconstruction activity challenges the assumptions we often project onto animals. Design and create your own button to take home while learning about species that express queerness in nature, expanding your understanding of the complexity already present in the wild. Finally, take part in a community-building matching game that reveals how heteronormative bias has shaped scientific research and how we can see nature more clearly when we question those norms.