Thank you to our Greater Victoria Green Team community members who joined this activity:
Adam, Alex, Alexis, Alice(Chao), Allison, Artemii, Curtis, Esther, Jamie, Justin, Kevin, Mai Anh, Mark, Matthew, Natsuki , Nutdanai, Otone, Rafael, Rei, Scott, Tristan M., Tristan N., Waka & Yuka
The weather was nice as community members gathered to connect and care for this urban forest.
Impacts
- 24 community members engaged
- 5 people removed invasive plants for the first time
- 7 people visited Dickson Woods for the first time
- 75 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 16 cubic metres (about 100 bathtubs full) of invasive English ivy, Himalayan Blackberry, & English Holly
- 35 trees, and many other native plants saved from being strangled by English Ivy
Highlights
- 2 participants rode their bicycles and 10 took the bus to participate!
- We asked everyone what they had for breakfast and we heard pasta, pizza, tim bits, chocolate pancakes, toast and cereal
- Artemii helped set up – thank you!
- The sugar cookies in the shape of invasive ivy were a hit again!
- Community members of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels joined us today, including folks from North Saanich, Saanichton, Coquitlam, Sidney, Saanich, View Royal, Esquimalt, Victoria & Langley
- We had many yummy snacks & drinks including: sugar cookies, melon, pineapple, grapes, cucumbers, carrots, chocolate cookies, cheddar chips, granola bars, bananas, mandarins and fruit treats
- Anne-Marie from Resilient Urban Systems & Habitat came by to introduce their group and do a fun quiz
- This was the last of 5 activities we’re organizing at Dickson Woods in fall 2025 in partnership with the Victoria Airport Authority and we were excited to build upon our previous efforts in 2026!
- See summaries from past activities here:
What Community Members Said
Video of Jamie talking about the fun of participating in his first GVGT activity and meeting new people
Video of Alice talking about how good it feels to be helping out in the woods getting rid of invasive plants
Video of Waka talking about how nice it is to meet new people
Community Investment Partner
THANK YOU to the 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.
This was our last activity of 2025 together, however we are excited to be returning to Dickson Woods in the new year to build on our incredible work this fall!
In-Kind Support
Thank you to LUSH for providing their fantastic shower gels, body conditioner and bath bombs that use natural ingredients, sustainable packaging, and are made in Canada! Our participants were excited to take these gifts home.
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,s Kaitlin Warren, and Ashton Kerr supported this activity behind the scenes.