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Discover the unique ecosystems of the Chilcotin Ark Institute in British Columbia, Canada! We’re committed to sustainable land management, wildlife conservation, and protecting this remarkable natural environment. Through participatory research and hands-on conservation projects, you’ll gain valuable experience while deepening your connection with nature and supporting your personal growth.
32 hours of help per week
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.
1 day off per week
Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Intermediate English
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
European Union Passport
United States visa or citizenship
Travel insurance
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Key focus: Wildlife Research and other hands-on conservation projects, Personal Development, Horseback and survival training, ranch chores, self‑sufficiency skills, community living. This experience is for you if you want to live in nature, grow every day, learn practical wilderness and ranch skills and be part of a committed community rather than taking a short vacation.
Opportunities from your conservation volunteering program include but are not limited to:
Gain experience in wildlife research through collecting data on wilderness horseback trips in the Canadian back country.
Complete wildlife population counts for Mountain Goats, and California Bighorn Sheep.
Collect grizzly bear hair for DNA analysis.
Collect the cones of the endangered whitebark pine tree to replant in needed areas.
Educate visitors about conservation and get them involved in conservation projects.
Complete Wildlife research studies that support regulation and management of wildlife in the area.
Respond to consultations and referrals, organize meetings with relevant stakeholders.
Manage ongoing stewardship and resource management projects, plan future projects and secure funding for the Institute’s projects.
Create and develop land plans which provide guidelines for wildlife, land and resource management.
Educational marketing, for example: creating advertisements, photography, videography, website maintenance.
Each season provides different challenges and opportunities that arise from living alongside nature. As a ranch-based research centre there are many different activities that are interrelated and all contribute to the bigger picture. In addition to your conservation efforts, you will learn all the basics that are essential for living in a remote wilderness location that allows you to be self-sufficient. You will be required to contribute towards the daily ranch chores which includes cooking shared meals, general repair and maintenance, housekeeping, looking after the animals which includes horses, chickens, dogs and cats, and overall improving our self sufficient lifestyle.
The requirement for staying with us is your commitment to your Personal Development and to contribute to the self-sustainable lifestyle of our community. You are ready to view challenges as opportunities to grow and learn and take initiative to leave your comfort zone. You are willing to work long hours of physical work when doing conservation projects and daily tasks which contribute to our self-sustainable lifestyle such as cooking shared meals, housekeeping and other ranch chores e.g. cutting wood, animal care and repair maintenance. These communal living requirements are in addition to the job applied for. They offset any housing, food costs and other opportunities.
