Canada

Placement locations

Placements are located throughout Canada.

Roles explained

Outdoor Activities Instructor

Placements are usually based in permanent camps run by the YMCA/YWCA which are situated in beautiful locations in the Canadian countryside. Volunteer duties are varied, ranging from leading groups in activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, orienteering and fencing to life saving skills, first aid, counselling and general camp maintenance. There are opportunities for those with relevant skills to coach campers in horse riding, tennis, drama and sailing.

Outdoor Education with Caring

Some outdoor camps Lattitude Global Volunteering work with cater specifically for disadvantaged youths, or for young people with mental or physical disabilities. The environment and activities are the same at these camps to all other camps throughout Canada, but volunteer duties within these camps include an additional caring component.

Schools Assistant

School Assistants in Canada assist school staff with a number of duties which may include classroom assistance, lab preparation, tutoring, playground supervision, games/sports coaching, outdoor education, field trips and excursions, music, art and drama, supervision in residence and administration work. The roles are varied and allow volunteers to get involved with many aspects of school life.

Programme details

As an outdoor education volunteer you could be placed in our welcoming host camp in the beautiful Kananaskis country. After two weeks of intensive training, you will be prepared to begin your duties around the camp, helping out with school groups, church retreats and sports teams. Over the summer months, the camp also hosts around 650 children and adults with disabilities. Your duties would be varied and would include leading groups in activities such as archery, orienteering, high ropes, hiking, snowshoeing, wilderness survival and arts and crafts.

As a volunteer you would also be responsible for caring for visitors to the camp, which may include support, supervision and personal care of more vulnerable residents. On average you will work around 40 hours per week, with core hours of 8.30am to 4.30pm. This is a challenging but worthwhile project which in the past has led volunteers to form deep and long-lasting friendships.

If you opt for one of our schools assistant volunteer roles, you could find yourself in our large host school near Winnipeg, which looks after the educational needs of around 850 students between the ages of 5-18. This beautiful campus is just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Winnipeg, which may suit volunteers who would like to experience both rural and urban Canada. Volunteers at this placement would assist with middle and senior school classroom duties, and could also take part in extra-curricular activities such as sports coaching. You will also have the opportunity to take part in school camps and field trips, and would assist with discipline and pastoral care.

Accommodation and food

Accommodation is provided by the host organisation, whether that is in the staff quarters in a residential home through the L’Arche organisation, your own room in a school boarding house or shared accommodation in an outdoor camp. Accommodation generally comprises of a shared house, cabin or tepee (in the summer). Many camps are situated in incredibly beautiful places beside lakes and in the woods.

While some placements provide food, others set up a system of self-catering for volunteers.

Is it for me?

If living close to nature, working in a team and inspiring young people sounds exciting, then camp life is for you! As an Outdoor Activities Instructor, you will work within stunning scenery assisting young people to learn and develop their outdoor skills, some of whom may have a disability. Alternatively, as a Caring Assistant you will join like-minded people through the L’Arche network to support and help residents with disabilities to live more independent lives. Enriching placements are also available in schools to befriend and mentor students at a crucial stage in their education.

Need to know

• Pre departure briefing - all volunteers are invited to a group briefing prior to departure
• On arrival - volunteers travel straight to their placement for an onsite orientation run by their host

Free time

In terms of evening and weekend activities, what you do will largely depend on where you are placed. Many of our outdoor education roles are placed in areas of spectacular beauty, and you will be able to take advantage of your surroundings in your free time. If you are placed in the foothills of one of Canada’s many mountains, for example, you and your fellow volunteers could stretch your legs climbing to the top. Alternatively, if you are placed near a lake, you could try getting involved in water sports or take a dip during the summer months. If your host placement is in a more urban setting, you can spend your weekends exploring what the nearby town or city has to offer.

Travel

Most people have heard of Canada’s world-class skiing resorts, Niagara Falls and, of course, the iconic moose. But these highlights are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Canada has to offer its visitors.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Canada is a gift that keeps on giving, and you will have lots of opportunities to make the most this during your placement. Hikers can explore snow-capped mountains and even sample a stretch of the vast Appalachian Trial, while fans of water sports might choose to spend a day kayaking down the South Nahanni River. If winter sports are more your cup of tea, why not spend your free time during holidays snowboarding in Whistler or ice-skating on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal? Aside from these activities, Canada is renowned for having a calendar packed full of exciting festivals all year round.

From Okanagan’s ice wine festival in January and Regina’s powwow in March, to Montreal’s jazz fest in June and Toronto’s film festival in September, you’ll have lots of excuses to travel around Canada during your stay.

Costs

Lattitude Global Volunteering fee:
All departures: £2,500.

As part of the placement the following is provided:

What’s included?

• Accommodation & food (provided by hosts)
• Pocket money
• In-country support
• Debrief
• 24/7 support
• In depth matching process to align your skills and interests with a placement that really suits you
• Assigned Volunteer Coordinator to help with all pre-departure support and offer guidance
• Pre-departure briefing

Please note this fee does not include the cost of getting to Canada or extras such as insurance or any inoculations you may need. For an estimated break down of all costs you may have to budget for please click here

Fundraising

As a charity we always recommend our volunteers fundraise to help meet the costs involved in volunteering overseas. In many ways it is part of the whole experience. For more information and fundraising ideas please click here

Planning your trip

*Application deadline refers to the time by which your application must have been accepted and the £25 interview deposit paid.

Please note that the deadline is the last possible time allowed to get an application form in that allows us enough time to match volunteers and begin sorting out visas.

We always recommend applying as early as possible in order to secure your place.

We are currently accepting applications for departures in 2016 and 2017.

Volunteer in Canada apply: now>>