Learn about life in Lapland through everyday activities with a family in Storuman, Sweden

Details

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  Description

  We are a French/Swiss family living in Swedish Lapland, near Storuman in Västerbotten. We've been coming here for ten years and moved here permanently a couple of years ago to build a small high-end wilderness lodge a few kilometers from our home, in the middle of the forest, surrounded by nature, snow, our dogs and a pretty unique way of life.
  
  We are Julie and Raphaël, and we have two young daughters, born in 2022 and 2023. My parents also live nearby, and my mum, Isabelle, has spent a large part of her life working with sled dogs and mushing. She has raced some of the major long-distance races in the world, including the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, and dogs have always been a big part of our family life. We also have horses, goats and hens so animals are very much part of everyday life here.
  
  We are easy-going, very active people and, despite having busy lives and plenty of responsibilities, we really enjoy life, like to have fun and laugh a lot. At the same time, we are organised and conscientious, and we care about things being done properly and looked after well, whether that is the house, the animals or the equipment we use. We appreciate people who share that mindset: relaxed and good-humoured, but reliable, thoughtful and attentive to the things around them.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Farming

  

  Pets

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Winter sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are a French/Swiss family who chose to leave a more conventional life behind and settle in Swedish Lapland, so the experience of living abroad, adapting to a different culture and building a new life in another country is very much part of who we are. We speak French but everyone speaks pretty good english.
  
  Many of the people around us have travelled extensively or chosen rather unconventional ways of life themselves. What brings everyone together is a strong love of the outdoors, nature and animals - and, in particular, dogs. It creates a very open-minded environment, with plenty of stories, experiences and perspectives to share.
  
  There are plenty of opportunities to spend time together. We regularly share dinners, or time outdoors.
  
  We have a lot to share about sled dogs and sled dog racing. My mum has decades of experience with sled dogs and long-distance mushing, running the toughest races there are (Yukon Quest, Iditarod, Finnmarksløpet 1000), so anyone interested in dogs can learn a great deal simply by spending time here. More broadly, WorkAwayers can discover what everyday life in the north really involves: caring for animals, living with the seasons, dealing with snow and cold, spending time outdoors and understanding the practical side of life in a remote environment. For those interested, there is also plenty to learn about horses and other animals.
  
  As we are currently building and developing our wilderness lodge, there is also an opportunity for us to share what goes into creating and running a hospitality project in such a remote place.
  
  At the same time, we really enjoy having people around who bring something of their own. We like learning about other cultures, ways of life, food and experiences, and we think it is especially nice for our girls to grow up meeting people from different countries and backgrounds.
  
  For us, the best exchange is quite simple: sharing daily life, learning from one another, having interesting conversations, and hopefully making someone feel that they have experienced much more than just visiting northern Sweden as a tourist.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We welcome someone who would enjoy becoming part of our everyday life for a while and helping us with the many practical things that come with running a household and living in the north.
  
  The support we are looking for would include:
  • Indoors: helping around the houses with cleaning and tidying, some food preparation from time to time, and supporting occasionally with our girls. We are not looking for a nanny, but someone who genuinely likes children and is comfortable spending time with young kids would be important.
  • Outdoors: spending time with the animals. We have personal racing sleddogs, and there are plenty of opportunities to take dogs for walks, spend time with them and help socialise puppies when we have young dogs around. Outdoor help would also occasionally include some of the practical logistics that come with living in a remote place in the north. As a bonus but not a requirement at all, for someone with good horse-riding experience, there would also be the opportunity to ride our personal horses and take them out on trails in the forest. Being a confident and experienced rider would therefore be a real plus. The support does not involve working for our tourism lodge or lodge guests.
  
  Life here is very connected to the seasons and to the outdoors. In winter, everyday logistics can involve snow, fires, vehicles, dogs, equipment and simply keeping things running smoothly in a remote environment. There is always something happening, and the days can be quite different from one another.
  
  Overall, we are looking for someone who can become an extra pair of hands and help make everyday life run a little more smoothly for all of us, humans and animals included! Someone who can equally work as a team with us or independently depending on the task.
  
  The person would live in a house shared with some of our staff, so there would be a social side to the accommodation while still having some independence with their own room. We also regularly get together for dinners or days outdoors, so there is very much a sense of community around the place.
  
  We think this would suit someone who is easy-going, responsible, practical and proactive; someone who does not mind rolling up their sleeves, who enjoys keeping a home nice and organised, but who is equally happy putting on winter clothes and heading outside with a dog or a horse. You do not need to arrive knowing how everything works here; curiosity, common sense, flexibility and a willingness to learn are much more important.
  
  In return, you would get to experience everyday life in Swedish Lapland from the inside, live surrounded by beautiful forest and nature, spend time with sled dogs and horses, and hopefully feel more like part of our extended family and community than simply someone coming here to “work.”

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  The WorkAwayer will stay in a large, traditional red Swedish house of around 175 m², set over two floors, with views towards the lake just 100 meters away (frozen and snow-covered during the winter).
  
  The house has four bedrooms and will normally be shared by four people in total, including the WorkAwayer. Other people living there are aged between 26 and 34 and are super friendly people.
  
  The house is spacious, with a large kitchen and dining area and a very large living room with a fireplace, a particularly nice place to spend winter evenings. There is a large bathroom on the ground floor with a bathtub, shower and WC, as well as an additional shower room and WC upstairs.
  
  The house is fully equipped for everyday life, with an oven, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and garage.
  
  The WorkAwayer will of course have their own bedroom and personal space, while sharing the kitchen, living room and bathrooms with the other people in the house. We want the house to feel comfortable and relaxed, but also clean and well looked after by everyone living there.
  
  For food, the WorkAwayer can buy their own groceries and we will cover the cost. They can then cook independently or share meals with the others in the house, depending on everyone's plans and preferences. One of the other people living in the house is the Lodge's chef, so there is certainly no shortage of interest in good food, and probably a few things to learn along the way!

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  What else ...

  We live in a remote part of Swedish Lapland, so this is best suited to someone who enjoys nature, animals and outdoor life.
  
  In your free time, you can explore the forest, spend time with the dogs and horses, including riding the horses, enjoy a drink or lunch by the fire outside, or simply enjoy the outdoors. When time allows, we would also love to give you the opportunity to experience dog sledding or snowmobiling.
  
  We like the house to stay clean, organised and well looked after. Smoking is not allowed indoors.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have the space to park a campervan.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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