Tommy Thompson Park - Outdoor Volunteer Gardening/Social
The Idea
We show up, we do something real with our hands, we notice what’s around us, and we leave a place better than we found it.
Litter pickup, ideally before the leaves grow in, when the ground is honest and nothing is hiding.
Invasive Phragmites removal using a specialized spading technique, guided by the stewardship lead, Anna Hoad.
Plant and bird identification
What to bring and wear (mandatory for safety)
Nature is beautiful, but it can be lightly disrespectful to bare ankles.
Attire: long sleeves, long pants, and long socks (full coverage required)
Footwear: firm footwear like boots or sneakers
Why: protection from skin-irritating plants and bugs
Logistics
Tools provided: gloves, spades, and garbage bags
Rules: no dogs and no motorized vehicles. It's a bird sanctuary after all.
Biking: you can bike in, but it’s best to lock bikes at the 1 Leslie Street entrance, because your hands will be busy
Optional social after
After we wrap at noon, there’ll be a separate, optional nearby hang. Nothing mandatory.
Shout-out to Toronto Nature Stewards
Toronto Nature Stewards is a volunteer-based group supporting ecological restoration across Toronto’s public natural areas, with hands-on work like invasive removal, litter cleanups, native planting, and community education.
Quiet Smile is about connection without performance. Stewardship is a sneaky kind of social life: you work side by side, you learn a few names (plants, birds, people), and you share a small purpose.
If you’ve been wanting to “meet people” in a way that doesn’t feel like an audition, this is a good bet.