Thank you to Ms. Christy & Mr. Nicolas and their grade 6/7 class who joined this activity:
Conlan, Ellen, Sam, Lyla, Linsay, Selena, Caleb, Maria, Ri-Ri, Jase, James, Obie, Sophia, Isabelle, Katrina, Macaylee, Anthony, Kaydence, Tristan, Tala, Calvin, & Lincoln!
Thank you to Ms. Rogers and her grade 6/7 class who joined this activity:
Amelia, Clara, Leo, Noelle, Gabby, Liam, Ethan, Kevin, Cole, Olivia, Ada, Jacelynn, Isaac LG., Diego, Nana Yaw, Kelly, Shayne, Isaac S., Daniel, Kyrrah, & Jaxon!
Shoreline Community School teachers & students came out on a cloudy winter day to connect & steward this beautiful park!
Impacts
- 25 students & 3 teachers engaged
- 37 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 3 cubic metres (about 18 bathtubs full) of invasive English Ivy removed
Highlights
- Shoreline Community School teachers and students joined the Greater Victoria Green Team and Town of View Royal for a fun day of hands-on learning in Portage Park!
- Students had fun skipping rope with long ivy strands, adding a fun additional element to this forest activity
- We had a friendly competition to see who could find the longest strand of ivy with the students measuring and comparing their strands of the invasive vine
- Students enjoyed many yummy snacks & drinks to refuel their bodies at the end of their activity sessions
- This activity built on the efforts of students and community members who have joined us, and other stewardship groups, at Portage Park over the years! Check out some of our previous activities at this park:
- Thanks to the many activities that have taken place in this park over the last several years, and it’s incredible to see how much healthier and more vibrant the ecosystem has become thanks to our ongoing community stewardship and partnership with the Town of View Royal!
What Students Said
Video of Isabel & Katrina talking about removing invasive ivy with their class
Video of Isaac talking about saving the nature
Video of Jaxon & Daniel talking about how removing ivy is fun and helps nature
Video of Lincoln talking about saving the forest by removing the invasive ivy
Video of students in action pulling out invasive ivy
Community Investment Partner
Thank you Chris, View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, for helping to facilitate this activity. Email Chris at restorevr@gmail.com to get involved
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 2nd of 11 activities together in 2026 and we are so excited for another fantastic year of work together!
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, and Sara, Greater Victoria Green Team’s new Program Manager.
Partnerships Manager Kaitlin supported this activity behind the scenes.