Tephromela atra // Black-eye Lichen // Devonian

Metchosin BioBlitz: Tools

The Metchosin Biodiversity Project and its sponsor, the Metchosin Foundation, have developed tools to help both young and old Metchosin residents monitor the natural environments of homeland. This page describes and provides access to these tools.

Art Mushroom Cards Set 1

In 2022, the Metchosin Artpod, an artists' collective, and the Metchosin Foundation, a non-profit charitable society, worked together to create a set of mushroom cards depicting and describing mushrooms that are common to Southern Vancouver Island. It is hoped that these cards will be used and enjoyed by educators, families, mushroom fans, and art enthusiasts across southwestern BC.

The boxed set contains thirty-six 4" X 6" cards, printed on tear-resistant cardstock. They have original illustrations or paintings on the faces of the cards and names and descriptions of the mushrooms on the backs of the cards. The artwork was done by BC artists (see the list of artists on the flyer that can be found here and that is included in the box set). The descriptions, adapted with permission from the 2021 Royal BC Museum field guide Mushrooms of British Columbia, are written in simpler language than is found in many mushroom guides. The cards also introduce and define thirty-six basic technical terms used in mushroom descriptions, one term per card.

nature cards     nature cards

The box sets will be available at and after the launch event on Sunday, May 15, at Bilston Creeek Farm. A box of the cards costs $25. To order a set, send an email to cards@metchosinbiodiversity.com. The cards are also available at the Metchosin Art Pod (for the hours that the gallery is open, check here).

Here is a sample card, the Shaggy Mane card, with artwork by Dana Nygard.

mushroom art cards



Art Bird Cards Set 1

In 2020, the Metchosin Artpod, the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, and the Metchosin Foundation combined their efforts to create a set of bird cards. The cards represent 36 common birds in the southern coastal areas of BC. On the front of each card is a bird image executed by an artist, usually a local Metchosin artist. On the back of the cards is a description of the bird that discusses the bird's appearance and habitat and introduces the user to one of the more technical terms commonly used in bird studies.

nature cards     nature cards

A box of the cards costs $25.The cards are available at the Metchosin Art Pod (for the hours that the gallery is open, check here).

Here is a PDF of a sample card, the Rufous Hummingbird. The box insert, with the list of cards and artists and writers can also be viewed and downloaded.

nature cards    

A bevy of quail. Boxes of Art Bird Cards being packed up to sell. Photo by Ann Nightingale.



Art Bird Cards Set 2

The first set of bird art cards was so popular that, in 2021, the Metchosin Artpod, the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, and the Metchosin Foundation teamed up again to create a second set of bird cards. The cards depict and describe another 36 common birds in the southern coastal areas of BC. As before, on the front of each card is a bird image executed by an artist and on the back of the cards is a description of the bird that discusses the bird's appearance and habitat and introduces the user to one of the more technical terms commonly used in bird studies.

nature cards     nature cards

Purchasing information is the same as for the previous set, described above.

Here is a front and back image of a sample card, the one for the golden-crowned kinglet, artwork by Jeni Luther.The box insert, with the list of cards and artists and writers can also be viewed and downloaded.

nature cards     nature cards



Plant Cards

As part of a series of 2016-17 initiatives to help increase awareness of the natural environmental among the young people of Southern Vancouver Island, the Metchosin Foundation launched a plant cards project. Teachers from local schools, when interviewed about their instructional needs, expressed an interest in a set of cards for classroom use that would have pictures and descriptions of everyday local organisms. The Foundation set up a project team of photographers, naturalists, and educators to develop the cards. The team included (in alphabetical order) Danny Buchanan, Beverly Hall, Kem Luther, Andy MacKinnon, and Moralea Milne.

nature cards

The completed package contains a set of 50  4” X 6”  2-sided cards printed on heavy-stock, waterproof, tearproof paper. The cards describe common plants—and one lichen—from Southern Vancouver Island.  The team analyzed data from the Metchosin BioBlitzes in order to determine which plants young people were most like to encounter in the field. As a result, 22% of the card set (11 of them) are introduced, mostly invasive plants. The bulk of the cards, however, represent common native species.  Here, for example, is the card for fairyslipper, a local orchid.

nature cards

Pictures for the cards came from local photographers and from Wikimedia royalty-free sources. Plant descriptions were written in simple, easy-to-read prose. (The writers tried to keep the skills of a typical 10- to 16-year old reader in mind.) Each card describes the plant’s appearance, habitat, and uses. The cards also introduce and define basic botanical terms. 

nature cards

Sets of the nature cards were donated to local schools by the Metchosin Foundation. Boxed sets are also available for purchase. Cost of the set is $35 (plus shipping, if necessary), with all proceeds going to the Metchosin Foundation. To order a set, send an email to cards@metchosinbiodiversity.com.

Teachers wishing to make alternate use of the pictures and text on the cards are welcome to download a zip file containing the pdfs of all 50 cards. Here is a list of the organisms depicted in the cards set and the 50 key botanical terms that are contextually defined on the cards. The list contains the cards in four orders: by common name (card number order), by scientific name, by botanical grouping (tree, shrub, etc.), and by key term introduced.



2-D Maps of School Areas

The Metchosin Foundation and District of Metchosin have collaborated to provide Metchosin's two schools, Hans Helgesen Public School and Westmont Montessori, with maps of their school grounds, surrounding areas, and nearest regional parks. Both schools explore the parks closest to them (Witty's and Devonian) for nature education. Teachers at the schools expressed an interest in having detailed maps that show their school grounds and the relationship of these grounds to the parks.

2D maps

The Metchosin Foundation, working closely with teachers from the schools, determined what details would be most useful on the maps.  The maps were created in the winter and spring of 2017. Metchosin Foundation members enlisted the skills of District of Metchosin personnel, who donated their time to isolate the school regions on their mapmaking software and add the appropriate layers to the maps. The maps were printed, laminated, and donated to the schools in April. 

There are four maps.  Electronic images of these maps can be downloaded as JPG images.  The maps are: