Arctic Husky Ranch Caretaker

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Take care of huskies and go dog sledding!
  • Live off the grid in a cozy cabin for the ultimate northern experience! Volunteer in one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world and see the northern lights or midnight sun.
  • Learn all there is to know about Mushing and the world of dogsled racing

Highlights

  • Take care of huskies and go dog sledding!
  • Live off the grid in a cozy cabin for the ultimate northern experience! Volunteer in one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world and see the northern lights or midnight sun.
  • Learn all there is to know about Mushing and the world of dogsled racing
  • Meet other volunteers from all over the world
  • Explore the Norwegian Arctic, its local culture and wildlife.


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Join us in amazing Norway for an adventure of a lifetime learning about the world of dog sledding and taking care of incredible huskies!

    Join a Dog Sledding organization in the Norwegian Arctic and take care of amazing Huskies, assist with Dogsledding and help with the day to day operations at the lodge!

    Venture to the Northern edges of Norway for the experience of a lifetime. This is the ultimate husky ranch and dogsled experience ...

    About the program

    Join a Dog Sledding organization in the Norwegian Arctic and take care of amazing Huskies, assist with Dogsledding and help with the day to day operations at the lodge!

    Venture to the Northern edges of Norway for the experience of a lifetime. This is the ultimate husky ranch and dogsled experience for the real explorers among us who are looking for an adventurous volunteer abroad project! Have the opportunity to work with huskies, dog sled and gaze at the amazing northern lights or the midnight sun! Or go summer dog mushing and get the experience of guiding tours and training dogs with all-terrain vehicles called 4-wheelers. 

    This ranch needs volunteers all year round and has many great opportunities! This project is located in the remotest northern corner of Norway tucked between the icy fjords and the artic tundra. This ranch is an extremely popular volunteer abroad project and is a great place to experience the Arctic. You will have many opportunities to dogsled during the extra-long winter and of course play /care for the huskies! This project has excellent opportunities in the winter however, summer has its own advantages with extra-long warm days and many opportunities to explore. The work on the ranch is physically demanding and it is by no means an’ easy holiday option’! Please consider that you are in a very remote area and this is not the place to be if you are solely interested in pubs and clubs and socializing with people in town. You will always have lots of time to spend with the dogs. You will have time  off every week to relax and enjoy leisure time with the dogs or go canoeing or hiking.

    Typical day

    Volunteers are very important for the organization and will be involved with many aspects of running a dog sledding kennel. Volunteering work at the different ranches all involves caring for the dogs and running dog sledding trips.

    The typical day, starting time and hours varies greatly depending on ...

    Typical day

    Volunteers are very important for the organization and will be involved with many aspects of running a dog sledding kennel. Volunteering work at the different ranches all involves caring for the dogs and running dog sledding trips.

    The typical day, starting time and hours varies greatly depending on the weather and time of year. Quite a  bit of flexibility is required for this position. Please keep in mind that you are volunteering with animals and they have a certain set times throughout the morning, day, evening and even night time where they still need to be cared for. 

    • Feed, groom and walk the dogs
    • Helping with maintenance around the ranch
    • Dogsledding and snowmobiling
    • Clearing and preparing the dogsled tracks
    • Cleaning, cooking and other household chores
    Keep in mind that volunteering at the ranch can be very intense due to the weather conditions.

    You will get to learn all there is to know regarding the mushing of huskies and all that is involved with running a dogsledding organization. You will be involved with training, racing and vetinary care of the dogs. Daily chores: Feeding and watering dogs on a daily basis, cleaning of kennels, Grooming during the spring and summer, walks during the spring and summer, maintenance of kennel and dog room (straw, fixing houses, cleaning up  old logs from the kennel, keeping the dog room clean and tidy), fixing harnesses and sled when needed. There are additional daily duties which change with the seasons. There is woodcutting and splitting firewood, fixing of the fences, building projects, clearing the dogsledding trails, etc. Bear in mind that winter is the busy time with the dogs and it can be very cold! If you are there during the spring and summer, you will not be dog sledding or training; you will however have a lot of ‘hands on’ with the dogs.  Training on ATV’s usually starts in October/November depending on the outside temperature. During the spring/summer, there might also be tasks to help with some work in small vegetable gardens and much more.

    Free-time activities

    This is a great area for both winter and summer activities to enjoy the beautiful Arctic, wildlife, culture's, fjords and Tundra's of Norway's Lapland. 


    Some great things to do are:

    • Marvel at the Alta Rock Carvings
    • Witness the Magical Northern Lights Over Alta
    • Tour or Stay in the World’s Northernmost ...

    Free-time activities

    This is a great area for both winter and summer activities to enjoy the beautiful Arctic, wildlife, culture's, fjords and Tundra's of Norway's Lapland. 


    Some great things to do are:

    • Marvel at the Alta Rock Carvings
    • Witness the Magical Northern Lights Over Alta
    • Tour or Stay in the World’s Northernmost Igloo Hotel
    •  Get Close to Nature By Exploring Alta Canyon
    • Take a Boat Tour of the Famous Alta River
    •  Go Skiing Under Arctic Light in Alta, Norway
    • Watch the Spectacular Midnight Sun
    • Experience Sami Culture in Alta


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (intermediate level)

    Required Documents

    CV, letter of motivation and application documents

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Be able work in a team, be flexible, kind to others and outgoing.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 08:00 - 17:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Fronteering Travel

    The fees include:


    • Airport Pick up & Transfer: You will be picked up from the small airport near the project and transferred straight to your accommodation at the project. You will also be dropped off at the end of your stay.
    • Accommodation, shared cabins.
    • Meals: You will be need to prepare your own meals. Groceries are included.
    • Ongoing service and 24/7 Emergency contact

    Airport Pickup at Alta Airport

    You will arrive by flight and you will be picked from the airport and transferred to the project.

    Accommodation

    Volunteers will get cabins or rooms with heat & electricity. You may have to share the accommodation with other Volunteers.  Bedding and towels are supplied.

    Food & Beverages

    Groceries provided and volunteers will need to prepare their own meals.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Alta Airport (ALF) in Alta. We assist you to find cheap flights to Norway. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Norway provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Norway you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Norway. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Available all year round and no specific starting dates.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    4 weeks (min. stay) 1,791€
    6 weeks 2,190€
    8 weeks 2,489€
    10 weeks 2,888€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 3,187€
    Average fees 356€/week

    Program fees

    356€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    4 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Fronteering Travel during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    Fronteering Travel

    Perfect 4.6 rating (87 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2010

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Excellent response rate

    Coordinated by

    Patrick

    Spoken languages: Dutch, English, German

    About the project

    Fronteering arranges volunteering programs related to wildlife and indigenous people in less visited places of this world as well as more unique destinations.

    Meet your organization

    Fronteering arranges volunteering programs in some of the last frontiers of this world as well as more unique locations that other organizations ignore. From Field research programs in the Far north of Canada and Husky ranches in the Canadian Arctic to Amerindian community programs and wildlife conservation in the Amazon Rainforest and everything in between.

    Most of our programs Focus on either wildlife rehabilitation and release, wildlife conservation & research or involve local indigenous communities.

    Fronteering currently offers programs in Canada, Guyana, USA, Australia, Brazil, Borneo, South Africa, Madagascar and Panama.

    True good causes: FRONTEERINGS volunteer abroad projects are either existing local projects or projects that are build from the group up by FRONTEERING. What these projects have in common is that you will be supporting a true good cause! You will have the opportunity to help where the need is the greatest. Our projects focus on helping the local communities, wildlife, indigenous people and the environment in cooperation with the local/indigenous communities. We focus on true volunteer projects where your effort really makes a difference. That’s why through Fronteering you will rehabilitate injured & orphaned wildlife with the goal to release the animal. That is the reason why will not send you to some far southern country to cuddle with tame lions & tigers with any real purpose. If you want to volunteer abroad with a real purpose, contact us!

    Safety: At FRONTEERING we do our outmost best to provide the safety measures needed for our Volunteer Abroad projects and Adventure Travel Trips. However due to the fact that many of our projects and trips involve wild animals and/or are in remote locations there is a small element of risk involved. Not all of our projects and trips are for the faint at heart however we do cater to those of all walks of life. If you are not too sure about the suitability of a Volunteer Abroad project or an Adventure Travel trip then feel free to ask as we are always ready to answer any questions or discuss any doubts that come to mind. For more information please check our Safety & In-country Support section before you volunteer abroad.

    A real adventure: We do not want our volunteers to end up trying to safe or clean up some small patch of rainforest which in some places they might call a wilderness. Instead you will volunteer in the immense jungle of the Amazon rainforest or venture in to the vast Canadian wilderness! Our volunteer abroad projects are situated in the remote areas of the world and we focus on countries and regions with the lowest population densities. We at FRONTEERING focus on what works; from sleeping in the jungle underneath the stars with nothing more than your own private hammock to back-to-basic cabins in the northern tundra with a cozy smothering fireplace and no electricity! When you volunteer abroad with FRONTEERING you can be sure it will be adventure.

    Off the beaten path: With FRONTEERING volunteer abroad projects you will venture to places less visited. We focus on places that are fairly undiscovered where the nature, wildlife and indigenous cultures are still common. You will have the great opportunity to see these amazing places while they are still unspoiled and pure. It is these places where there is the most to lose but even more to gain through successful conservation work and sustainable tourism. 

    Community involvement: Foremost when volunteering abroad the well being of the community should come first. For all of our trips we use local guides, local transportation and local communities so that through sustainable tourism we can help to protect the environment, wildlife and sustain the way of life of indigenous cultures & communities. More and more and governments choose the long term benefit of sustainable tourism over the short term gain of mining and logging. A good example is Gabon which in 2002 after recommendations from environmental researchers set up 13 new national parks. The government of Guyana is currently considering protecting its entire rainforest region which still covers 80% of the country. Hopefully through our combined effort this dream will one day become true.

    Mission
    FRONTEERING specializes in organizing volunteer abroad projects to preserve the environment, wildlife and indigenous people throughout the world while giving the volunteers a real and raw experience in some of the most beautiful and often remote places in the world to make a true difference.

    Vision
    FRONTEERING strives to provide real off the beaten path volunteer abroad experiences worldwide that satisfy the need for volunteer projects that truly makes a difference for the environment, wildlife and indigenous people.


    87 reviews · rating4.6

    Nadia Riad rating5

    2024 at Scottish Husky Ranch Caretaker

    I volunteered here earlier this year and I had a great time. Unfortunately I could not go in winter due to some other obligations I had so I knew I was going to miss out on the dogsledding season. Luckily because it was still quite cold in April and May we were still able to do some dry training and ...
    Having found an awesome opportunity to partake in a husky care taker placement in Canada, I was assisted in organizing the placement by the helpful and (patient!) team at Fronteering. The organization was dedicated to helping me contact and communicate with my host organization. I always felt I ...
    Carol Breen rating5

    2024 at Raptors & Owls Caretaker

    I spent 8 weeks, 5 days a week, 7 hours a day volunteering with this organization. It was so worthwhile! They not only rescue injured raptor, but they rehabilitate as many as possible and get them back to where they were rescued in order to release them in the same place. They have a network of ...
    泽宇 张 rating5

    2024 at Wild Takhi Research & Conservation

    The national park is spectacular! We went for an outing every morning for wild Takhi observation every morning. Having a moment in your lifetime in the wild with all the nature surrounding you is probably the most wonderful experience. The accommodation managers and staffs are super helpful and ...
    Chris H rating5

    2024 at Critter Caretaker

    I volunteered at the critter care taker program in Canada in May just 1 month after I turned 18. I was quite nervous and my parents also and so I decided to book through Fronteering instead of trying to arrange it myself. This made it very easy and I felt a lot better. I did travel to Vancouver a ...
    I had a great time volunteering in Iceland through Fronteering! The people of the program were very kind and helpful. I was worried about the weather at first but it was actually great! The accommodations were nice but you have to be okay with group living of course. Iceland is just such a beautiful ...

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