About us
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
YOUTH ACTIVITY: Remove Invasive Blackberry @ Meadows Edge Park, Langley!
Meadows Edge Park, 2271 Willoughby Way, Langley, BC, CAWe're engaging local students from RC Garnett Demonstration Elementary in an invasive blackberry removal!
We are excited to be engaging students across two sessions:
• 9:15am -11am: First Session with Stephenson's students!
• 11:30am-1pm: Second Session with Tazumi's students!This activity will run RAIN OR SHINE! ⛅ We will have fun no matter the weather!
PARENTS: PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING WAIVER & PHOTO CONSENT FORM FOR YOUR STUDENT by clicking: https://bit.ly/gtc-waiver-photo-consent.
Once you select the Age of Volunteer, the waiver form will appear.Brought to you by partnership with the Township of Langley & our charity Green Teams of Canada.
This activity is being run with local teachers to provide hands-on education to students. This activity is not open to the public.
MEETING LOCATION 📍
We will meet at Meadows Edge Park off of Willoughby Way & 200 St in Langley.👉 Google Map Pin: Click HERE for meeting spot map!
Look for our directional signs to help you find us!WASHROOMS
The nearest public washrooms can be found behind the Langley Meadows Community School HERE: https://bit.ly/4i6sUJJ. Please ask students to go before leaving school!FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
- Meet at your designated time.
- Receive educational instruction, safety talk & demo on how to remove invasive plants.
- Remove invasive plants until the end of your class' session.
- Enjoy yummy snacks before heading back to school!
WHAT TO BRING 🧥👖
Please come prepared for outdoor, hands-on work:- Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Long sleeves & long pants (to protect from thorny plants + bugs)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots
- Refillable water bottle
- Rain jacket (just in case!)
- Hat & weather-appropriate layers
WHAT WE PROVIDE 🧤
We’ve got youth & parent chaperones covered with:- Gloves, tools & safety glasses
- Instruction, safety talk, & environmental education
- Friendly, experienced staff support
- Snacks & refreshments
- Photos & videos of the day
GETTING THERE 🚌 🚗
We will be coordinating with the school to organize transportation, whether that be a bus ride or a healthy walk to be eco-friendly and get more exercise!WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS
- Photos taken will be shared & uploaded on Meetup & our Flickr Page HERE!
- A summary of the activity uploaded HERE!
🎓 BC CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
These experiential activities support key BC curriculum competencies and learning outcomes, including:- Core Competencies: Communication, Thinking, Personal & Social
- Career Education: Community involvement, volunteerism, leadership
- Physical & Health Education: Outdoor activity, well-being, & connection to nature
- Science: Human impact on ecosystems, biodiversity
- Social Studies: Civic responsibility & engagement with community initiatives
- … & many more!
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PARTNER 💚
This activity is being made possible thanks to partnership with the Township of Langley. Their leadership, ecological knowledge, & financial support combined with our community engagement expertise allows us to bring people together through hands-on environmental action that supports both community well-being & ecological health!LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 🧡
We acknowledge with respect & gratitude the traditional, ancestral & unceded territories of the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Kwantlen, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and other Coast Salish Nations upon which this activity takes place.QUESTIONS?
Email Paige@greenteamscanada.ca52 attendees
YOUTH ACTIVITY: Remove Invasive Blackberry @ Meadows Edge Park, Langley!
Meadows Edge Park, 2271 Willoughby Way, Langley, BC, CAWe're engaging local students from RC Garnett Demonstration Elementary in an invasive blackberry removal!
We are excited to be engaging students across two sessions:
• 9:15am -11am: First Session with Gerbrandt's students!
• 11:30am-1pm: Second Session with Cameron's students!This activity will run RAIN OR SHINE! ⛅ We will have fun no matter the weather!
PARENTS: PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING WAIVER & PHOTO CONSENT FORM FOR YOUR STUDENT by clicking: https://bit.ly/gtc-waiver-photo-consent.
Once you select the Age of Volunteer, the waiver form will appear.Brought to you by partnership with the Township of Langley & our charity Green Teams of Canada.
This activity is being run with local teachers to provide hands-on education to students. This activity is not open to the public.
MEETING LOCATION 📍
We will meet at Meadows Edge Park off of Willoughby Way & 200 St in Langley.👉 Google Map Pin: Click HERE for meeting spot map!
Look for our directional signs to help you find us!WASHROOMS
The nearest public washrooms can be found behind the Langley Meadows Community School HERE: https://bit.ly/4i6sUJJ. Please ask students to go before leaving school!FLOW OF THE ACTIVITY
- Meet at your designated time.
- Receive educational instruction, safety talk & demo on how to remove invasive plants.
- Remove invasive plants until the end of your class' session.
- Enjoy yummy snacks before heading back to school!
WHAT TO BRING 🧥👖
Please come prepared for outdoor, hands-on work:- Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Long sleeves & long pants (to protect from thorny plants + bugs)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots
- Refillable water bottle
- Rain jacket (just in case!)
- Hat & weather-appropriate layers
WHAT WE PROVIDE 🧤
We’ve got youth & parent chaperones covered with:- Gloves, tools & safety glasses
- Instruction, safety talk, & environmental education
- Friendly, experienced staff support
- Snacks & refreshments
- Photos & videos of the day
GETTING THERE 🚌 🚗
We will be coordinating with the school to organize transportation, whether that be a bus ride or a healthy walk to be eco-friendly and get more exercise!WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS
- Photos taken will be shared & uploaded on Meetup & our Flickr Page HERE!
- A summary of the activity uploaded HERE!
🎓 BC CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
These experiential activities support key BC curriculum competencies and learning outcomes, including:- Core Competencies: Communication, Thinking, Personal & Social
- Career Education: Community involvement, volunteerism, leadership
- Physical & Health Education: Outdoor activity, well-being, & connection to nature
- Science: Human impact on ecosystems, biodiversity
- Social Studies: Civic responsibility & engagement with community initiatives
- … & many more!
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PARTNER 💚
This activity is being made possible thanks to partnership with the Township of Langley. Their leadership, ecological knowledge, & financial support combined with our community engagement expertise allows us to bring people together through hands-on environmental action that supports both community well-being & ecological health!LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 🧡
We acknowledge with respect & gratitude the traditional, ancestral & unceded territories of the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Kwantlen, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and other Coast Salish Nations upon which this activity takes place.QUESTIONS?
Email Paige@greenteamscanada.ca52 attendees
TD Tree Days: Plant Native Trees & Shrubs @ Ruth Johnson Park, White Rock
Ruth Johnson Park, 14600 North Bluff Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3N6, Canada, White Rock, BC, CAMeet new friends & plant 500+ native shrubs & trees in Ruth Johnson Park as part of TD Tree Days!
REGISTRATION for this activity through the TD Tree Days event page HERE: https://www.tdtreedays.com/en-ca/ruth-johnson-park-0
NO EXPERIENCE needed. ALL AGES & abilities welcome! Just bring yourself, curiosity & willingness to get your hands a little dirty 🌿. We'll provide instruction, tools, gloves & snacks! Comes for as long as you are able to!
This activity runs RAIN 🌧️ or SHINE ☀️
Brought to you by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the City of White Rock & our charity Green Teams of Canada.
MEETING SPOT 📍
Please review the details on the TD Tree Days site here: https://www.tdtreedays.com/en-ca/ruth-johnson-park-0WHY JOIN A GREEN TEAM ACTIVITY? 🌳
You’ll walk away having:
- Met new people & felt part of something bigger than yourself
- Learned about local ecosystems & environmental issues
- Made a tangible difference for the environment
- Spent quality time outdoors (great for mental health!)
- Gotten some fresh air & exercise
- Earned volunteer hours (if you need them)
- Enjoyed delicious snacks 🍪 🧃 & warm, welcoming vibes
- Had fun, even if it rains 🙂
The Lower Mainland Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada. We connect & empower people by organizing hands-on, inclusive, safe & impactful environmental activities. Whether it’s your 1st coming out or your 50th, you’ll be guided every step of the way.
Want to know what to expect at an activity? Check out our Lower Mainland Green Team online summaries/blogs
STEPS TO SIGN UP 📝
✅ Step 1: Confirm you're able to attend!
Please only sign up if you're 100% committed to participating. If your plans change, please update your RSVP as soon as possible. Our activities often fill up & have waitlists, & timely updates help open spots for others who’d love to join.
We also pack tools, supplies & buy snacks in advance based on RSVPs so last-minute changes (within 24-48 hrs) are hard to accommodate, so we appreciate your care in registering thoughtfully & honouring the shared effort that makes these activities possible.
✅ Step 2: Registration (one-time only)
If this is your first-ever Green Team activity, please complete our Volunteer Registration Form:
- All new volunteers CLICK 👉 Volunteer Registration Form
* You only need to do this once.
* This form registers you as a volunteer with our charity, it does not sign you up for activities✅ Step 3: RSVP
- REGISTRATION for this activity through the TD Tree Days event page HERE: https://www.tdtreedays.com/en-ca/ruth-johnson-park-0
Update your RSVP as soon as possible if something changes & you're no longer able to participate
FLOW OF THE DAY ⏱️
- 9am - Arrival, sign-in, grab gloves
- 9:15am - Safety talk, education & demonstration
- 9:30-10:30am - Plant native species
- 10:30am - Snack break
- 10:45am-11:45am - Plant native species & remove invasive plants
- 11:45am - Wrap-up & pack up
- 1pm - Sign-out, activity ends
WHAT TO BRING 🧥👖
Please come prepared for outdoor, hands-on work:- Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Long sleeves & long pants (to protect from thorny plants + bugs)
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots
- Refillable water bottle
- Rain jacket (just in case!)
- Hat & weather-appropriate layers
- Your own gloves/tools/safety glasses if you prefer (optional - we provide everything you need)
WHAT WE PROVIDE 🧤
We’ve got you covered with:- Gloves, tools & safety glasses
- Instruction, safety talk & environmental education
- Friendly, experienced staff support
- Snacks & refreshments
- Photos & videos of the day
- Volunteer reference letters (on request after the activity)
GETTING THERE 🚌 🚗 🚲
Parking:- DO NOT PAY FOR PARKING! Free parking passes will be handed out for this activity.
Cycling:
- Plan your bicycle route on the Cycling in Metro Vancouver page.
Transit:
- Bus 321 and 345 stop nearby at Oxford at Russell. Plan your route with the Translink trip planner here.
Carpooling:
- Use the “comments” section below to offer or request a ride
- Staff can share information but are unable to coordinate carpools
- Please prioritize clear communication & personal safety
- Staff cannot offer rides
WASHROOMS 🚻
Public washrooms are located nearby near the Centennial Baseball Field HERE: https://bit.ly/3tugiWyMADE POSSIBLE BY 💚
Thank you to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for the funding to make this TD Tree Days activity possible, and the direction & support from the City of White Rock!LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 🧡
We acknowledge with respect & gratitude the traditional, ancestral & unceded territories of the se'mya'me (Semiahmoo), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui), and other Coast Salish Nations upon which this activity takes place.QUESTIONS?
Email Ashton@greenteamscanada.ca33 attendees
Past events
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