Resources Library
September 2024 Events:
First Nations Materials
The 13 Moons of the W̱SÁNEĆ is "based on the sacred interconnectedness of all things the observation of the 13 moons is part of W̱SÁNEĆ natural law. Each of the 13 moons provides guidance as to what cultural and economic activities are best suited for the time of year, as well as what weather to expect and what food is most abundant," W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council. Included in the resource are instructions for teachers.
The Living Lab has a collection of marine and plant guides which include English, Senćoŧen, Lekwungen (Lək̓ ʷiʔnəŋ), and Scientific Names for organisms found in the Coast Salish area.
The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) is a non-profit Indigenous-led organization. VNFC offers over 75 programs focused on improving socioeconomic conditions for urban Indigenous people. Infant Development, Breastfeeding Support, Budgeting Support and Education to Elder & Senior programs (such as Beading Circles) are some of the many programs they offer. Donation link found on website which helps support the VNFC work (includes providing safe and affordable housing, running of Programs and the Bruce Parisian Library, an Indigenous specific resource).
Youth focused materials
Composting resources for kids compiled by Victoria Compost Education Center containing a video series on a range of topics such as biodiversity, bee’s and pollen, and how to make compost.
Bentwood Box Exhibit: an online archive of items that were placed in a Bentwood Box. This sacred box was Commissioned by the National Center for Truth & Reconciliation as a lasting tribute to those who survived residential schools. Published on University of Manitoba’s National Center for Truth & Reconciliation.
Primary School and below materials
Nature cards for age groups 2-6 or 7-11 years old created by Children’s Nature Network. Topics include urban animals, clouds, reptiles, frogs & more. Sorted into categories that incorporate play, acting, drawing and more.
Interactive nature based activity books for children created by Evergreen Brickworks. The Evergreen has created and shared five different activity books. Age-specific activity books that contain fun activities and information about the environment and connecting with natural spaces.
Insect vocabulary flash cards for young children.
Free interactive program created for those K-6 age created by Bee City Canada designed to teach students about pollinators and their importance. Programs are offered in French and English with age-specific options.
Adult focused materials
Free wellness educational materials such as conducting a "Burnout Barometer stress assessment" as well as links to YouTube videos about Urban and Wild Foraging and a Herbalism & Activism podcast. These materials are created for adult education and have been collected on the Living Medicine Project website run by Garliq.
Resources compiled by the Compost Education Centre that provides information about where to buy gardening & composting supplies, kitchen scrap/recycling information and how to access soil testing.
Pacific Salmon Foundation 2022 Annual Report provides information about their supported programs including the Marine Science Program, Salmon Watershed Program & the Community Salmon program.
All Ages Materials
Free, virtual outdoor learning:
A guide to nature journalling by Fiona Gillogly.
Resources for teachers/educators/parents and guardians by Exploratorium. Examples of materials: Learning Toolbox (everything you need to support science learning from home), Science Snacks (low cost, teacher tested activities for classroom or home), Watch and Do Science (watch videos and carry out experiments with household items), Digital Teaching boxes & much more.
Educational resources collected by the Race Rocks Ecological reserve including assignments with objectives and guides for investigations in the classroom or via distance education. Materials available for students in middle school to college. Topics include ecology, geology, geography and much more.
Checklist of the Dragonflies and Damselflies we have in the Victoria Region created by the District of Saanich. Includes labelled anatomical drawing of a Dragonfly, and a species list with corresponding G & S rank given (denotes status of the population globally & in British Columbia).
Large collection of tool kits, reports, infographics and advocacy tools designed to help connect children, families and communities to nature created by Children & Nature Network. Target audience are teachers/parents or organizations that work to connect people with nature.
Various resources created by Pollinator Partnership Canada including an ecological planting guide that provides location-specific information on what to plant to support pollinators. Suitable for all types of land management, from small gardens to large farms.
Other resources includes seed packets for purchase (cost: $2), online webinar series from 2020 (webinar specific to Vancouver and Gulf islands) that consists of ten 1 hr + videos on topics such as Butterflies, Creating Meadows for Pollinators, Creating Wetlands for Pollinates, Identifying Bees/Pollinators & Urban Habitat for Pollinators.
A Pollinator Stewardship Certification can be gained by moving through this webinar series. Find the webinar and information on the Pollinator Stewardship certification here: