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1. What is the ESL + Canadian Wilderness Internship program?
This program is a combination of ESL classes followed by an intensive Wilderness Internship. This allows for intensive general english language development followed by practical, hands-on experience. The Wilderness Internships are ideal for people with a background or strong interest in biology, zoology, environmental studies, fisheries or education.
2. Why should I consider doing this program?
Victoria English School and its partners are committed to providing their clients with a complete quality program package from beginning to end in accordance with canadian government guidelines. Victoria English School cares for their participants and monitors the placements closely. Victoria English School offers high quality language training and their internships are a unique opportunity to
improve your english, learn about canadian wildlife, strengthen your resume and contribute to an important cause in a meaningful way.
3. What is special about nature and wildlife activities near Victoria?
Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Along with the gulf islands and certain areas on mainland British Columbia, Vancouver Island is particularly suited to the English + Canadian Wilderness Internship program, due to the diversity of species, lush vegetation, rugged mountains, ocean beaches, clean lakes, rivers, parks, and an abundance of locally owned and operated organic farms, gardens, orchards and vineyards.
4. What is the minimum duration for the program?
The minimum duration is 8 weeks (4 weeks ESL studies, followed by 4, 8 or 12 weeks of
nature and wildlife activities.
Example: 4 weeks ESL + 4 weeks nature/wildlife = 8 weeks
Note: some nature and wildlife organizations will require a minimum commitment of 8-
12 weeks during the peak periods of their activities. For example, animal rehabilitation
centres are very busy during baby season (March to July/August) and volunteers cannot
leave these positions mid-season.
5. What is the maximum duration for the program?
The maximum duration for the total program is 48 weeks, but the maximum duration for
the nature and wildlife activities is only 12 weeks. Students should calculate the number
of ESL study weeks based on these figures. Duration of ESL = 4 weeks to 44 weeks
Examples: 4 weeks ESL + 4 weeks nature/wildlife = 8 weeks
16 weeks ESL + 8 weeks nature/wildlife = 24 weeks
36 weeks ESL + 12 weeks nature/wildlife = 48 weeks
6. Is it possible to study for a shorter period of time than the period of Wilderness Internship?
Yes. Students may study for a minimum of 4 wks, then begin a Wilderness Internship
placement of 4, 8 or 12 weeks.
7. Is it possible to study and volunteer at the same time, for example classes in the morning and volunteer in the afternoon?
No. Due to the fact that most nature and wildlife host organizations are located 1-4 hours from Victoria, it is essential that you complete your studies at the Victoria English School and then transfer locations to begin your nature and wildlife activities.
8. Is the program available all year round?
Due to the seasonal nature of many nature and wildlife activities, some of the volunteer
positions are not available during with winter months (December, January and parts of
February). If you wish to volunteer during these months, please contact Victoria English School first to
inquire about availability. We will try our best to find a suitable project.
9. What is the minimum level of english required?
Victoria English School and its partners are committed to providing their clients with a complete quality program package from beginning to end in accordance with canadian government guidelines. Victoria English School cares for their participants and monitors the placements closely. Victoria English School offers high quality language training and their internships are a unique opportunity to
improve your english, learn about canadian wildlife, strengthen your resume and contribute to an important cause in a meaningful way.
10. What is the minimum level of english required?
The minimum level is lower-intermediate to enter the study program. Wildlife rehabilitation placements can be very fast paced. There is a lot to learn and you will receive your supervisor's instructions verbally. Therefore, in order to contribute effectively to the
host organization's activities, a level of english higher than lower-intermediate might be required for you to feel confident and comfortable in your position.
11. Is there anything else I need to volunteer with wildlife in Canada?
In addition to a valid charitable work permit, students will need:
- Emergency medical insurance for the duration of their stays in Canada
- An up-to-date tetanus shot (within in the last 5-10 years). Please bring a photo copy of the immunization record for the Victoria English School placement officer to see. Failure to do so may result in your being required to have a tetanus booster within canada.
12. Is the school responsible for finding me a position?
If your application is approved, the school and its partners are responsible for finding
you a suitable placement, providing you with an orientation to explain the nature and
wildlife activities, and remaining in contact with you during your project placement. The
school and/or its partners will follow up with the host organization as well to ensure that
the placement is successful for all parties involved.
13. Where will my nature & wildlife activities be?
Most of the organizations mentioned above are located within 1-4 hours of the city of Victoria. Once your application has been assessed by the school placement officer, you will be provided an official offer letter from the host organization, which will give you exact
information about the organization and its location.
** Please note that while the ESL + Wilderness Internship program is coordinated by Victoria English School, some select participants may be placed at a host organization that is not on Vancouver Island. Sample locations are: the gulf islands, regions on the outskirts of Vancouver, the sunshine coast, etc.
14. How will I get to my nature & wildlife activity site?
Victoria English School will provide you with complete travel details during your program orientation. Please bear in mind that transportation cost between Victoria and the project site are not included in your ESL + Wilderness Internship program fees.
15. What if I do not like the job I am doing?
The school placement officer will try to match you with an organization that best fits with your skills, goals and experience. You will also be provided with a description of the job, the duties to be performed and the working conditions prior to a student traveling to that
site. Once the student is placed in a position, the student needs to understand that they will not be moved to another position by the school unless the host organization has failed to deliver on agreed working conditions or there is mutual dissatisfaction between both parties. In the event a student wishes to change positions, the student will be required to pay a second placement fee and give formal notice to their volunteer organization.
16. What happens if I leave the project site early?
If a student leaves a project prior to the end of the placement, the student will not be offered another project placement by the school. Additionally, the student will not receive their completion certificate and letter of reference if the program is not completed.
17. Where will I live during the program?
Students who take part in the Wilderness Internship program will be offered basic shared accommodation at the project site (referred to as "on-site accommodation"), or shared accommodation located close to the project. On-site accommodation is almost always cabin-style and will be "rustic" in comparison to the homestay accommodation offered during your studies at Victoria English School. Students should be prepared to "get back to nature" and live cooperatively with other local and international volunteers while completing their nature and wildlife activities. Participants usually sleep in bunk beds and are responsible for cleaning their living area and surroundings. Toilets and showers may or may not be located within the cabin; walking 50 meters to the washrooms is common.
Off-site accommodation varies greatly, depending on the area of Vancouver Island as well as the housing near your host organization. Off-site accommodation provides interns with a private or shared bedroom in a shared house or with a family/couple.
Transportation to the site will be either by public transport, bicycle, carpool (or a combination of these). If you are not physically able or willing to cycle, please let us know in advance so we may take this into consideration when coordinating your internship.
** Participants do not have a choice of on-site or off-site accommodation. These accommodation options will be utilized at the discretion of the Victoria English School program coordinator, on a case-by-case basis to allow for maximum flexibility in coordinating the
internships.
18. What will I eat during the Internship program?
Participants are responsible for buying their own groceries and cooking for themselves. If you are living in on-site accommodation, you will need a ride to the grocery store. Public transport is usually limited (or non-existent) near these sites, so interns should plan out what they are going to buy at the store so as to not keep other interns and volunteer driving staff waiting a long time. Some wildlife centres receive donations of food that they can no longer sell from community super markets; these donations might supplement an intern's meals, however you should also budget to buy your own food. Depending on what you eat, food costs could be $40-70 dollars a week.
19. What if there is a problem at the volunteer site?
Students will be placed with nature and wildlife organizations that have an existing relationship with the school and/or our partners. If, for any reason, the student is unsure about the volunteer conditions or what he/she is being asked to d, the student should discuss the situation with the placement coordinator immediately. The school will discuss the situation with the student and bring it to the host organization's attention if need be.
20. Will I be working the same hours every day?
The schedule of volunteer hours will be explained in the official Offer Letter from your host organization. Due to seasonal shifts in the volume of work and number of duties at each project site, the hours could be somewhat irregular. For example, volunteers at a wild animal rehabilitation centre will be extremely busy during baby season (March to July or August) when babies need to be fed on a near-hourly basis.
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