This activity was organized in partnership with the City of Colwood
Thank you to Linda Funk’s Environmental Science Students:
Mason, Alison, Lauren, Will, Parker, James, and Kate
Thank you to Megan Allen’s Grade 11 and 12 Students:
Zaveed, Eric, Dallas, Colin, Aiden, Liam, Maddox, Noah, Julius, Arian, Jack, and Hunter
Impacts
19 students were engaged, contributing 28.5 hrs to environmental action!
- 65% visited Murray’s Pond Park for the first time
- 78% removed invasive plants for the first time
Environmental:
- 6 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom were removed (equivalent to the volume of 38 bathtubs!)
- 73 square metres of habitat revitalized!
Change starts with people. To have a lasting environmental impact, people need to feel connected, capable and empowered to take action.
Our activities are designed to increase:
- Community resilience & social connection
- Well-being through time in nature
- Participation in climate & environmental action
- Awareness of environmental issues
- Connection to local places & natural areas
- A culture of volunteerism & civic engagement
Highlights
- Students had the opportunity to connect with one another outside of the classroom while working toward a shared goal.
- The windy weather brought lots of laughter as everyone tackled blackberry removal with the breeze blowing through their hair.
- Students enjoyed getting to know their peers and teaching team in a different setting.
- There were ongoing debates about who could stand on the shovel the longest while loosening particularly tough roots.
- Several local residents stopped by to ask what the students were working on.
- Passersby thanked the group for helping care for Murray’s Pond Park.
- One resident commented on how wonderful it was to see young people taking action to support their local environment.
- A ladybug paid the group a visit during the activity. Students took a moment to admire their tiny guest before returning to restoration work. It served as a reminder of the many species that benefit from healthy ecosystems.
- Jack took on an enormous broom root that was nearly the size of his head. After lots of persistence and teamwork, he successfully removed it, earning cheers from the group.
- The class had recently completed projects focused on invasive species. Students were excited to apply what they had been learning about environmental science and citizen science in a real-world setting. They gained firsthand experience identifying invasive plants and contributing to ecosystem restoration efforts within their community.
- Students refuelled with juice boxes and granola bars following a morning of hard work. The snacks provided a chance to relax, chat, and celebrate all they had accomplished together.
- Special thank you to both teachers:
- Megan, for helping organize and coordinate this field experience.
- Linda, for supporting the planning and bringing students out for a day of hands-on environmental learning.
- We’ve been working at Murray’s Pond Park since 2019! Check out past activities below:
What Youth Said
4 students shared what this activity meant to them:
Video of Jack, speaking about the impacts of invasive species
Video of Liam, speaking about how nice it is to see the difference he has made
Video of Zaveed, speaking about how invasive species can contribute to erosion on slopes
Community Investment Partner
Delivered in partnership with the City of Colwood our Community Investment Partner.
Green Teams of Canada and Colwood are working together to achieve our shared environmental and community objectives.
Colwood provides ecological direction, while we bring expertise in community engagement – mobilizing people to take meaningful environmental action and inspiring future stewardship.
This partnership includes financial investment from the city to build connection, improve well-being, and create lasting environmental and community impact.
Special thanks to City of Colwood staff Graydon and Gord for their valued contributions in bringing this activity to life.
This was 1 of 8 activities we’re organizing together for the 2026-2027 school year.
Staff Who Made This Activity Possible
Our dedicated staff are passionate about community engagement and environmental action. Their work includes extensive outreach, activity logistics, social media, reporting on impacts, partnership building and MUCH more!
This activity was run by Sara Schwartz, our Greater Victoria Green Team’s Program Manager.
We Are All In This TOGETHER! The Future Depends on Us
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada, engaging communities in hands-on environmental action since 2014.
We bring people together to improve well-being and inspire environmental stewardship. Through activities like invasive plant removal, native species planting, and litter clean-ups, participants take practical action and see the impact they can make.
What sets us apart is our focus on people. Our activities are inclusive and accessible to all ages, abilities and experience levels, especially those new to environmental action. Many join for the first time, deepen their understanding of environmental issues and leave feeling capable and motivated to take future action.
We also strengthen and support the broader stewardship network by working with governmental agencies, non-profits, land trusts, volunteer-led groups, schools, and businesses, bringing new people into existing efforts and expanding their reach. Many participants go on to deepen their involvement, take on leadership roles, or contribute to other initiatives.
We believe lasting environmental change starts with people. By creating meaningful opportunities for people to take part, we help build more connected, resilient communities.
We can all make a difference!