This activity was organized in partnership with the Township of Langley
Thank you to Ms. Stephenson and Ms. Tazumi’s awesome Grade 4 classes for joining us!
Community Impacts
60 grade 4 students from R.C. Garnett Elementary were engaged, contributing 120 hrs to environmental action!
- 80% visited Meadows Edge Park for the first time
- 75% removed invasive plants for the first time
60 students completed a survey, and results showed:
- 95% felt inspired to take future environmental action
- 90% felt a sense of belonging & connection to others
- 90% felt their well-being improved
- 95% said time spent in nature contributed
- 90% said meeting people contributed
- 95% said helping the environment contributed
- 95% said being physically active contributed
- 85% increased their understanding of environmental issues
- 90% learned new things (e.g. impacts of invasive species)
- 80% developed new skills (e.g. teamwork & hands-on stewardship action)
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
Environmental Impacts
- 4 cubic metres of invasive Himalayan blackberry were removed (equivalent to the volume of 25 bathtubs!)
- 21 square metres of Meadows Edge Park were revitalized
Highlights
- Students joined us from R.C. Garnett Demonstration School, and came from all across the Township of Langley!
- Today’s hands-on, experiential approach educated students about invasive species but also instilled a sense of responsibility towards their local environment, showcased the power they have to make a difference, & created lasting memories!
- Students worked together in groups to remove these plants, building their teamwork skills!
- Many park users thanked us for our hard work, and emphasized the importance of having environmental education and outdoor learning start at a young age.
- Delicious snacks were enjoyed during our snack break, including organic juice, Halloween-themed Fruit by the Foot, and chocolate chip granola bars!
- At the end of their session many students didn’t want to leave and would have been excited to spend all day tackling these invasive plants!
- Special thank you to:
- All of the parents and guardians who came out to support the students and learn more about invasive plants in the meantime!
- Ms. Stephenson for coordinating all of the classes to come out. We really appreciate it!
- Ms. Tazumi’s class for helping clean up all of the tools at the end of the activity!
- We’ve been working at Meadows Edge Park since 2023! Check out past activities below:
Community Investment Partner
Delivered in partnership with the Township of Langley, our Community Investment Partner.
Green Teams of Canada and the Township of Langley are working together to achieve our shared environmental and community objectives.
The Township 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 Township to build connection, improve well-being, and create lasting environmental and community impact.
Special thanks to Township staff Tovery, Zoe, and Justin for their valued contributions in bringing this activity to life.
This was our 8th of 9 activities we’re organizing together this 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 Paige Hunter, our Lower Mainland Green Team’s Program Manager with support from Olivia, our Program Assistant.
We Are All In This TOGETHER! The Future Depends on Us
The Lower Mainland Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada, engaging communities in hands-on environmental action since 2011.
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!