Learning on the Land
We are happy to offer education & restoration programming to groups in SṈIDȻEȽ!
Learning on the Land Program
We invite your group to join us doing healing work on the land in combination with sharing cultural and ecological teachings. We have hosted many diverse groups including university classes, community organizations, and international groups.
Programs take place at SṈIDȻEȽ on Tuesdays & Thursdays from March-November, between the hours of 9am-3pm (summer hours may differ).
To book your program contact: judith@pepakenhautw.com. Program fees are coordinated through admin@pepakenhautw.com.
What to Bring
Please bring food, water, work footwear, and of course dress for the weather! We also really appreciate it if participants can bring their own work gloves, though we do have some to share. We have tools available for up to about 30 people. Bags can be locked in our tool shed during the program. We do not have access to drinking water on site.
Please pack in and pack out all you bring!
What to Expect
Accessibility is limited, but we do our best to accommodate people with mobility impairment or disabilities. Please reach out for more specific details about our restoration sites.
We share this information to uphold our ethos of creating an inclusive and safe environment. We strive to offer accommodations and reduce the amount of barriers present in our restoration programs.
Invasive species removal is a physical activity that often requires bending over, kneeling, lifting and pulling. At SṈIDȻEȽ we use hand tools and sometimes push wheelbarrows, lift watering cans and pull tarps. Our work often takes place on slopes or in sandy areas. Activities can also include mulch and tending native plants.
The walk from the parking area at Wallace Drive down to the restoration sites is 10-15 minutes long. The trail is on a maintained dirt path, with a gradual hill. The washrooms are not wheelchair accessible at this time.
We really appreciate your interest in caring for the WSÁNEĆ homelands through participatory and action-based stewardship!
Before booking inquiries, please read our Protocols of Engagement to see if your group is the right fit to work with our organization.
>> Before you Book < <
Program Cost
4hr Program (adult groups) - $425*
*We may waive this fee for indigenous communities, strictly volunteer organizations, and other groups that may not have institutional support to participate in programs with us.
Please note: Our restoration sites at SṈIDȻEȽ are healing really well! Over the past decade, dense invasive cover has been giving way and native plants have much more space to thrive. This means our program days often involve a bit more technical work, like carefully weeding out invasive species from around the small and delicate native plants reemerging on the land. We are so excited about this! However it does mean our capacity for youth programs is now more limited.
So we are shifting our focus to adult programs but we would still like to encourage kids to get out there and do restoration! We invite you to book your school/organization staff in for a professional development day with us and help to support more people gaining the skills to do restoration with children & youth.
We also have a Restoration Lesson Plan for Teachers resource that can aid teachers in fostering the next generation of land stewards.
Where To Meet
We meet all the Learning on the Land groups at our toolshed (beside the washrooms). Look out for our Restoration in Progress Sign.
Please keep in mind there is a short walk down the trail to our toolshed, so plan your arrival at the parking areas or bus stop with enough time to meet us for your scheduled start time!
Tod Inlet, Wallace Dr, Victoria, British Columbia V9E 2A2, Canada
By car: Park at the Wallace Drive gate and walk 10-15 min down the trail marked in blue on the map.
By bus: Take #75 or #81 to the bus stop at the end of Benvenuto Ave (outside Butchart Gardens) and walk 5 min down the trail from the Benvenuto Ave gate, linking with the trail marked in blue on the map.
