Dear WWOOF, HelpX, and Workaway guests,
We are delighted to welcome you to Kootenay Acres Farm Sanctuary(KAFS)! Nestled in the beautiful Kootenays, our sanctuary is more than just a farm—it's a haven for animals in need and a community dedicated to compassion, sustainability, and the well-being of animals traditionally used for farming.
KAFS provides a safe and loving home for special needs, rescue, and re-homed farm animals. Our mission is to care for these wonderful beings and educate and inspire others about the importance of kindness towards animals and sustainable living.
What to Expect During Your Stay:
While you are staying at KAFS you will have the opportunity to interact with our animal residents. You will learn about each animal resident's story and have plenty of time throughout your stay to enjoy the therapeutic effects that their companionship will have on both your mind and physical body. We hope that your time here is educational and above all, rewarding.
While we strive to welcome all guests who are lovers of animals, we do want to highlight that we live remotely so those guests traveling with others, or who enjoy the company of animals while working independently may find this experience most enjoyable.
A typical day at Kootenay Acres involves various tasks that will give you a hands-on experience of sanctuary life. Guests can expect to volunteer 25/week in exchange for accommodations and food. Guests will be responsible for preparing their own meals.
While you are staying with us here are some of the tasks you will enjoy:
Daily Animal Feeding Chores
Morning & Evening Feeding Routine:
1. Feed Preparation & Hay Distribution:
- Prepare and portion out meals specific to each animal’s dietary needs.
- Ensure any special diets, supplements, or medications are correctly included.
- Spread hay or other foraged materials for animals that require it, such as horses, goats, and sheep.
- Check for any uneaten food from the previous day and dispose of it properly.
2. Feeding Routine:
- Distribute feed to each animal, ensuring they receive the correct portion.
- Monitor the animals during feeding to ensure everyone eats properly and no one is left out.
3. Feeding Assistance for Special Needs Animals:
- Provide hands-on assistance to animals with special feeding requirements, such as bottle-feeding, hand-feeding, or preparing softer food for older animals.
3. Supplement and Medication Administration:
- Administer any necessary supplements or medications, mixing them into feed or giving them directly to the animals.
- Keep detailed records of any medication or supplement given, noting the animal’s condition and any changes.
4. Feeding Area Maintenance:
- Clean feeding areas after meals to prevent the buildup of waste and to maintain hygiene.
- Sweep or hose down feeding stations, troughs, and surrounding areas for cleanliness and dust control.
5. Water Supply:
- Check and refill water troughs and bowls, ensuring all animals have access to clean, fresh water.
- Clean and sanitize water containers as needed (1-3 times/week pending weather).
6. Food Storage Management:
- Check food supplies and restock feed bins or containers as needed.
- Ensure food is safety secure and not accessible to roaming animal residents.
- Ensure food is stored securely to prevent access by pests or moisture
7. Observation and Documentation:
- Observe the animals' eating habits and note any changes in appetite or behavior.
- Document any unusual findings or issues and report them to the sanctuary manager or vet if necessary.
- Perform a quick health check on the animals during feeding, looking for any signs of illness or distress.
These chores ensure that all animals are well-fed, healthy, and happy, contributing to the overall well-being of the sanctuary residents.
Daily Chores & Special Projects:
Throughout the day, you might assist with maintaining the sanctuary grounds, helping with gardening tasks, or working on small building projects to improve our facilities. Depending on the season, you may also be involved in snow removal, yard clean-up, pruning trees, and harvesting fruits and vegetables from our gardens.
We often have ongoing projects such as building new shelters, expanding our garden beds, or working on sustainability initiatives. Your skills and interests will guide your involvement in these activities.
We believe in the power of community and education. You’ll have the chance to engage with local visitors, share your experiences, and participate in workshops or events that focus on animal care, sustainable farming, or plant-based living.
We strive to make your stay as comfortable as possible. After a day of fulfilling work, we can connect to reflect on the day, and enjoy the serenity of our surroundings. This is a time to relax, connect with fellow volunteers, and recharge for the next day.You’ll be staying in cozy accommodations, with access to all the basic amenities you need. We also encourage you to explore the beautiful Kootenay region during your free time—there’s plenty of nature trails, rivers, and lakes to enjoy.
Join Our Mission:
By choosing to spend your time with us, you are directly contributing to the well-being of our animal residents and the success of our sanctuary. Your efforts help us continue our work and spread the message of compassion far and wide.
Thank you for choosing to be a part of our family here at Kootenay Acres. We can’t wait to share this experience with you and hope that your time here will leave you with lasting memories, new skills, and a deeper connection to animals and nature.
Warm regards,
Aimee Kootnikoff
Founder, Kootenay Acres Farm Sanctuary
Please reach us through WWOOF, HelpX or Workaway messages if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Guests will be onboarded on the care provided for the animal residents upon arrival. This may include both hands on or verbal instruction of the tasks/activities. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have. You will be provided daily instruction when tasks are to be completed outside the routine feeding and pen/shelter bedding cleaning.
Guests should come prepared to work in all weather conditions. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius and winter can regularly reach -15 temperatures and have reached as low as -40 degrees Celsius on occasion.
The work will primarily be outdoors and require a level of physical exertion. All tasks as mentioned above will be completed 4 seasons. Guests may be tasked with snow removal of pathways that are not accessible by the plow due to the grade of land or accessibility.
While safety is of utmost importance we do expect guests to have medical insurance in the unlikely event that you need to seek medical aid.
We will provide all guests with the standard KAFS liability waiver that will need to be signed prior to stay.
We are a small sanctuary which focuses on quality of care we are able to provide over quantity of residents. We are home to 2 horses, 8 sheep, 11 goats, 2 geese, 6 ducks, 30 chickens, 4 cats and 2 dogs. Many of these animal residents have special needs and require additional care over a traditional farm setting. You can read more about some of the residents on our website.
Yes, we offer educational tours for schools and other groups. We have partnered with local schools to provide volunteer opportunities throughout the year and are looking to build our this program further.
Copyright © 2024 Kootenay Acres - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.