How a ranch works
Ideal for a gap year internship, the ranch program in Canada is a guaranteed immersion in an English-speaking environment! If you like the great outdoors, wide open spaces, and you are not afraid of work, the ranch in Canada is for you!
After 2 days in Vancouver, help run a typical Canadian farm with a local family. This is an opportunity to live an experience of professional and personal development, while considerably improving your English.
Live a unique experience in Canada! This program will bring you up to speed in English and immerse you in the daily life of a Canadian family. If you have the heart of a cowboy or a cowgirl, want to spend time on a ranch far from the big cities, you will be won over!
By working on a ranch with a local family, this internship project in Canada allows you to get some professional experience in full cultural immersion.This program is designed for those who wish to learn English and to find out how a large farm operates in an English-speaking context.
You will stay at a ranch where you will participate in all the activities of your host family: you will be able to ride their horses, drive their tractor, participate in daily chores, etc.
But it’s not just about agriculture. It is above all a human exchange, a cultural experience that you will live during this internship. Participants will be immersed in the heart of Canadian culture. You will accompany families on their neighborhood visits, their races, or events such as rodeos or festivals.
– Horse farms (breeding/training, pensions, horse farms)
– Guest ranch (which involves property maintenance duties)
– Cattle/sheep farms
– Alpaca farms
– Wineries
– Mixed farms
– Other types of operations can be offered on request
You will be placed on small family farms, in very rural areas in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia. Upon request and at the sole discretion of our partner, you may be placed in other regions.
– Discover Canadian culture
– Improve your level of English
– Discover the agricultural world
– Participate in the life of a Canadian family
– Take advantage of Canada’s great outdoors
– Develop general agricultural and equestrian skills
We are looking for people who are outgoing, adaptable, in good physical condition, and who really want to discover Canada.
Participants of this gap year program in Canada must be between 20 and 30 years old.
This program is designed for those who wish to improve their English, and to find out how a large farm operates in an English-speaking context.
In Vancouver, the first 2 days weeks include airport transfer, orientation, 2 nights in an international hostel and guidance on your project in Canada. Students who wish to strengthen their language skills can extend their stay in Vancouver and book English classes and stay with a local family.
Then you will go to your ranch where you will participate in all the activities of your host family: you will be able to ride their horses, drive their tractor, participate in daily chores, etc.
But it's not just about agriculture. It is above all a human exchange, a cultural experience that you will live during this internship. Participants will be immersed in the heart of Canadian culture. You will accompany families on their neighborhood visits, their races, or events such as rodeos or festivals.
- Horse farms (breeding/training, pensions, horse farms)
- Guest ranch (which involves property maintenance duties)
- Cattle/sheep farms
- Alpaca farms
- Wineries
- Mixed farms
- Other types of operations can be offered on request
You will be placed on small family farms, in very rural areas in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia. Upon request and at the sole discretion of our partner, you may be placed in other regions.
- Discover Canadian culture
- Improve your level of English
- Discover the agricultural world
- Participate in the life of a Canadian family
- Take advantage of Canada's great outdoors
- Develop general agricultural and equestrian skills
We are looking for people who are outgoing, adaptable, in good physical condition, and who really want to discover Canada.
Participants of this gap year course in Canada must be of legal age.
Our organization serves those who want to explore the world and have unique international experiences as part of their personal and professional journey.
And we are convinced that it is essential to live abroad, in total immersion, to discover the world, its diversity, its riches.
This has been our philosophy since the creation of our organization in 1998, and it is what still drives us today. Our mission is to support you in achieving your personal goals and to promote your development within the framework of our programs, which are resolutely geared towards intercultural encounters.
And we are convinced that it is essential to live abroad, in total immersion, to discover the world, its diversity, its riches.
This has been our philosophy since the creation of our organization in 1998, and it is what still drives us today. Our mission is to support you in achieving your personal goals and to promote your development within the framework of our programs, which are resolutely geared towards intercultural encounters.
This program can be booked from 4 to 24 weeks. Please contact us for available start dates.
| Duration | Fees to be paid upon registration​ |
|---|---|
| 4 Weeks | 1930€ |
| 6 Weeks | 2100€ |
| 8 Weeks | 2360€ |
| 10 Weeks | 2680€ |
| 12 Weeks | 3000€ |
Housing is allocated by local NGOs, not by Freepackers - the descriptions are there to give you an idea of the type of accommodation, as it is very likely that conditions will vary on site depending on the number of volunteers, weather conditions, availability, etc. Each volunteer will be accommodated according to the stated conditions, but it is possible that the accommodation may not match the description or images shown on this site word for word, for example, in the case of annexed housing, renovations, relocations, etc.
Participants stay with locals, most often in a single room on the host farm. Sheets and towels are provided, you will also have access to a telephone and a laundry room to wash your clothes.
Ranch stays include 3 meals per day, usually shared with the host family. If participants have special diets (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) they will be responsible to adapt or supplement their food.
Questions/Answers:
Where are the partner farms located?
In rural areas of British Columbia, between 8 and 20 hours' drive from Vancouver. Host families generally pick up participants at Edmonton Airport, which is also the departure airport. An extra fee may apply depending on the distance to the farm – you will be informed upon placement confirmation.
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Can I request to be placed on a specific type of farm?
Yes, you can share your preferences with us. All placements are subject to certain requirements regarding English level, work experience, soft skills, availability, physical condition, etc.
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Do I have the right profile to join this program?
We are looking for easy-going, sociable individuals, and in some cases, those with specific experience. For example, horse-riding skills are required for placements on equine farms. You must also be physically fit to take part in daily farm tasks just like the other members of your host family. And above all, a strong desire to contribute to the project!
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What level of language do I need?
You must have at least an intermediate to advanced level of English to be able to communicate with your host family and understand what is expected of you.
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What will my role be on the farm?
We organize your placement based on your preferences and personal goals, as well as the length of your stay and the time of year. You will be considered a member of the family and will join them in all their activities, which may include animal care, cleaning facilities, trips to town, attending rodeos or community events, family dinners, hiking, gardening, etc.
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Can I join with my partner or a friend?
Yes, we often manage to place couples or friends on the same farm. However, we cannot formally guarantee it.
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What happens if no placement is found for me?
You will be fully refunded. Of course, we are not responsible for services outside our scope (flights and other expenses).
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What if I don’t like the placement?
Unfortunately, if you refuse the placement, you will lose the fees you have paid for the program.
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What if I accept the placement but things go wrong?
You can contact us to explain your situation. If you have valid reasons to request a new placement, we will send you a request form. You will be informed as soon as a new spot becomes available. You will then be able to move, depending on availability.
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What temperatures should I expect?
Canadian summers are quite mild. Temperatures can reach up to 30°C, but generally hover around 25°C. Winters, however, are very cold: the average is -10°C, but it can drop as low as -30°C.
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Do I need insurance?
All visitors must take out insurance for their stay in Canada. You will be required to provide proof upon arrival in the country.
Please contact the embassy or immigration website of the country you wish to enter.
You can find all ressources on the World Organization Website, in the Travel Advice section A vaccine vial.
For all international projects, Realstep requires participants to take out travel insurance covering accidents, illness, and repatriation, as well as civil liability for professional activities abroad.
For complete protection while studying or interning abroad, you can take out Cap Student insurance online by following this link Student insurance abroad | Chapka Assurances, which will give you a 5% discount.
If you take out another insurance policy, we will ask you to send us a copy of your certificate in English.
Achieve the language level required for your international project with tailored support. The Clic-campus method Free Packers X Clic Campus foreign language training courses combines videoconference lessons and an innovative e-learning platform, offering complete flexibility from the comfort of your own home.
A gap year is a period (often 6 to 12 months) during which you temporarily pause your studies or work to have a meaningful, structured experience: travel, volunteering, internship, job, personal project…
It can be done at any time, for the duration you choose, and in the field you want. The goal is to help you explore new possibilities for your personal and/or professional path.
Real Step offers a wide range of gap year programs abroad in various fields.
It depends on the country and your project. Make sure to budget for:
