Thank you to our Greater Victoria Green Team participants:
Aaron, Adam, Adams, Alden, Andrew, Anroe, Arnel, Connor, Curtis, Dasoni, David, Elias, Elias , jr., Erick, Ericson, Fred, Giulia, Jenalyn, Jomar,Joven, Kurt, Marta, May, Mia, Natsuki, Nicole, Noel, Otone, Pedro A., Pedro L., Rafael, Rain, Ralph, Raphael, Raymund, Rei, Rena, Robert, Roel, Romeo, Scott, Tristan & Yuka
It was a perfect fall day to connect to others and to nature, and make a big impact!
Impacts
- 42 community members engaged
- 135 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 24 people removed invasive plants for the first time
- 33 people visited Dickson Woods for the first time
- 15 cubic metres (about 94 bathtubs full) of invasive English ivy removed
- 40 trees, 8 ferns and countless native plants saved from being strangled by English Ivy
Highlights
- The weather was great, we had a wonderful day in the forest connecting with one another and saving trees from invasive ivy!
- 2 people walking by before participants arrived jumped in and helped us put up our tent
- Brady and Romeo helped direct cars to parking spots
- Raf and Rena helped with setting up the refreshments
- Members from the Victoria Knights Hinirang Eagles Club (led by Joven!) joined us! Thank you for bringing lots of fun, humour to the activity!
- We learned words in Filipino (“Comestas” – hello, “Salamat” – thank you, “Paalam” – goodbye)
- Adam and Otone helped pack up some of the car – thank you!
- Community members of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels joined us today, including folks from North Saanich, Sidney, Saanich, Victoria and Langford
- We had many yummy snacks & drinks including: sugar cookies in the shape of invasive ivy, pineapple, grapes, mandarins, spice cookies, granola bar
- A big thank you to EVERYONE who helped pack up our tools and supplies!
- We had many locals asking what we were doing, thank us and ask when we would be there doing this work next
- This was the third of five activities run in Dickson Woods in fall 2025 and we were excited to build upon our previous efforts!
- See summaries from activities on: October 19, 2025 and November 18, 2025
- Sign up for our next activities in Dickson woods: Saturday Dec. 6, 2025 & Saturday Dec. 13, 2025
What Community Members Said
Video of Arnel talking about giving back and taking care of nature
Video of Fred and Joven talking about what they enjoyed about participating in this activity
Video of Rafael talking about having fun, making a difference, connecting with others, and helping nature
Video of Elias Jr. talking about improving the health of nature for the future
Video of Marta and Giulia talking about helping the environment and connecting with people
Community Investment Partner
THANK YOU to Victoria Airport Authority for providing the financial support, ecological expertise and guidance for this activity!
Through this partnership, we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment!
Our next activities will be back here at Dickson Woods on Saturday Dec. 6 and Saturday Dec. 13 2025. View details and sign up here
In-Kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporter LUSH for sharing their eco-friendly personal care products such as body scrubs, body wash and lotions
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Kaitlin. Your support makes a difference!
Why We Do This Work
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada.
We believe in the transformative power of hands-on environmental activities to empower individuals and strengthen communities.
Through initiatives like invasive plant removals, tree plantings, and litter clean-ups, we not only foster connections among participants but also deepen their relationship with nature. Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing mood, focus, and overall mental and physical health.
Our activities are designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and skill levels.
What sets us apart is we attract a wide mix of young community members who may not otherwise spend time outside, igniting their passion for nature and environmental care.
We are committed to instilling an environmental ethic that leads to lasting behaviour change. We aim to create a sense of belonging and connection to place, encouraging participants to recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact.
Together, we can all make a difference. Join us as we build a brighter, greener future for everyone!
Staff Who Made This Activity Possible
Our dedicated team is passionate about creating engaging, high-quality activities that foster a sense of belonging, connection to nature while raising environmental awareness. We strive to make a positive impact on our environment and to build a thriving community that cares for it.
This activity was run by Green Teams of Canada’s Founder and Executive Director, Lyda.
Partnerships Manager, Kaitlin Warren, supported this activity behind the scenes.