Exchange City and EarthWorks have specialized in the development of unique learning  experiences for educators, students, and families in the Kansas City area since 1980. Once programs of The Learning Exchange, both Kansas City-based flagship programs, Exchange City and EarthWorks, are now under the operating umbrella of the Cody Foundation. Founded in 2000 in order to expand Exchange City and EarthWorks nationwide, the Cody Foundation is a not-for-profit educational foundation focused on supporting and enhancing traditional education through dynamic and innovative experiential learning experiences. Our guiding educational philosophy is that individuals learn best from experience through an immersive role-playing activity called experiential learning. Our innovative experiential learning model ensures that learning experiences are memorable, highly personal and interactive. These engaging and exciting experiences unfold over time and make connections with prior and future learning. Experiential learning has natural consequences and provides outcomes that are real and purposeful.
Each academic school year nearly 20,000 students, 600 teachers, and 4,000 parent volunteers from over 300 schools participate in our school-based programs in Kansas City. The Cody Foundation is involved with providing enriching educational experiences in other areas of the United States for an additional 60,000 students annually, and those numbers will certainly increase with the new affiliation of the Kansas City programs. These two innovative programs start with 2-6 week curriculums that prepare students in the classroom for an incredible on-site experience at one of our state-of-the-art venues. Our programs are unique because they provide classroom curricula as well as a capstone experience where students can put their learning into action for a deeper level of engagement and learning. From their conception, Exchange City and EarthWorks continue to impact, inspire, and touch the lives of students on a daily basis.
Exchange City – Kansas City’s first truly experiential learning initiative – was built in 1980 to teach fifth and sixth grade students about the opportunities and responsibilities of citizens in the American free enterprise system. Exchange City is a mock city made up of 14 businesses, including retail shops, government offices, media organizations, a restaurant, a technology center and more. The city comes to life when young people take on the roles of business people and civic leaders who work together to create a thriving metropolis. Entrepreneurial teams collaborate to develop partnerships and business networking.
 EarthWorks – one of Kansas City’s most innovative and effective experiential science education programs opened its doors in 1996. EarthWorks is an underground laboratory realistically displaying five Midwestern habitats: soil, prairie, pond, cave and forest. The laboratory comes to life when young people take on the role of scientists who work to determine the health of a habitat. Scientific teams collaborate to determine whether a habitat can continue to sustain life.
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