Don't Mess with the Don
About: We engage members of the community in our volunteer efforts to protect the Don River Valley. Our activities include cleanups, and other types of stewardship events. We are also vocal advocates for the environment engaging all three levels of government in our efforts.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events, Corporate opportunities, outdoor education, and field trips for schools and corporations
Learn more: www.dontmesswiththedon.ca
Contact: [email protected]
Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee
About: Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee is a grassroots organization led by local neighbourhood leaders. In 2008 our vision of transforming our underutilize local park, enriching the neighbourhood, and empowering women and youth to make a difference in the community, led to revitalizing a much -needed public space. Twelve years, our work has resulted in arts and fitness programming, community gardens, park beautification, community engagement, advocacy for park infrastructure, Friday community bazaars with local performances, park clean-ups, environmental education - 500 people are engaged weekly. Thorncliffe Park is a high-rise community adjacent to the Don River ravine system in the City of Toronto. Our ravine leaders program aims to engage residents to become environmental stewards.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events
Learn more:www.tpwomenscomm.org
Contact: [email protected]/ 647-203-2545
STEPS Public Art
About: STEPS is a Canada Revenue Agency–registered charity that fosters dynamic and inclusive communities through public art and creative placemaking. We transform urban spaces into vibrant places through cultural planning, community arts, and artist capacity building programs. In 2020, we built on our relationship with the Rexdale community, and launched From Weeds We Grow - an interdisciplinary public art project that strives to unearth Rexdale and Humber Summit’s relationship to the environment and accessible public space through virtual walking tours, workshops, storytelling and performances rooted in Rowntree Mills Park. This project is part of Arts in the Park 2020, and is supported by the Toronto Arts Council through their Animating Toronto Parks program.
Opportunities: Educational opportunities, Events, Corporate opportunities, Different public art services
Learn more: www.stepsinitiative.com/our-services/
Kids In The Woods Initiative - K.I.W.I.
About: K.I.W.I. is a nonprofit organization providing beneficial outdoor nature experience programs. Our goal is to reconnect kids to nature through adventure-play and mentoring in wild and natural outdoor spaces.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, programs for children 1 - 15 years old
Learn more:www.kidsinthewoodsinitiative.org
Contact: [email protected]
Toronto Field Naturalists
About: The Toronto Field Naturalists carry out community clean-ups, plantings, and invasive species removals with our partner organizations. We contribute to stewardship work across Toronto’s ravines and natural areas – often in the Don Valley, and especially focussed on our Cottonwood Flats Monitoring Program. TFN also owns and manages several nature reserves north of Toronto, near Uxbridge.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events
Learn more:https://torontofieldnaturalists.org/
Contact: [email protected]
Toronto Botanical Garden
About: Ecologist Katherine Baird conducts field surveys within Wilket Creek ravine’s natural areas in late summer 2020. Her research represents the first highly detailed natural cover inventories in TBG's upcoming expansion area and will be foundational for upcoming stewardship programs.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events, Corporate opportunities
Learn more:https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca/
Contact: [email protected]
Friends of Dallington Park
About: The garden is situated within the Don River watershed in Dallington Park, Toronto. It lies within an area characterized by the former paths of the Don River tributaries, with inundation during heavy rain and snowmelt due to natural topography and site drainage patterns that remain in place. The garden was started by community members to build a community hub, engage residents in stewardship of land, address issues of food security and stormwater management using sustainable urban agriculture methods.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Events
Learn more: www.dallingtonpollinators.com/
Contact: [email protected]
High Park Nature Centre
About: Operating in High Park, we promote awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor nature education and park stewardship. We offer school field trips, camps, nature clubs for people ages 6 months to age 99, corporate and community team building programs, naturalist courses, nature walks, special events and Indigenous-led events in partnership with Taiaiako'n Historical Preservation Society. Volunteers support our clubs and camps as well as maintaining our Black Oak Savannah restoration garden.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events, Corporate opportunities
Learn more: www.highparknaturecentre.com/
Contact: [email protected]
Parks Canada
About: A rich assembly of natural, cultural, and agricultural landscapes, Rouge National Urban Park is home to amazing biodiversity, some of the last remaining working farms in the Greater Toronto Area, Carolinian ecosystems, Toronto’s only campground, one of the region’s largest marshes, a beach at Lake Ontario, amazing hiking opportunities, and human history dating back over 10,000 years, including some of Canada's oldest known Indigenous sites.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities
Learn more: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/activ/vol2-ben2
Contact: [email protected]
Green Toronto: Join us at one of our planting and stewardship events and help grow Toronto’s urban forest.
As a volunteer you will:
• Learn more about native trees, shrubs and invasive species
• Learn how to plant a tree
• Take part in environmental stewardship activities
• Meet people, make new friendships and network within the community
• Gain experience, leadership and interpersonal skills For volunteers interested in long-term opportunities there is the Community Stewardship Program and Tree Planting Captain Program.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events
Learn more: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/volunteer-with-the-city/tree-planting-stewardship/
Contact: [email protected]
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
About: With more than 60 years of experience, TRCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario. More than five million people live within TRCA-managed watersheds, and many others work in and visit destinations across the jurisdiction. These nine watersheds, plus their collective Lake Ontario waterfront shorelines, span six upper-tier and 15 lower-tier municipalities.
Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities, Educational opportunities, Events, Corporate opportunities, outdoor education, and field trips for schools.
Learn more: trca.ca
Contact: [email protected]
Cover photo by: Jeff Dickie