The Green Teams of Canada set out a decade ago with a mission to empower and connect people who want to help the environment.

Armed with a passion for the environment, founder Lyda Salatian took a risk and started something new.

Greater Victoria Green Team program manager Kaitlin Warren said her goal stemmed from creating a cleaner province by organizing groups of people to remove litter and invasive species from parks and plots of land.

Her efforts eventually flourished into the Lower Mainland Green Team in 2013. Once the group received charitable status, the Greater Victoria Green Team was established.

Warren joined the team last year initially through the youth and leadership program, which was started to teach and inspire the next generation of community leaders.

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B次元官网网址淭he idea is that change canB次元官网网址檛 happen without people caring, and we bring people together so we can teach them and empower them to make a real difference,B次元官网网址� said Warren.B次元官网网址漌e do that by offering drop-in activities that require no prior knowledge or experience.B次元官网网址�

The drop-in classes focus on learning about habitat loss, biodiversity, invasive plant removal, community cleanups and tree planting.

B次元官网网址淧erhaps itB次元官网网址檚 a piece of land they never visited before; now they have a bit of a connection to that piece of land and an even stronger connection to the community B次元官网网址� We have people telling us a lot of the time that itB次元官网网址檚 very inspiring to feel a part of something bigger than yourself,B次元官网网址� said Warren.

She says they collaborate with other local organizations who do similar work to raise awareness while working with landowners to decipher what is needed for a particular environment.

That is the goal they seek to achieve with the upcoming invasive species removal workshop on Oct.14. Attendees can learn what an invasive plant is, why it is so important to move them, and strategies to identify its species B次元官网网址� the culprit English ivy, which belongs to the ginseng family and has disrupted many ecosystems in B.C.

B次元官网网址淲e provide gloves and we tell people how to be safe B次元官网网址� all the little tidbits and tricks,B次元官网网址� said Warren.

The meet-up will occur at 4394 Lochside Dr. in Saanich from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a donated parcel of land intended to be preserved for ecological purposes.

No experience is needed to participate in the educational opportunity, and you can sign up by visiting the Greater Victoria Green TeamB次元官网网址檚

According to Warren, spots are filling up fast, but if you canB次元官网网址檛 make this event, donB次元官网网址檛 sweat it. The team runs various events throughout each month that you can join.

B次元官网网址淭hey do learn lots, they make new friends and meet new people, and itB次元官网网址檚 special to see and feel that impact.B次元官网网址�

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