Volunteer work abroad
Canada (Ranchstay)
Sabbatical year, Gap Year, Long stay: Canada (Ranchstay)
The programme
The programme starts with an intensive English course. You’ll study in a group of 10-14 students and will be divided up according to language level. Depending on the dates of your stay, you can also prepare for a Cambridge exam (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency) or the BEC. If you don’t reach the necessary language level (B2), you can extend your course on site. Choose from a programme length of 4 or 6 weeks of classes followed by 4 or 6 weeks of volunteer experience at the ranch.
Please note that this programme is in high demand and availability is contingent on the student’s motivation, level of English and on the season.
Volunteer work
After an intensive English course in Vancouver, it's time for the adventure! The volunteer experience takes place on a ranch south of Kamloops, in the vast green prairies of British Columbia. During your stay, you’ll become a full member of the team helping to run the guest ranch of 35 horses. Each day, various tasks will be assigned to you. Most of the chores at the ranch involve taking care of the horses. This includes daily feeding and cleaning paddocks. Other responsibilities may include helping with meals, housekeeping and different types of ranch projects and maintenance. As it’s also a guest ranch, there may be other guests there during your stay. Everyone helps out when there are guests by helping out with horse related activities. While students have daily chores to do, they will still have a good amount of free time each day. Typically, most students choose to go horseback riding, improve their horsemanship skills, or take a riding lesson at the ranch.
Horse lovers will really be in their element!
The amount of riding and the types of riding you do will depend on your horseback riding ability, the time of year and weather conditions. The "English only" policy practised at the ranch will allow you to put your language knowledge into practice in real-life situations.
Programme requirements:
- Minimum age: 16
- eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
- Minimum 2-week English course
- Minimum English level: B2
The programme starts with an intensive English course. You’ll study in a group of 10-14 students and will be divided up according to language level. Depending on the dates of your stay, you can also prepare for a Cambridge exam (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency) or the BEC. If you don’t reach the necessary language level (B2), you can extend your course on site. Choose from a programme length of 4 or 6 weeks of classes followed by 4 or 6 weeks of volunteer experience at the ranch.
Please note that this programme is in high demand and availability is contingent on the student’s motivation, level of English and on the season.
Volunteer work
After an intensive English course in Vancouver, it's time for the adventure! The volunteer experience takes place on a ranch south of Kamloops, in the vast green prairies of British Columbia. During your stay, you’ll become a full member of the team helping to run the guest ranch of 35 horses. Each day, various tasks will be assigned to you. Most of the chores at the ranch involve taking care of the horses. This includes daily feeding and cleaning paddocks. Other responsibilities may include helping with meals, housekeeping and different types of ranch projects and maintenance. As it’s also a guest ranch, there may be other guests there during your stay. Everyone helps out when there are guests by helping out with horse related activities. While students have daily chores to do, they will still have a good amount of free time each day. Typically, most students choose to go horseback riding, improve their horsemanship skills, or take a riding lesson at the ranch.
Horse lovers will really be in their element!
The amount of riding and the types of riding you do will depend on your horseback riding ability, the time of year and weather conditions. The "English only" policy practised at the ranch will allow you to put your language knowledge into practice in real-life situations.
Programme requirements:
- Minimum age: 16
- eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
- Minimum 2-week English course
- Minimum English level: B2