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Citizen Science Program: Photo-points

Welcome! Below you will find directions on how to participate in the Photo-point program, information on phenology, contest details, and how to use the QR code plant tags!

Video Introducing Project
Press Play!
Picture
Ashley taking a photo of low Oregon grape, getting a great shot of the color variation on the leaves.
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The photo result! This is the type of photos we are looking for.

Directions for Participating in Photo-point Citizen Science Program:


We are looking for photos of each plant is undergoing phenology changes - like flowering, fruiting, gaining leaves, losing leaves, pollinators visiting plants and anything else interesting! This will help us visually track how quickly plants are growing and how phenology is changing over time right here in the forest. Our goal is to gather enough information to produce a phenology chart specifically for North Creek Forest. We are having a contest with these categories in mind: Best Overall, Best Phenology (Buds, Fruit etc), Most Creative, Science Selfie (take a photo with the plant). The winner of each category will receive a special prize.

  1. Walk along the path and find a plant with a Plant Tag that you would like to take a photo of. (Maps coming soon!)
  2. Take a photo (with the plant tag visible if practical)
  3. Upload your photo to our google form  https://goo.gl/forms/Reccrm5RZNHci2oC3 (If you need help there is a video how-to below)
  4. Feel to share to your favorite social media #ncfphotopoint
  5. Enjoy the forest! We love seeing your photos and unique perspectives of the forest.​
What is Phenology? 
It is the science of the timing of life phases of living organisms. 
For example  when a plant flowers, leafs out or fruits. Or when a bird decides to migrate, breed or lay eggs. Seasonal temperature and climate changes can affect when plants flower, leaf, and fruit which can have big impacts on the wildlife that depend on them. People all over the world have been tracking these parameters for hundreds of years, let's add to it! Gathering this information will assist us in making future decisions in the forest. For example we can use this information to identify gaps in plant bloom times in our restoration areas (which could affect pollinators such as bees). Using this information, we could then plant native species that will bloom during those time periods ensuring the pollinators have plenty to subsist on! For more information please visit: www.usanpn.org/about/why-phenology 
​Or watch this short video explanation: 
https://youtu.be/OHY-c_RDMkM
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Red flowering currant is among our earliest bloomers!
Video demo of using the QR code Plant Tag
The plant tags use QR codes for plant information
How to use the QR codes:
  1. Download a QR code reader to your phone if you don't already have one (available on your device’s App. store ).
  2. Find a plant sign and scan it with your QR code reader
  3. Volia! You have the plant’s common name, Latin name, ethnobotanical history, restoration uses, habitat information and photos all at your fingertips.

​Additionally, this information can be reviewed through PlantsMap at www.plantsmap.com/organizations/friends-of-north-creek-forest
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Plants tags were purchased using a grant from Washington Native Plant Society.
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UWB student Matthew Emery's science selfie with red elderberry.
Contest
Ongoing contest with winners will be announced in the following weeks. How to enter? Follow directions for Google form https://goo.gl/forms/Reccrm5RZNHci2oC3 
All entries to the form will be included for contest. The winners in each category will receive a special prize from Friends of North Creek Forest. 


Categories
  • Best Phenology: Take a photo that captures flowering, leafing, fruiting or other seasonal changes.
  • Most Creative: Use your best artistic skills to capture a new insight of the plant.
  • Science Selfie: Take a selfie photo with a plant, don’t forget to showcase the plant.
  • Best Overall:  Most aesthetically pleasing​ photo.​
Video on how to submit photos on the Google Form (and enter the contest!)
Click play!
Map
This is a map of the plants that have QR Codes located at the lower restoration sites (off of 112th Ave NE). These are the plants we would like photos submitted of for our Citizen Science Program Photo-points. Our University of Washington Bothell CBLR students Matthew Emery and Laura Nguyan produced this map as well as assisted in kicking-off the program. 
photopointmap.pdf
File Size: 198 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

photo-point_map_plant_key.pdf
File Size: 10 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Usage
Thank you for being a part of compiling data to add to the history of North Creek Forest. This data will be used to track the phenology (timing of flowering, fruiting and other life events) and the growth of our plants, over the course of a season.  Photos submitted as part of this project may be used on PlantsMap with credit. If you prefer that your photo not be used, or have any special restrictions please leave a message in the comment field of the google form. Names and emails will be kept private. We won't publish any photos with people in them without advanced permission. For more information about this program please contact info@friendnorthcreekforest.org ​


Acknowledgements
Many thanks to UW Bothell Students Matthew Emery and Laura ​
Nguyan for their assistance on this project. 
Now that you have all the details, come join the fun!
Picture
Friends of North Creek Forest is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.   EIN: 27-5439187.
  • Home
  • About
    • Forest Blog
    • Board & Committee Members
    • Gallery and Info
    • Contact Us
  • Programs
    • Citizen Science: Photopoints
    • Education >
      • Community Programs
      • Forest Field Trips
      • Higher Education Programming
      • Environmental Education
      • Stewardship
    • Research
    • Outreach
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer >
      • Work Locations
      • Volunteer Liability Waivers
      • Group Volunteering
      • Lost and Found
      • Volunteering FAQs
    • Visit
  • Support / Donate
    • Membership
    • Forest Keepers
    • Living Tributes
    • Community Partners
    • Wear Your Support
    • GiveBIG
    • Supporters
    • Endorsements