By: Yaminah Veloso
Concerned about our ever-changing and uncertain climate? City Park Stewards is looking for volunteers and this is a great start for you to get involved and make a difference in your local community.
As part of its Community and Environment projects, The City of North Vancouver has developed the City Park Stewards Program, an initiative for volunteers to restore the green spaces and biodiversity of the North Shore.
Established in 2001, the program consistently garners around 600 volunteers every year. With participants contributing roughly 2000 volunteer hours annually, about 9 parks are restored each year through numerous nature restoration and conservation efforts.
City Park Stewards holds several monthly activities, from invasive plant pulling to planting and park restoration.
Photo by City Park Stewards.
Invasive plant pulling involves identifying unwanted plant species such as ivy and morning glory on the site and removing them with the tools provided by the park stewards' supervisors. English ivy, Irish ivy, Himalayan Blackberries and Morning Glory are invasive species widespread in the gardens and parks of Vancouver. Invasive plants can take away the natural resources that native species require to thrive in the environment. Removing these invasive plants will help preserve the biodiversity and beauty of non-invasive plants in our parks and gardens.
Planting activities allow community members to contribute to the City of North Vancouver’s initiative to restore the North Shore’s vibrant ecosystem. Park Steward volunteers engage in the task of planting mature shrubs and native trees. You will carefully prepare plots with the provided shovels, and plant as many offered saplings and plants as possible. Planting native shrubs and trees in various parks in our community will allow for the restoration of natural habitats while upholding sustainable green spaces for wildlife and locals to enjoy.
Photo by City Park Stewards.
City Park Stewards provides a welcoming atmosphere for volunteers of all ages. Volunteers are reminded to dress for the weather, wear appropriate shoes, and bring their water and gloves. Light refreshments are also provided for participating volunteers.
About four years ago I had the opportunity to participate in this program. During my senior year of high school, my friend and I joined one of Park Stewards’ planting activities in Moodyville to earn some service hours.
It was during the early morning and it was chilly despite the bright sun shining over us. Even the grass was still covered in dew. We volunteers and organizers gathered at this bare pavement area near the playground. Gardening tools had been laid out and one of the organizers began giving instructions on how to proceed with the day’s plans. Instead of distributing seeds, she said we would place developed plants into the soil. The gardening area would be behind the pavement, on a hill in front of luscious trees that stretched until Low Level Road.
I had never gardened before and never cared for it either. In truth, I simply went to this event because I needed to complete my hours before the end of the school year to graduate. I woke up that day sulking over how I missed the chance to sleep in. It wasn’t until my gardening gloves got hold of a planter that all my moping seemed to evaporate.
Photo by City Park Stewards.
As I began to take the plant out of the pot and place it into the Earth, I felt my mind freeze. It wasn’t that the chilly air got to me, it was that I could not think of anything else except patting soil around this small greenery. It was a strange experience for someone with a noisy mind. Being offline, getting my shoes dirty, and touching something other than my phone screen, I felt like a kid again––one who loved being outdoors.
From that moment, the gardening time flew by. My friend and I diligently planted, chatting over mundane matters as our eyes stayed glued to the Earth. We usually hung out at malls or on busy streets, but that day, we got our hands dirty with soil at some park beside a quiet neighbourhood. It was an atypical but refreshing experience, and I was already eager to try the same with others.
Looking around, you could see the clear skies overhead, the trees swaying with the wind, and the other volunteers harmoniously working in equal concentration. The day went on like that, and before we knew it, we had finished gardening our remaining plants. All I could do after was stare at the sky overhead. There was nothing else I wanted at that moment. Life simply felt content.
Spending time with the Earth offers a serenity like no other. I often felt like I was visiting an older version of the planet, one where our sole purpose for living was cultivating and nurturing our land. Even in this advanced and modern world, I envy ancient generations for leading such simple lives.
Four years have passed since I gardened with the Park Stewards team. It remains a core memory of my senior year, one I like to return to when I think of the good in life during a bad day.
Photo by Pixel Free Photos.
If you’re also in the mood to tune out and be present while surrounded by nature, volunteering for the Park Stewards program may be just for you. Not only will you experience the blissfulness that a simple activity like gardening offers, but you will be one of the driving forces in helping restore and maintain the environmental sustenance of the North Shore.
Don’t miss out on an incredible experience and volunteer now! Register here and help the City of North Vancouver develop a more vibrant and greener environment.
The Park Stewards team also advises volunteers to get to events sustainably, by walking, transiting, cycling, or carpooling with friends. Let’s be green while doing green!
Email parkstewards@cnv.org or visit the City Park Stewards webpage for more details about the program.
Images sourced from City Park Stewards and Pixel Free Photos.