Stewards to 64 acres of stunning biodiversity.

Citizen Science in the North Creek Forest

​Citizen science or community science is science for everyone. It is a community-wide project that provides us valuable insight that will help us on our mission to serve and protect the forest. By conducting research with our guidance, you can be a scientist and build meaningful connections with nature. All it takes is some time, curiosity, and a desire to learn. Here are the workshops that we offer to get you started!
Phenology Workshop:
Practice simple techniques to measure tree density and size!
Use our photo points to document the phenology changes of plants in the forest
Interested? Email [email protected]

Macroinvertebrate Surveying:
Determine if the stream is healthy by recording the populations of macroinvertebrates
Email [email protected] for more info on how to get started

Native vs Invasive:
Learn how to identify which plants are native and which are invasive to North Creek Forest
Learn ways to control invasives that damage the ecosystem
Email [email protected] for help

Citizen Science in the North Creek Forest

Citizen science (CS; also known as community science, crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, volunteer monitoring, or online citizen science) is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur (or nonprofessional) scientists. Citizen science is sometimes described as "public participation in scientific research," participatory monitoring, and participatory action research whose outcomes are often advancements in scientific research, as well as an increase in the public's understanding of science.
Picture
Ashley taking a photo of low Oregon grape, getting a great shot of the color variation on the leaves.
Picture
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.​
Learn more about Phenology ​​- the science of the timing of life phases of living organisms.
Picture
UWB student Matthew Emery's science selfie with red elderberry.

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
Picture
Plants tags were purchased using a grant from Washington Native Plant Society.
​​
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: 202 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
photo-point_map_plant_key.pdf
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Usage

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 [email protected] ​

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to UW Bothell Students Matthew Emery and Laura ​Nguyan for their assistance on this project. 

Videos about Photo-points

Introducing Photo-points Project
Demo of using the QR code Plant Tag
How to submit photos on the Google Form
​(and enter the contest!)