Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
7 Apr 2026
Feedback
5
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Looking for a camp cook for summer 2026!
Want to be part of a truly special project? We are a remote land-based research station located near the north end of Vancouver Island. Our primary focus is the non-invasive study of the Northern Resident orca community, Bigg's orcas as well as the large number of returning humpback whales. Paul and Helena have been running the lab for the last 55 years and have hosted volunteers and scientists from around the world every year. Our daily goal is to build a picture of the lives of the whales. We do this by using remote cameras and underwater hydrophones to listen and watch the whales. We are broadcasting all of this live over the internet. Our work is driven by the philosophy that "We want to bring people closer to nature without harming her".
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are situated in an incredibly beautiful and remote location in the Johnstone Strait area of British Columbia. From dawn till dusk, humpback whales feed just offshore from spring to fall, and from July-September our days are filled with the sights and sounds of Northern Resident orcas. Seals, sea lions, eagles, otters and more cruise by our deck daily!
We are is a busy place in the summer with up to 10-15 volunteers helping with the collection of data. Everyone at the Lab has to work together, look out for one another and be super flexible to all the different tasks involved in running a project like ours. We run on whale time! Anytime there are whales present either vocally of visually, they become our primary focus. Many of our volunteers have been coming back for years and have become lifelong friends, creating a convivial and stable social environment. We eat together most nights and all take turns with the various chores to keep the Lab running smoothly. There will be the opportunity to see some of the area on trips to various sites along Vancouver Island and the in the Broughton Archipelago.
There is always much to learn and gain from time here at the Lab and our goal is simple: To learn as much as we can from the whales without interfering in their lives in order to help protect them.
Help
We are currently looking for a camp cook from early July to early September 2026.
During the summer, we host around 10-15 volunteers and guests at our off-grid whale research site on Hanson Island (Yukusam), BC. Each day is different, busy, vibrant and beautiful as we revolve around the tides, wind, and lives of the orcas and humpbacks out front.
We try to eat dinners together "family style" in our beautiful main cabin 5-6 days a week. We are looking for someone with experience cooking for groups of people, capable of working independently, responsible for:
- cooking dinner 5-6 nights a week for 15 people (sometimes up to 20 during "peak week" in August!)
- creating simple menu plans that are not too elaborate and workable in our off-grid setting, as we only get to town to resupply every 7-10 days
- maintaining food stocks, creating grocery lists, keeping pantry and fridge clean and organized, and being capable of managing ingredients to extend between town runs
- being calm and flexible in the kitchen. Plans change quickly around us some days and maintaining a good attitude is essential!
We try to eat around 7:15pm most days, cooking usually does not need to start before 3pm. We eat vegetarian meals unless we are gifted a fish/meat from a member of our community. We have a 2-ring propane stove, and a beautiful wood-fired range as an oven/cooktop. We generally serve one-pot dishes with a filling rice/other carb and fresh salad - simple but delicious home cooking. Bread-making skills are a bonus! Other lab volunteers can assist in pre-dinner dishes and prep as required.
There may be the opportunity for you to get involved in the lab (data collection etc) if you are interested, or help around camp with various projects, depending on your skillset.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Camping in the forest (mid-June to mid-Sept) or indoors during the colder months. Experience and comfort camping in a wilderness setting and bringing your own (good!) camping gear is essential.
There is a shared outdoor camp kitchen for breakfast & lunches, and an outhouse/washroom.
Dinner will be provided 5-6 days a week in the main house. You will be responsible for sourcing your own breakfast, lunch & snack items on town runs every 7-10 days.
PLEASE NOTE: Running fresh water is limited in the summer, so fresh water showers are scarce (~once a week) in the summer months. We have a saltwater bath and of course… the ocean! We have good WIFI available. The site is off-grid with solar, wind and generator power systems to maintain the large battery bank. We are always conscious of our power consumption in order to keep all systems running well.
What else ...
We have some hiking trails as well as a beautiful beach for swimming (warning, the water is cold!). Life around the Lab is varied and always interesting. There will be many opportunities to learn about the whales, the ocean and island life.
In the background, the ocean, the whales and the people provide countless positive experiences. We appreciate anyone who recognizes what nature provides.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Wifi is available but subject to power as we are an off-grid site.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (2)
They came for a month, they stayed the whole summer, they left and then they came back again. We will miss them dearly this summer. Both Barbara and Paulo went above and beyond and did far more than was asked of them this past summer. They took on roles far beyond what we asked of them and were a… read more
Nancy immediately felt like a friend and jumped into kitchen and cooking duties with ease.… read more
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They came for a month, they stayed the whole summer, they left and then they came back again. We will miss them dearly this summer. Both Barbara and Paulo went above and beyond and did far more than was asked of them this past summer. They took on roles far beyond what we asked of them and were a… read more
Nancy immediately felt like a friend and jumped into kitchen and cooking duties with ease.… read more
