Greater Victoria Green Team

~ 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.