Remove Invasive Plants & Make a Difference at Coquitlam River Trail, Coquitlam!

We will be removing invasive plants including mostly Himalayan blackberry, but also English ivy, English holly and Scotch broom along part of the Coquitlam River Trail in Coquitlam! We will be both restoring local habitat while also having fun and 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 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.

MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
We will meet at a Coquitlam River Trail entrance along Gabriola Dr in Coquitlam (near 1335 Gabriola Dr). EXACT LOCATION HERE: https://bit.ly/3QBSn0j. Look for our signage at the trail entrance and call/text Ashton at 778-968-2693 if you can't find us!

GETTING THERE/PARKING
• This activity is accessible by public transit (buses directly from Coquitlam Central Station), 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 in the area

WASHROOMS
The closest washrooms for this activity are located at Town Centre Park about a 10-15 minute walk from our site. EXACT LOCATION HERE: https://bit.ly/3JMCLoC. We strongly encourage you to use these washrooms BEFORE you arrive!

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 plants
• Remove invasive plants
• Take a break (yummy refreshments time!) around 11:30am
• Volunteer until 1pm
• Take home a reward from one of our in-kind sponsors
• Sign out on your phone or our tablet

WHAT TO BRING
• Refillable water bottle
• Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Long sleeves and long pants to protect you from thorny plants & ticks
• Sturdy, comfortable closed toe shoes/boots or rain boots
• 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 refreshments
• A small thank you gift at the end, donated by a business

WHAT 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-action

PARTNER FOR THIS ACTIVITY
This activity is being made possible thanks to financial support and direction from our Community Investment Partner, the City of Coquitlam - thank you Julie and Marianne!

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 hən̓q̓əmin̓em speaking peoples who have lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and continue to do so today. We are humbled to run our program on these lands.

QUESTIONS?
Email ashton@greenteamscanada.ca