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Description
Join a team of volunteers who live off-grid and support retreats for practitioners of diverse spiritual traditions. Our retreat centre is a Canadian registered charity of long-standing-more than 30 years with no paid employees,
The retreat centre is surrounded by a community forest and is only 2 kilometers from one of the entrances to Garibaldi Park, a huge wilderness park with grand vistas, a mountain meadow campground, and many kilometers of hiking trails. Also it is a short drive to Whistler, the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics which currently offers offers year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation such as zip-lining, bungee jumping, skiing, mountain biking, back-country excursions, and so on.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Events & social
Charity work
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Canada protects and promotes multiculturalism, and the Pacific Coast is an intersection of many cultures and faiths. The region's diversity is reflected at our retreat centre; people from across BC, Canada, and the US stay here throughout the year. This offers volunteers the chance to interact with people from many different backgrounds. Moreover, as a volunteer, one learns to support group and individual retreats from diverse spiritual traditions while developing the understanding of how to live in an off-grid living situation in the Coast Mountain Range.
Help
1. Facilities Assistant (Volunteer)
Overview
This place exists completely off-grid and is supported entirely through volunteer effort. Those that reside here are well accustomed to living within the resources that exist naturally here and that have been built with sustainability in mind. We aspire to continuously live in harmony with the natural world. We have a sustainability plan online that can be shared later if you'd like to learn more about how we manage our micro-hydro and solar power, the fresh mountain spring water, our heat sources, our recycling, compost and waste methods and maintenance of buildings and grounds. Our centre is a good fit for someone who enjoys hands-on, physical work, problem-solving, and helping support group and individual retreats in a wilderness setting.
Core Responsibilities
- Assist with maintenance of buildings and cabins
- Assist with infrastructure tasks as needed (water system, solar and micro-hydro power systems, heating, recycling)
- Support outdoor work: forestry tasks, firewood, trail upkeep, snow shoveling
- Step in to help other roles as needed (within capacity)
Preferred Skills & Qualities
- Comfortable working with tools and performing basic maintenance
- Follows safety practices in variable weather conditions
- Flexible with shifting operational needs
- Enjoys living off-grid and in the forest
- Content with vegetarian food
2. General Volunteer
Overview
Supports day-to-day operations across the retreat centre. Ideal for someone who enjoys variety, learning new tasks, and contributing broadly to the retreat environment.
Core Responsibilities
- Garden development and maintenance (tasks depend on season)
- Community tasks such as recycling, firewood, or assisting retreatants
- According to your capacity, support in other roles when needed such as housekeeping and cooking
Preferred Skills & Qualities
- Flexible, willing to learn, comfortable shifting tasks
- Collaborative and steady in a retreat-based environment
- Enjoys living off-grid, and in the forest.
- Content with vegetarian food
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
For volunteers, room type may vary depending on the season and how full we are during the time you will be here. During the warmer summer months, a tent cabin (see pictures) with a bed is provided. In the colder months, indoor accommodation is provided but can vary depending on how booked we are. A private bedroom can be provided when there is space. Otherwise a second living room space in the upstairs of the main lodge is closed off and made into 2 separate bedrooms using dividers. The other option for those who are interested is to sleep in a cave nearby. We can provide you with firewood, and a bear (see pictures) will be your blanket.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Ralph
Gentle and affectionate goberian
