There exists a specific group of people who frequent museums merely to satisfy their curiosity. They don't go to intentionally learn, but the learning happens organically, naturally.

Perhaps it's not important to know exactly what type of learning goes on at the North Museum, only that the place simply promotes learning.

"It's the joy of discovery, and it draws you in," said Scott Downs, the North Museum's director of development and strategic partnerships. "That's what happens at a museum. As you wander around the museum, you discover things. You stumble into things. Who knows what you'll find? You don't know what to expect. It's a fascinating place."

For the curious of all ages, there is plenty to find and discover at the North Museum of Nature and Science, which is located at 400 College Ave., Lancaster. The North Museum is three floors of exhibits, informational displays, stories and memories in the making - more than 500,000 objects in all.

"Without learning, I don't think any of us survive," said Downs. "Humans have been learning since we first populated the Earth. The North Museum prides itself as a leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The natural sciences are important. We're really proponents of curiosity. It's terribly important to foster that interest."

An independent, nonprofit regional facility once associated with Franklin & Marshall College, the North Museum of Nature and Science is home to all sorts of interesting exhibits, like a live animal room, a dinosaur hall, rock and mineral collections, a planetarium, a nature gallery, an art gallery and an ornithology collection. It's a wonderful space to uncover things you didn't know.

"The North Museum is committed to the community," said Downs. "We are committed to being an educational resource for everyone in the community. Science is ever changing. We're not constrained to a fixed number of topics. It can be anything and everything. It's living."

The North Museum hosts more than 35,000 visitors annually, the majority of whom come from within a 100-mile radius of Lancaster. The North Museum has become a popular destination for field trips and bus trips alike.

"It's genuinely inquisitive people," said Downs. "They are people who are passionate about the museum because we have been doing it for so long. When parents bring kids to the museum, it's an opportunity to explore together. It's not just mom and dad bringing kids and letting them roam around the museum."

"For me, the best thing is when I hear the noise of the kids," Downs continued. "I hear kids teaching each other, discovering things and having a great time. It reminds me of why I do it. I'm with an organization that preserves the past, looks to the future, and we sell education and fun."

The North Museum, which was established in 1953, employs nine full-time staffers and 12 part-timers. The facility is funded through donations, sponsorships, government grants, admission fees and paid programming.

"I like to call us the Little Museum Who Could," said Downs. "There is no shortage of big ideas and big accomplishments here. We continue to change and evolve. There's always something new and fresh to see with us. We partner with so many different organizations throughout the community. We also help bridge the gap between education and industry."

"We really try to create access for everybody and create opportunities for everyone," added Downs. "That's a big part of our mission too."

For additional information about the North Museum of Nature and Science, go to http://www.northmuseum.org.