Forest Clean-Up at Burnaby’s Central Park Brings Together Volunteers of All Ages

On July 13, 2025, our Volunteer Ambassadors gathered at Burnaby’s Central Park for a forest clean-up organized in collaboration with our long-time partners at Web of Life. As always, a big thank you to the City of Burnaby for helping haul away the trash after the event!

This clean-up was extra special because it brought in a wave of new youth volunteers—including teens as young as 13-years-old. Many were stepping into their first-ever volunteer experience! It was truly inspiring to see multiple generations working side by side to restore a beloved urban forest. Teenagers brought younger siblings, parents teamed up with their kids, friends brought more friends, and solo volunteers quickly connected with one another. Everyone came together through a shared drive to take part in ecological stewardship that day.

What We Found (and Removed!)

Our crew tackled two main sites, along with several connecting trails. By the end of the morning, we had filled over 20 large contractor bags with waste—and hauled out some bulky (and unexpected!) items, including:

• A large wheeled recycling bin

• Another standard recycling bin

• A framed art piece

• Mattress foam, couch cushions, blankets, and tarps

• Discarded clothing and personal items

• Sudoku books, word search puzzles, and journals

As we worked, park-goers, cyclists, and trail users paused to cheer us on with comments like “thank you!” and “great work!” Some even stopped to chat after our two hour event, surprised by how much garbage was hidden beneath the forest canopy. Our Captain Scott staff are always amazed by the efficiency, focus, and heart our volunteers bring—these clean-ups continue to be a brilliant example of what teamwork in action really looks like.

More Than Just a Clean-Up

Of course, this event wasn’t just about clearing trash; it was also about bringing people together. Volunteers laughed, shared stories, and swapped contact info and photos after the clean-up. New friendships were sparked, familiar faces reconnected, and families worked side by side. The entire day was filled with good energy, community spirit, and real connection.

At Captain Scott Legacy Society, our mission is to create meaningful connections through feel-good volunteer experiences—and this clean-up was a perfect reflection of that.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Palm Rush

We were thrilled to welcome a new supporter, Palm Rush, who joined us near the end of the event with their refreshing organic king coconut water. The special mention amongst the volunteers that day was their Soursop Booster flavour.

Palm Rush provided us with hydrating treats that totally hit the spot after a sunny morning of hard work, so a huge thanks to Palm Rush for the generous support! We’d love to see you again soon– coconut water is definitely a summer clean-up essential!

🌿 Want to get in on the action? Join our Volunteer Ambassadors program to help protect local parks, meet great people, and make a real difference across Metro Vancouver.