Events & Volunteer Opportunities
Events & Volunteer Opportunities Calendar
List of Upcoming Events & Opportunities:
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay)
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nations, an artist, and is passionate about land stewardship through ecosystem restoration.
Date: Saturday, November 30th 2024
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com
Contact max@hat.bc.ca if you have any questions or concerns
Friends of Oak Haven Park - Monthly Restoration Event
Join Habitat Acquisition Trust, Central Saanich and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of ecological restoration and stewardship! The Friends of Oak Haven Park will meet for monthly restoration events on the last Sunday of every month.
This session will take place:
Date: Sunday, November 24th, 2024
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Oak Haven Park (meet at the summit bench)
To learn more about Oak Haven Park go to: https://hat.bc.ca/oakhavenpark
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Date: Tuesday, November 19th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)
For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
Lekwungen Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by the Lekwungen Community Toolshed to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Land, led by Cheryl Bryce. The restoration work includes the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Tools, coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Youth are welcome, please leave pets at home.
If you have questions, email Cheryl Bryce at ctoolshed@gmail.com
Cheryl will maintain communication with the Songhees Nation about this restoration event.
Date:Friday, November 15th 2024
Time:10:00am to 1:00pm
Location:The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Friends of Oak Haven Park
Join Habitat Acquisition Trust, Central Saanich and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of ecological restoration and stewardship! The Friends of Oak Haven Park will meet for monthly restoration events on the last Sunday of every month.
This restoration session will take place:
Date: Sunday, October 27th, 2023
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Oak Haven Park (meet at the Benvenuto parking lot)
To learn more about Oak Haven Park go to: https://hat.bc.ca/oakhavenpark
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay)
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nations, an artist, and is passionate about land stewardship through ecosystem restoration.
Date: Saturday, October 26th 2024
Time: 10am - 2pmLocation: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com
Contact max@hat.bc.ca if you have any questions or concerns
Please enter your name and e-mail below to register
Lekwungen Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by the Lekwungen Community Toolshed to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Land, led by Cheryl Bryce. The restoration work includes the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Tools, coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Youth are welcome, please leave pets at home.
If you have questions, email Cheryl Bryce at ctoolshed@gmail.com
Cheryl will maintain communication with the Songhees Nation about this restoration event.
Date:Friday, October 25th 2024
Time:10:00am to 1:00pm
Location:The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Date: Tuesday, October 15th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)
For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay)
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Date: Friday, September 27th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
lək̓ʷəŋən Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by the Lekwungen Community Toolshed to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Land, led by Cheryl Bryce. The restoration work includes the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory. Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Date: Sunday, September 22 2024
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project! SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Date: Tuesday, September 17th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes) For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) - Friday, August 30th 2024
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Date: Friday, August 30th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com
Contact max@hat.bc.ca if you have any questions or concerns
Lekwungen Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank - Friday August 16th 2024
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by the Lekwungen Community Toolshed to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Land, led by Cheryl Bryce. The restoration work includes the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Tools, coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Youth are welcome, please leave pets at home.
If you have questions, email Cheryl Bryce at ctoolshed@gmail.com
Cheryl will maintain communication with the Songhees Nation about this restoration event.
Date:Friday, August 19 2024
Time:10:00am to 1:00pm
Location:The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ - Wednesday August 14th 2024
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Date: Wednesday, August 14th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)
For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
Friends of Oak Haven Park
Join the Friends of Oak Haven Park this month to help remove Scotch Broom from the park’s meadows!
The stewardship group will be meeting at the summit at 10:00am.
Contact max@hat.bc.ca with any questions or concerns
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) - Friday, July 26th 2024
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Date: Friday, July 26th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com
Lekwungen Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank - Friday July 19th 2024
Registration is now closed. Please save the date of August 16 for the next Maplebank event and check back August 1 to RSVP
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Reserve, led by Cheryl Bryce and the Lekwungen Community Toolshed. The restoration work includes the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Tools, coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Youth are welcome, please leave pets at home.
If you have questions, email Gavin at gavin@hat.bc.ca or ctoolshed@gmail.com
Cheryl will maintain communication with the Songhees Nation about this restoration event.
Date:Friday July 19 2024
Time:10:00am to 1:00pm
Location:The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Please enter your name and e-mail address below to register and we will email you the exact location, protocols, and the volunteer waiver form prior to the date of the event.
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ - Wednesday July 17th 2024
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Date: Wednesday, July 17th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)
For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
Guided Bat Walk
🦇Guided Bat Walk🦇
Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists and HAT on a walk to explore the wonderful world of bats.
Date: July 12th, 2024
Time: 7:30pm-9pm
Location: Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Meet at the Beaver Lake Picnic Shelter at the Filter Beds parking lot.
No RSVP required!
Guided Turtle Walk
Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists and HAT as we explore the lake looking for signs of the Western Painted Turtle!
Date: July 4th, 2024
Time: 10am - 11:30am
Location: Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Meet at the Beaver Lake Picnic Shelter at the Filter Beds parking lot.
No RSVP required!
Learn more: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/events
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ - Wednesday June 19th 2024
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Date: Wednesday, June 19th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet Trailhead on Google Maps, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park - follow the trail down to the water, we will be gathering near the beach. The walk from Wallace drive may take 10 - 15 minutes)
For more information on the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project, more detailed directions, and an overview of protocol, please go to https://pepakenhautw.land/volunteer
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) - June 14th 2024
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Date: Friday, June 14th 2024
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: RSVP for address and additional event details. Follow up e-mail will be sent to all registrants prior to event date.
For more updates on the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project go to www.wsikemivyproject.com
Contact max@hat.bc.ca if you have any questions or concerns
Lekwungen Community Toolshed Maplebank Restoration Event
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited to participate in the restoration of Maplebank on Songhees Reserve, led by Cheryl Bryce and the Lekwungen Community Toolshed. The restoration work includs the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom, and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
Volunteers will need to agree and sign the Cultural Protocols before the event.
Tools, coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Youth are welcome, please leave pets at home. If you have questions, email Josh at joshua@hat.bc.ca or ctoolshed@gmail.com
Cheryl will maintain communication with the Songhees Nation about this restoration event.
Date: Sunday June 9 2024
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: The exact address will be emailed to you the day before the event, it is located in Esquimalt near the Songhees Wellness Centre. It is the same location at Maplebank as before, if you have been to one of our events previously.
Guided Bat Walk
Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists and the Habitat Acquisition Trust on a walk to explore the wonderful world of bats. Where do bats live? What do they eat? Participate in activities designed to help you learn more about the world's only true flying mammals. Hopefully, we will see bats in action as they emerge at dusk and swoop through the air feeding on flying insects. 🦇
Date: Friday, May 31st, 2024
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Location: Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Meet at the Beaver Lake Picnic Shelter at the Filter Beds parking lot.
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) - May 31st 2024
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ - Wednesday May 22nd 2024
Join HAT and PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ for a day of ecological restoration supporting the SṈIDȻEȽ Resiliency Project!
SṈIDȻEȽ is an important place to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. SṈIDȻEȽ means “Place of the Blue Grouse” in SENĆOŦEN and is the first W̱SÁNEĆ village site. The PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ team will guide volunteers through the restoration process, while following W̱SÁNEĆ protocol.
Training, tools, and snacks provided. Please bring plenty of water, and dress for the weather!
Lekwungen Community Toolshed: Restoration at Maplebank - Saturday, April 27th 2024
Contribute to the invasive plant species removal and Indigenous plant restoration in the Songhees community. Volunteers are invited by Cheryl Bryce to assist in her restoration work including the removal of Himalayan Blackberry, Broom and Daphne in an important coastal oak meadow restoration site in Lekwungen territory.
W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project (Healing the Place of Clay) - April 26th 2024
Follow this link to RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/sFBjNePTLB
Join us in working to help heal the land and restore the native ecology at the Jim family's lands in the Tseycum village. Sarah Jim is a proud member of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation, an emerging artist, and works as a land steward conducting ecosystem restoration with PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱.
Earth Day Restoration at SṈIDȻEȽ ŦIŦEȽ SṈÁNET (Oak Haven Park)
Follow this link to RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/qSjWjQuRvz
We hope that you can join us Sunday April 21st, for a celebration of Earth Day weekend at SṈIDȻEȽ ŦIŦEȽ SṈÁNET (Oak Haven Park)!
This will be a joint collaborative event hosted by Habitat Acquisition Trust, Friends of Oak Haven Park and the District of Central Saanich. We will be coming together as a community to help remove invasive plant species from the park’s rare and endangered Garry oak ecosystem. To kick-off this special day, the District’s plant expert, Justin Dunning, will lead us on a spring wildflower tour through the park.
No experience necessary! All are welcome! This free event is a great way to build connections to one another, the land, and its natural inhabitants, around us!
Date: Sunday, April 21st 2024
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Oak Haven Park - Volunteers can gather where the trails from Benvenuto and Garden Gate meet.
Parking: There is a small parking lot on Benvenuto with additional street parking on Garden Gate Dr.
Refreshments, tools, and training provided by HAT and Central Saanich
Regular Group Events
Friends of Havenwood Park
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am every Friday.
Location: Havenwood Park, CF7V+J8, Colwood, BC
Join the Friends of Havenwood Park every Friday in Colwood!
Carol and the group work hard to remove invasive species, including Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and English holly, as well as plant native species to help support the park's biodiversity.
If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca
Matson Mattocks
Time: 9am - 12pm every Wednesday.
Location: Matson Conservation Area, Esquimalt, BC V9A 7J6
Join the Matson Mattocks volunteer stewardship group every Wednesday morning to remove invasive species from Matson Conservation Area!
If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca
Friends of Oak Haven Park
Time: 10am - 1pm on the last Sunday of every month (as this monthly date can change, it will be shown in the event calendar above!)
Location: Oak Haven Park, 1251 Garden Gate Dr, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 2H6.
Join HAT, Central Saanich, and the Friends of Oak Haven Park for a morning of restoration and stewardship!
The Friends of Oak Haven Park meet on the last Sunday of every month.
If you are interested in getting involved, email volunteers@hat.bc.ca
Photo taken by Milen Kootnikoff 📷
Volunteer with HAT
Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer with HAT
1. Educational - learn from HAT staff and other volunteers about the importance of native ecosystems, local species and the history of local lands.
2. We're Local - help your own community and region by volunteering with HAT as we focus all of our work within the Capital Regional District (CRD).
3. Learn New Skills - we always make sure our volunteers benefit from their experience by learning a new skill or two along the way.
4. Protect Nature - the more help we have the more resources and time will be availble to commit to the important goal of protecting land in the CRD.
5. Fun! - whether you are exploring a pristine wooded area with our covenant coordinator or coming up with new material for one of our programs, we remember to keep things fun.
We are always looking for passionate individuals to help out with our diverse projects.
Interested in Salvaging Native Plants?
As part of the Stewardship Program, HAT hosts training and safety orientation sessions for HAT volunteers, landowners, and restoration practitioners who are interested in learning how to safely and effectively salvage native plants in areas slated for development. To learn more about salvaging or participate in an upcoming session, click below.
