
What we’re about
Looking for a constructive way to improve the health of our environment? Want to support your own health and be part of a community?
We bring together people to help parks, governmental agencies, charities, non-profits, societies, educational institutions, land trusts, and stewardship groups tackle environmental issues that need co-operation and teamwork to get done. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! All ages, abilities and experience levels are welcome and accommodated. INSTRUCTION, GLOVES, TOOLS AND REFRESHMENTS ARE PROVIDED. The Lower Mainland Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada.
Activities include:
- Removing invasive plants that are outcompeting and overtaking our native plants and trees
- Planting native plants and trees
- Picking up litter in natural spaces
- Nature interpretive walks
- And anything that gets people together in nature to make a difference!
What you will get out of participating:
- Learn first-hand about the environmental issues faced in local parks
- Make a positive impact by conserving, restoring and enhancing green spaces
- Spend time in nature and enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of doing so
- Meet new people and be part of a community
- Learn to be a leader and work as a team
- Build stewardship and habitat restoration skills
- Get exercise outdoors
- Feel happier, healthier and more connected to nature
- Explore places in the Lower Mainland you may have never been to before
- Learn about all the amazing work being done by different groups and organizations in the Lower Mainland to take care of the environment
- Gain volunteer hours (a letter to confirm your hours will be emailed to you upon request)
- Have fun!
PLEASE REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER HERE before participating in your first activity! (you will only need to fill out this form once)
Contact
Want to reach the organizer? Email Ashton at ashton@greenteamscanada.ca!
DON'T SEE ANY EVENTS POSTED? Hang tight! We are working hard to organize more opportunities for you!
We mostly run activities March-June and September-November, but are working to provide other opportunities year round!
Follow us on social media to stay up to date with our Green Team!
Facebook: @LowerMainlandGreenTeam
Instagram: @lowermainlandgreenteam
Twitter: @LMGreenteam
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History
Our founder, Lyda Salatian, ran the Lower Mainland Green Team's first activity ran on March 8, 2011 at Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley. The Lower Mainland Green Team quickly grew and its success led to the founding of our national charity, Green Teams of Canada, on October 28, 2013 with the goal to launch Green Teams across the country. Soon after our Greater Victoria Green Team was born on August 1, 2014 and we look forward to launching a new Green Team in a brand new place by 2025.
Read more about our history HERE!
2011-2017 activity summaries (including before and after photos) can be found HERE!
2018-Present activity summaries (including before and after photos) can be found HERE!
See photos from each of our activities by clicking on Photos
Our mission
To connect, build and empower diverse communities through hands-on activities that promote health, well-being and environmental stewardship
DONATE to our charity, Green Teams of Canada
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 LMGT activities, volunteer management, native plants and trees, snacks, tools and communication materials.
AWARDS WON
- 2014 YWCA Environmental Sustainability Award
- 2013 National Hometown Heroes award from Earth Day Canada. To see the award click --> HERE to learn more about the award click --> HERE
- 2013 Frank Sanford Award for Community Service from the Vancouver Natural History Society. To see the award click --> HERE. To learn more about this award please click--> HERE
- 2012 - Jane Goodall Institute has given the LMGT a certificate of recognition. To check it please click --> HERE
Media
The Lower Mainland Green Team has been featured in the media 50+ times.
You can read the media coverage that our Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria Green Teams have received since 2011 HERE!
Want to learn more about us? click on the below links!
Metro Vancouver Park June 2014 piece about the LMGT --> HERE
A LMGT volunteer who is filmmaker from NSHG Films created this awesome Video --> HERE
CBC Radio Early Edition Jan 4 2014 interview --> HERE
Global News interview July 31 2013 --> HERE
David Suzuki talks about the Lower Mainland Green Team--> HERE
A 5 minute slide show about the LMGT --> HERE
Funders, Community Investment Partners and Donors like YOU!
Without financial support, the Lower Mainland Green Team would not be able to make a positive impact on communities or the environment. Thank you to everyone who financially supports us! If you love the work we do and want to support us through a donation, please click HERE.
Partners and Collaborators
We believe much more can get done working together. Below are some groups we have worked with over the years:
Metro Vancouver Parks
BC Parks
Vancouver Park Board
City of Burnaby
City of Coquitlam
City of North Vancouver
District of North Vancouver
District of West Vancouver
City of Surrey
City of Richmond
Corporation of Delta
City of White Rock
City of Port Moody
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society
Caulfeild Park Conservation Society
Alouette River Management Society
Fraser Basin Council
Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society
Burns Bog Conservation Society
Cougar Creek Streamkeepers
Minnekhada Park Association
Burnaby Lake Park Association
Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society
Friends of Semiahmoo Bay/Birds on the Bay
Catching the Spirit Youth Society
North Shore Wetland Partners Society
False Creek Watershed Society
Earthwise Society
Edible Garden Project
Fresh Roots Society
The Sharing Farm Society
Rivers Institute at BCIT
Jericho Stewardship Group
Pacific Spirit Park Society
Evergreen
Everett Crowley Park Committee
Coastal Painted Turtle Project
Friends of Hunter Park
Langley Environmental Partners Society
Ceed Centre Society
Balance Ecological
North Surrey Organic Garden Society
Stoney Creek Environment Committee
North Shore Mountain Biking Association
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation
White Rock and Surrey Naturalists
Generous Businesses
There are many generous businesses who have helped build the Lower Mainland Green Team. They contribute refreshments and products to volunteers to reward their hard work taking care of the environment! To learn more about them click HERE
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 LMGT volunteers and posted on their facebook pages.
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, if you have RSVP'd 3 times that you are going to 3 events and without notice have not shown up, you will be removed from the Lower Mainland Green Team. 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 sign up for an event with a restricted number of participants, the spaces become filled and there is a waiting list and you do not show up (and have no good reason) you will be removed. You must UN-RSVP at least 2 days before an event (to give other members a chance to take your vacated spot and participate)
Other volunteer opportunities
Please check out the following page for more environmental volunteer opportunities --> HERE
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Remove Invasive Blackberry & Plant Native Shrubs @ Reg Franklin Park Maple RidgeReg Franklin Park, Maple Ridge, BC
Join the Lower Mainland Green Team & Alouette River Management Society in restoring Reg Franklin Park!
We will be removing invasive Himalayan blackberry to support previously planted native shrubs and make space to plant 20 more at Reg Franklin Park in Maple Ridge with the Alouette River Management Society! We will be both restoring local habitat while also having fun & connecting with each other in nature. We will be working RAIN OR SHINE.
Due to limited native shrubs, not everyone will be able to plant for this activity.
All ages, abilities & experience levels are welcome, bring your family & friends! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Gloves, tools, instruction & snacks provided!
Is this your first activity with the Lower Mainland Green Team?
• PLEASE REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER AHEAD OF TIME HERE: http://goo.gl/WRx6jr. THIS IS REQUIRED! You do not need to fill this out again if you have filled it out for a previous activity.
• This form does not sign you up for this activity, it registers you as a volunteer with our organization. Please sign up for this activity here on Meetup or by emailing Ashton at ashton@greenteamscanada.ca.
MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
We will meet at the south entrance to Reg Franklin Park at the north end of Edge St, EXACT LOCATION HERE: http://bit.ly/2ZGrZtH. IMPORTANT NOTE: Type in "Eric Langton Elementary School" in Maple Ridge to be directed to the correct park entrance located at the end of Edge St. Look for our signage and call/text Ashton at 778-968-2693 if you can't find us!
GETTING THERE/PARKING
• This activity is accessible by public transit (less than 10min walk from R3 stop at Haney Place, Maple Ridge!), which is a great way to save on costs and is better for the environment. Use Google Maps or download the Transit app (green icon) on your phone to find the best route for you!
• There is free street parking along Edge St HERE: https://bit.ly/3pSuvdI
WASHROOMS
There are NO public washrooms at this park, so we will be using washrooms located in the Blenz Coffee a 7-10 min walk away from the park HERE: https://bit.ly/3nmItqk. Thank you Blenz for letting us use your washrooms!
FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
• Meet at 9:45am (please be on time)
• Sign in on your phone or our tablet
• Receive instruction and demo on how to remove invasive blackberry
• Remove lots of invasive blackberry to clear space to plant native plants
• Take a break (yummy snack time!) around 11:30am
• Receive instruction and demo on do planting
• Plant native shrubs and continue to remove blackberry
• Volunteer until 1pm (if you can't stay for the whole time, no problem! Just let us know when you have to leave)
• Take home a reward from a sustainable business
• Sign out on your phone or our tablet
WHAT TO BRING
• Water bottle
• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Long sleeves & long pants to protect you from thorny plants & ticks
• Sturdy, comfortable closed toe shoes/boots or rain boots
• Rain jacket & hat in case it rains
• Your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (we have lots, don't worry if you don't have any!)
WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU
• Gloves, tools, safety glasses if you don't have your own
• An educational instruction on what to do (no experience necessary!)
• Yummy snacks
• A small thank you gift at the end, donated by a sustainable business
WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS
• A follow-up survey will be sent (filling this out helps us improve our program & secure funding to run more activities!)
• A volunteer letter emailed on request
• Photos taken will be uploaded here: http://goo.gl/hctXBv
• A summary of the activity uploaded here: https://bit.ly/LMGT-in-action
PARTNER FOR THIS ACTIVITY
This activity is being made possible thanks to partnership with the Alouette River Management Society (ARMS). If you don't already know about ARMS, get to know this awesome local nonprofit and how you can get more involved at their website HERE!
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING
• Learn about local environmental issues & 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
This activity is taking place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Kwantlen, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō) and Coast Salish First Nations who have lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and continue to do so today.
QUESTIONS?
Email ashton@greenteamscanada.ca
- Ocean Views! Remove Invasive Ivy & Blackberry at Ruth Johnson Park, White Rock!14645 Seymour Ave, White Rock, BC
Restore habitat & make new friends with the Lower Mainland Green Team & City of White Rock!
We will be removing invasive English ivy & Himalayan blackberry from Ruth Johnson Park in White Rock! We will be restoring local habitat while also having fun & connecting with each other in nature. We will be working RAIN OR SHINE.
All ages, abilities & experience levels are welcome, bring your family & friends! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Gloves, tools, instruction & refreshments provided!
Is this your first activity with the Lower Mainland Green Team?
• PLEASE REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER HERE: http://goo.gl/WRx6jr. THIS IS REQUIRED! You do not need to fill this out again if you have filled it out for a previous activity.
• FILLING OUT THIS FORM DOES NOT SIGN YOU UP FOR THIS ACTIVITY, it only registers you as a volunteer with our organization. Please sign up for this specific activity here on Meetup or by emailing Ashton at ashton@greenteamscanada.ca.MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
• We will meet at the park trail entrance at the corner of Seymour Ave & Bellevue Cres. EXACT LOCATION HERE: https://bit.ly/3CeCxDR. Look for our signs and call/text Ashton at 778-968-2693 if you can't find us.GETTING THERE/PARKING
• This activity is accessible by public transit, which is a great way to save on costs & is better for the environment. Use Google Maps or download the Transit app (green icon) on your phone to find the best route for you!
• There is limited parking at the trail entrance we are meeting at, so you are best to park by the Centre of Active Living/Peace Arch Curling Club & take a short walk down a beautiful forest path!
• DO NOT PAY FOR PARKING! For FREE parking please grab a parking pass from us when you arrive.CARPOOLING
Looking for a ride or are willing to give others a ride to/from this activity? This will help make this activity more accessible! Use the comment section at the bottom of this page to organize.NOTES ON 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 & passenger
• Please be courteous, respectful & inform each other of any changes right away. E.g. If you're going to be late, let the other person know
• LMGT staff are not allowed to give rides & are not responsible for coordinating rides (though they may assist)WASHROOMS
• Public washrooms are located nearby the Centennial Baseball Field HERE: https://bit.ly/3tugiWyFLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
• Meet at 9:45am (please be on time)
• Sign in
• Receive educational instruction & demo on how to remove invasive plants
• Remove invasive plants
• Take a break (yummy snack time!) around 11:30am
• Continue removing invasive plants until 1pm
• Take home a reward from a sustainable business
• Sign outWHAT TO BRING
• Refillable water bottle
• Rain jacket in case it rains
• Long sleeves & long pants you don't mind getting dirty to protect you from thorny plants & ticks
• Sturdy, comfortable closed toe shoes/boots or rain boots
• Wear a hat to keep sun/rain out of your face
• Your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (we have lots, don't worry if you don't have any!)WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU
• Gloves, tools, safety glasses if you don't have your own
• An educational instruction on what to do (no experience necessary!)
• Yummy snacks
• A small thank you gift at the end, donated by a sustainable businessWHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS
• A follow-up survey will be sent (filling this out helps us improve our program and secure funding to run more activities!)
• A volunteer letter emailed on request
• Photos taken will be uploaded here: http://goo.gl/hctXBv
• A summary of the activity uploaded here: https://bit.ly/LMGT-in-actionPARTNER FOR THIS ACTIVITY
This activity is being made possible thanks to our Community Investment Partner, the City of White Rock. Thanks to the City's funding & direction, we are improving environmental & community health - thank you Justin, Spencer & Jim!BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING
• Learn about local environmental issues & 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
This activity is taking place on the traditional, ancestral & unceded territory of the Semiahmoo First NationQUESTIONS?
Email ashton@greenteamscanada.ca - Dig Invasive Blackberry Roots to Help Trees at the Pitt Meadows Community GardenPitt Meadows Community Garden, Pitt Meadows, BC
Dig up invasive blackberry roots to help trees while making new friends with the Lower Mainland Green Team and City of Pitt Meadows!
We will be digging up invasive Himalayan blackberry roots from beside the Pitt Meadows Community Garden to help new trees that will be planted this fall! We will be restoring local habitat while also having fun & connecting with each other in nature. We will be working RAIN OR SHINE.
All ages, abilities & experience levels are welcome, bring your family & friends! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Gloves, tools, instruction & snacks provided!
Is this your first activity with the Lower Mainland Green Team?
• PLEASE REGISTER AS A GREEN TEAM VOLUNTEER AHEAD OF TIME HERE: http://goo.gl/WRx6jr. THIS IS REQUIRED! You do not need to fill this out again if you have filled it out for a previous activity.
• FILLING OUT THIS FORM DOES NOT SIGN YOU UP FOR THIS ACTIVITY, it just registers you as a volunteer with our organization. Please sign up for this specific activity here on Meetup or by emailing Ashton at ashton@greenteamscanada.ca.MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
We will meet and be working beside the Pitt Meadows Community Garden off Bonson Rd in Pitt Meadows. EXACT MEETING LOCATION HERE: https://bit.ly/3PYQRIq. Look for our signs & green arrows. Call/text Ashton at 778-968-2693 if you can't find us!GETTING THERE/PARKING
• This park is accessible by public transit (the 719 and 722 buses stop right beside the garden), which is a great way to save on costs and is better for the environment. Use Google Maps or download the Transit app (green icon) on your phone to find the best route for you!
• There is a free parking lot off of Bonson Rd beside the Community GardenWASHROOMS
There are public washrooms at the Pitt Meadows Athletic Park, a short walk from where we are working. EXACT LOCATION HERE: https://bit.ly/3RFNN4TFLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
• Meet at 9:45am (please be on time)
• Sign in on your phone or our tablet
• Receive instruction and demo on how to identify and remove invasive blackberry
• Remove invasive blackberry
• Take a break (yummy snack time!) around 11:30am
• Continue removing blackberry until 1pm
• Take home a gift from a sustainable business
• Sign out on your phone or our tabletWHAT TO BRING
• Refillable water bottle
• Sturdy, comfortable closed toe shoes/boots you don't mind getting dirty or rain boots
• Long sleeves and long, thick pants (like jeans) you don't mind getting dirty to protect you from thorny plants & ticks
• Rain jacket and hat in case it rains
• Your own gardening gloves, tools, safety glasses (we have lots, don't worry if you don't have any!)WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU
• Gloves, tools, safety glasses if you don't have your own
• An educational instruction on what to do (no experience necessary!)
• Yummy snacks
• A small thank you gift at the end, donated by a sustainable businessWHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS
• A follow-up survey will be sent (filling this out helps us improve our program and secure funding to run more activities!)
• A volunteer letter emailed on request
• Photos taken will be uploaded here: http://goo.gl/hctXBv
• A summary of the activity uploaded here: https://bit.ly/LMGT-in-actionPARTNER FOR THIS ACTIVITY
This activity is being made possible thanks to funding and direction provided by our partner, the City of Pitt Meadows!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
This activity is taking place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Stz’uminus, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Kwantlen and Coast Salish First Nations who have lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and continue to do so today.QUESTIONS?
Email ashton@greenteamscanada.ca