Interested in Volunteering and Being a Part of Our Sunday Crew?
"Out of Africa Animal Sanctuary is my 9 year old daughter's absolute favorite place to be. I could give her a list of activities to do on a weekend and she always chooses the farm first. I am so grateful that we have opportunities to be a part of the farm community." |
"It is a place to learn. Learn what it takes to look after an ailing horse, or the cost of taking care of a dog with allergies, how many bales a week it takes to feed horses and keep them warm in their stables when it’s -30 Celsius outside. Learn about what goes in to keeping the lights on at Out of Africa!" |
"This place is such a fantastic cause; the love and appreciation the operators show to their animals and farm family (volunteer army) is unmatched. You don’t need any experience to take part; all you need is a willingness to work hard, learn new things, and contribute to the best of your ability." |
FAQ FOR VOLUNTEERS
Who can volunteer at Out of Africa Farm Sanctuary?
We welcome anyone willing to do barn chores. You must have some physical ability - working in the barn involves bending, twisting, and lifting. Our minimum age requirement is 8 years old. Anyone under the age of 12 years old must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times. We have some "lighter duty" chores for our smaller participants, but older youth and adults should expect to be able to lift a minimum of 30 lbs in repetition.
What kind of time commitment should I make if I want to volunteer?
We accept volunteers at the farm every Sunday at 10:30am. Chores typically last 2-3 hours and volunteers are invited to visit over a cup of coffee at the end of each volunteer day.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to wear clothing that can get dirty. We recommend layers to prepare for various weather conditions. Bring a water bottle and a pair of gardening or work gloves.
What kind of barn chores will I be expected to do?
Chores range from the following:
- Cleaning out the barns (lifting horse waste and pushing heavy loads in wheel barrows)
- Feeding barn cats and changing litter boxes
- Hauling 60lb hay bales into the barn (occasional)
- Walking the dog crew
- Cleaning chicken coops (involves bending in small spaces)
- Feeding a large horse herd in pasture
- Occasional construction jobs as requested prior to your visit
Will I be able to ride a horse and pet the other animals?
Typical chore days do not involve horse-riding. Many of the horses who arrive at the Sanctuary are fearful of human touch and it will be dangerous to approach them for this purpose. On occasion, a friendlier horse requires human interaction and it may be requested for an experienced volunteer to groom and/or practice saddling the horse, but we generally do not allow volunteers who are new to the farm to have this opportunity.
Most of the dogs and cats on the farm are friendly, and we encourage volunteers to engage with them as much as they wish once the daily farm chores are completed. Some animals will be kept in secure enclosures to indicate that they should not be approach by strangers.
The Golden Rule for our farm is that if an animal seems apprehensive when approached, we ask you to respect their space. We believe that all animals at the farm have the right to live out their days without being forced into any interaction that makes them feel unsafe of fearful.
Most of the dogs and cats on the farm are friendly, and we encourage volunteers to engage with them as much as they wish once the daily farm chores are completed. Some animals will be kept in secure enclosures to indicate that they should not be approach by strangers.
The Golden Rule for our farm is that if an animal seems apprehensive when approached, we ask you to respect their space. We believe that all animals at the farm have the right to live out their days without being forced into any interaction that makes them feel unsafe of fearful.
DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, OUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED. PLEASE REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE.