What we're about
~ Restore, Conserve, and Connect to our Environment throughout Greater Victoria ~
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a regional-wide environmental volunteer program and is part of the National Charity Green Teams of Canada (www.GreenTeamsCanada.ca). We are a group of people from all over the Greater Victoria area who get together to help restore our local environment in the Capital Regional District. We work with Municipal and Provincial Parks, Charities, Non-profit organizations, Societies, Stewardship and Watershed groups to tackle environmental issues through co-operation and teamwork. We also volunteer at farms to promote local sustainable agriculture. Gloves and tools will be supplied as well as refreshments! All ages are welcome* and no experience is necessary. If you care about the environment, local food security, and meeting other passionate people then this is the group for you!
* Volunteers 18 years and under wishing to volunteer are required to have a parent/guardian sign the Greater Victoria Green Team waiver prior to volunteering with the Green Teams. Please fill in form here: http://bit.ly/2GEDEO9 . Failure to have your parent/guardian sign this before the activity will prevent you from participating at our event.
The GVGT is a program of Green Teams of Canada charity: www.greenteamscanada.ca
Our mission
To inspire stewardship of nature by connecting diverse individuals through hands-on educational environmental activities.
Activities include:
• Removing invasive plants that are out-competing and overtaking natural habitat
• Planting native species
• Picking up garbage (especially from shorelines)
• Preparing and harvesting veggie beds
• Unique activities that improve the environment (building trails, monitoring, building nest boxes for birds, etc)
Restoring our environment is a two way street! You will also benefit in many ways:
• Learn first-hand about the environmental issues faced in parks
• Find out about invasive plants and how they are threatening our ecosystems
• Build stewardship and habitat restoration skills
• Conserve, restore and enhance local green spaces
• Spend time outdoors
• Meet like-minded interesting people
• Build knowledge and skills related to local food security
• Get your hands dirty and be active in something you believe in
• Learn to be a leader and work as a team
• Learn about all the amazing work being done by different groups and organizations in the CRD
• Explore places in the CRD you may have never been to before
• Gain volunteer hours (a letter to confirm your hours will be emailed to you as requested)
• Get exercise and have fun!
Contact the GVGT Program Manager, Kaitlin Warren at Kaitlin@GreenTeamsCanada.ca
Donating to the Greater Victoria Green Team
If you love the work we do and want to support us through a donation please click here. The money goes to organizing and running GVGT activities, volunteer management, native plants and trees, snacks, tools and communication materials
History
The Greater Victoria Green Team (GVGT) is a new program of Green Teams of Canada, a charity founded by Lyda Salatian in 2013. The GVGT is the second Green Team to be formed, after the success of the Lower Mainland Green Team. Founded in 2011 by Lyda, the Lower Mainland Green Team has since grown to 6000 volunteers who have removed 88,000 pounds (about 7 elephants) and 2,000 cubic meters of invasive plants, planted 11,000 native plants and trees and picked up 5,000 pounds of garbage, especially from shorelines.
Amanda Evans is the founder of the GVGT and believes that fostering a connection between people and nature is key to taking care of our environment. She plans to motivate and encourage the community in the Capital Regional District to get their hands dirty and restore habitat.
Regular Updates
If you want to stay up-to-date with latest Greater Victoria Green Team happenings check out our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/greatervictoriagreenteam), Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/GVGreenTeam) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gvgreenteam/))
Check our Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCf2MM0x2a...?
We have been in the news - a LOT!
See the entire collection of Green Teams of Canada media here: https://app.box.com/s/za9fizmlks6jd7npfgcl47h9g8zyd5j8
Sooke News, September 25, 2019. Green Team cleans up Broomhill Park in Sooke
Victoria News, April 6, 2019. Invasive species removed from Roberts Bay Park
Victoria News, March 20, 2019. Volunteer green team joins forces to restore local habitats
Sooke News, January 31, 2019, Green Team expands activities in Sooke
Carina Pogler (2018, Nov 8) BC’s biggest environmental volunteer organization partners with UVic’s Campus Planning and Sustainability Office, Martlet: http://www.martlet.ca/greater-victoria-green-team-launches-pilot-project-in-mystic-vale/
Shalu Mehta, October 24, 2018. Community plants trees in Colwood, Sooke News.
Victoria News, December 8, 2018, Greater Victoria Green Team a Cleanup Machine
Coles K. (2018, May 16) Green Team Tackles Trash alongside Youth, Oak Bay News, p.A3: https://www.oakbaynews.com/news/fun-society-and-green-team-tackle-trash-at-gonzales/
Blackpress TV, November 5, 2017. "Bowker Creek Restoration"
Shaw TV South Vancouver Island, October 11, 2017. "Ruby Creek Restoration"
Victoria News, August 14, 2017. "Green Team gives Gonzales Beach a going-over"
Oak Bay News, August 5, 2017. "Team clears brambles from Brighton"
Peninsula News Review, June 9, 2017. "Lillian Hoffar Park gets a little love from North Saanich youth"
Peninsula New Review, March 18, 2017. "Eco volunteers help remove invasive species from Sidney Spit"
CBC Radio, March 6, 2017. On the Island show
CHEK News, April 23, 2016. 5pm news.
Sooke News Review, April 11, 2017. "Green Team tackles Ayum Creek"
CHEK News, December 4, 2016. 5pm news
November, December 2016. "Greater Victoria Green Team— Engaged Communities that Care for Nature" Victoria Naturalist Magazine. Article written by Connie Larochelle Page 6.
Goldstream News, November 25, 2016. "Tis' the day and season for giving"
Goldstream News, November 15, 2016. "View Royal students take classroom outdoors with Green Team"
Saanich News, November 2, 2016 (A26). "Green thumbs"
Fall, 2016. "A big green idea" Continuing Studies article University of Victoria
Oak Bay News, July 28, 2016. "FUN Society and Green Team tackle trash at Gonzales"
Goldstream Gazette, June 17, 2016. "Volunteers show up en masse for Colwood Project"
Victoria News, April 5, 2016. "Green team gains momentum in Victoria"
Victoria News, March 2, 2016. "Scene and Heard. Victoria Leadership Awards" page A10.
Victoria News, February 26, 2016. “Everyday heroes receive prestigious awards”
Goldstream News Gazette, December 3, 2015, "Shoreline students lend an outdoor hand"
Oak Bay News, September 25, 2015, "Trial Island pull puts Green Team to use FRONT COVER"
Oak Bay News, July 3, 2015, "Volunteers build fences for buttercups on Discovery (Page 3)"
Saanich News, June 12, 2015, "Volunteers of all ages pull together at Playfair"
Vancouver Sun, January 5, 2015, article about the LMGT and the GVGT HERE
Goldstream News Gazette, October 31, 2014, "Planting trees for tomorrow's generations"
Oak Bay News, October 16, 2014 Uplands Park article, "Bushwhacking to better Uplands Park"
Goldstream Gazette, September 10, 2014 news article, "Portage Park to receive more TLC"
Photos/Video
We may take photos and/or videos at the events. These may be posted here on meetup and/or other sites like youtube. The photos may also be used for communication materials. If you prefer to not be on camera make this clear to whoever is pointing a camera your way and/or duck out! Also please note, photos may be taken of you with products businesses have donated to GVGT volunteers and posted on their facebook pages.
Liability (please read before attending any of our events!)
The organizer and each and every one of its hosts and volunteer participants are in no way responsible and liable for your personal safety and health state, or the safety of your children before, during and at anytime after each event. By RSVPing "Yes", for Greater Victoria Green Team events, you acknowledge that you fully understand the nature of the activities, are aware of risks, and are sufficiently fit and capable of performing the activities, assuming all risks associated with those activities. All attendees hereby release and shall forever hold harmless the Greater Victoria Green Team organizer, all Greater Victoria Green Team hosts and other volunteers attendees and unconditionally waive any liabilities resulting from attending and/or participating in any Greater Victoria Green Team events. By attending our events you are taking personal responsibility for yourself and any minors in your care. Anyone under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
RSVP'ing and not showing up
There are two rules:
1. Because equipment, tools and refreshments are brought to each event based on the number of people coming, it is important for those who have RSVP'd to show up. If you are no longer able to attend an activity, simply "un-RSVP" and leave the activity to make room for another participant. To "un-RSVP" go to where you had originally clicked on "join us" on the event page and click on "change RSVP". Please do this by the day before the event.
2. If you don't show up to an event that has a restricted number of participants, and there is a waiting list for that event, you will be removed from the GVGT unless you have an appropriate reason. You must un-RSVP at least 2 days before an event, especially if that event has a waiting list (to give other members a chance to take your vacated spot and participate). This ensures everyone interested in participating has that opportunity.
Groups we collaborate with
BC Parks
Bee Creek Restoration at Coast Collective
Capital Regional District
City Harvest Coop Farm
Colwood
Creatively United for the Planet
District of Oak Bay
District of Saanich
District of Sooke
Ducks Unlimited
Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative
Evergreen, Uncover your Creeks
Fairfield Food Forest
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
Friends of Anderson Hill Park
Friends of Colquitz Creek Park
Friends of Cuthbert Holmes Park
Friends of Dominion Brook Park
Friends of Havenwood Park
Friends of Knockan Hill Park
Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society
Friends of North Saanich
Friends of Tod Creek Watershed
Friends of Uplands Park
Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT)
Haliburton Farm Biodiversity Project
Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team
Gorge Waterway Initiative
Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society
LifeCycles Project Society
Mason Street Farm
North Saanich
Pacific People's Partnership
Parks Canada
Portage Park Ecological Restoration Volunteer Group
Restoration of Natural Systems (UVic Department)
Rithet's Bog Conservation Society
Royston Reclaimers
Saanich Pulling Together Volunteer Program
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society
Spring Ridge Commons
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
The Land Conservancy
Town of View Royal
Township of Esquimalt
Welland Legacy Park
Woodwynn Farms
More to come...
Other volunteer opportunities
We hope that you will consider volunteering more regularly with the groups hosting our events once you've checked out what they do.
Please check this LINK for more environmental volunteer opportunities.
Upcoming events (3)
We will be removing invasive plant species from Uplands Park in Oak Bay!
We are collaborating with the Friends of Uplands Park for this activity!
Please fill in Volunteer Registration if this is the first time you are volunteering with the Green Team: http://bit.ly/2WdZeAT. You only need to fill out this form ONCE.
We will be working rain or shine.
MEETING SPOT/PARKING
Meet at Uplands Park in Oak Bay
Meet in the grassy field by the entrance to cattle point on Beach Drive!
Park along Beach Drive
If you're interested in arriving early to help set up, please email [masked] to coordinate!
Bus: Check BC Transit Schedules to plan your route here: https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/home
Cycling: Info on available bike racks will be here once a location is determined
Carpooling: Looking for a ride or are willing to give others a ride to/from this activity? Please use the comment section at the bottom of the page to organize. Be sure to include the location you need a ride from/are willing to pick up from in your comment.
If no one responds to your comment, please contact Kaitlin and she will include your request in an email to all attendees.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING WHEN CARPOOLING:
• Volunteers who carpool with others do so at their own risk
• Any compensation for the ride is to be discussed/agreed upon between the driver and the passenger
• Please be courteous & respectful to one another & inform each other of any changes right away. E.g. If you are going to be late, let the other person know
• GTC staff are not allowed to give rides and are not responsible for coordinating rides (though they may assist!)
WASHROOMS
There is a pit toilet at Cattle Point
WHAT TO BRING
• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Long sleeves and long pants to protect from thorny plants and insects
• Refillable water bottle. Please bring water, or a cup to fill up with! We will provide snacks and refreshments halfway through!
• Your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (We provide them if you don't have your own)
• Sturdy closed toe shoes/boots
• A hat, sunscreen
• Rain jacket in case it rains
FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
Option to meet at 9:00am for a site tour with coffee and baked goods to learn about the restoration efforts of Friends of Uplands Park with Margaret
Meet at the GVGT tent at 9:45am for sign-in, introductions, and instructions (please be on time)
• If you can't find us, please call[masked]
• Remove invasive plants
• Take break for refreshments half way through
• Volunteer until 1 pm then sign-out at end, take home an eco-gift!
REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER AHEAD OF TIME ONLINE
• If you haven't yet, register online (You only need to fill out this form once): http://bit.ly/2GEDEO9
• Get your parent to sign this form if you are under 19: http://bit.ly/parentguardianform
PARTNER
This event is happening thanks to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation grant! Thank you TD FEF!
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING
• Learn about local environmental issues and how to address them
• Meet new people & be part of a community
• Improve your mental & physical health by being in nature
• Get exercise & fresh air in a beautiful green space
• Revitalize a local green space & increase biodiversity
• Learn how to identify invasive plants & how to remove them
• Get volunteer hours
• Have FUN!
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All Greater Victoria Green Team activities take place on the traditional and unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, the Lekwungen speaking Songhees & Esquimalt peoples, and the nations who form the Te'mexw Treaty Association. We respectfully acknowledge the longstanding relationships these groups have with the land that stretch from time immemorial to the present day. We are extremely grateful to be able to run environmental stewardship activities on these lands.
- Kaitlin W.
- Kiersten
- Kelsey D.
- 35 attendees
We will be removing invasive Himalayan blackberry while having great ocean views with the students of Dunsmuir Middle School, community members are welcome! We will be right behind the Esquimalt Lagoon, a great place for a walk afterwards.
Please fill in Volunteer Registration if this is the first time you are volunteering with the Green Team: http://bit.ly/2WdZeAT. You only need to fill out this form ONCE.
We will be working rain or shine.
MEETING SPOT/PARKING
Park at end of Anchorage Ave, and meet up the trail at the end of Goldfinch Ave Here: https://bit.ly/3QjTbYz
*NOTE: This park was previously referred to as "Pithouse Park" but is now known as Lagoon West Park
Bus: Check BC Transit Schedules to plan your route here: https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/home
Look for GVGT tent and signs!
WASHROOMS
There is a public washroom at the corner of Lagoon Rd and Ocean Blvd (about two minutes walk from our work site).
WHAT TO BRING
• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Long sleeves and long pants to protect from thorny plants and insects
• Rain jacket in case it rains
• Refillable water bottle. Please bring water and snacks! We will have water bottles and packaged refreshments for those who forget.
• A hat, sunscreen
• Your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (We provide them if you don't have your own)
• Mask
• Sturdy closed toe shoes/boots
FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
• Meet at the beginning of your session time (either 10:30 am or 1:00 pm) for sign-in, introductions (please be on time)
• If you can't find us, please call me, Kaitlin, at[masked]
• Remove invasive plants
• Take break for refreshments at the end of each session
REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER AHEAD OF TIME ONLINE
• If you haven't yet, register online (You only need to fill out this form once): http://bit.ly/2GEDEO9
• Get your parent to sign this form if you are under 19: http://bit.ly/parentguardianform
PARTNER
- Alison G.
- Kaitlin W.
- Amanda E.
- 44 attendees
We will be removing invasive Himalayan Blackberry & English Ivy, Scotch broom, and bur chervil from this beautiful park!
**PLEASE NOTE: We will be starting at 9:00am: EARLIER THAN OUR NORMAL START TIME**
Please fill in Volunteer Registration if this is the first time you are volunteering with the Green Team: http://bit.ly/2WdZeAT. You only need to fill out this form ONCE.
We will be working rain or shine.
MEETING SPOT/PARKING
We will be meeting at the High St. entrance to the park. High St is a residential street off of Burnside Rd W.
There is limited street parking on High St.
There is limited street parking along Tall Tree Place. If entering the park from Tall Tree Place, turn left to go up the trail and then take the second left to follow the path toward the View Royal end of the park.
Bus: Check BC Transit Schedules to plan your route here: https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/home
Look for GVGT tent and signs!
WASHROOMS
There are no washrooms on site.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Long sleeves and long pants to protect from thorny plants and insects
• Refillable water bottle with lots of water (we will have water for you to refill with if needed!)
• Sturdy closed toe shoes/boots
• A hat, sunscreen
• Rain jacket in case it rains
• Optional: Your own gardening gloves, tools, and/or safety glasses
WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU
• Gloves, tools, and safety glasses if you don't have your own
• An educational instruction on what to do (no experience necessary!)
• Refreshments
• A small thank you gift at the end, donated by a Canadian and/or eco-friendly business
FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
• Meet at 9:00am for sign-in & introductions (please be on time)
• If you can't find us, please call[masked]
• Receive instruction & demo for the activity
• Remove invasive plants
• Take break for refreshments half way through
• Volunteer until 12:15 pm then sign-out at end, take home an eco-gift!
REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER AHEAD OF TIME ONLINE
• If you haven't yet, register online (You only need to fill out this form once): http://bit.ly/2GEDEO9
• Get your parent to sign this form if you are under 19: http://bit.ly/parentguardianform
PARTNER
This activity is being made possible thanks to financial support and direction from our Community Investment Partner, the Town of View Royal
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING
• Learn about local environmental issues and how to address them
• Meet new people & be part of a community
• Improve your mental & physical health by being in nature
• Get exercise & fresh air in a beautiful green space
• Revitalize a local green space & increase biodiversity
• Learn how to identify invasive plants & how to remove them
• Get volunteer hours
• Have FUN!
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All Greater Victoria Green Team activities take place on the traditional and unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, the Lekwungen speaking Songhees & Esquimalt peoples, and the nations who form the Te'mexw Treaty Association. We respectfully acknowledge the longstanding relationships these groups have with the land that stretch from time immemorial to the present day. We are extremely grateful to be able to run environmental stewardship activities on these lands.
- Kaitlin W.
- Severine T.
- E T
- 4 attendees
Past events (484)
- Kaitlin W.
- Layanna R.
- Manav
- 46 attendees
