Part of the Trails to Empowerment Community
5% of each trip supports conservation efforts in the Chilcotin Ark
wilderness Lifestyle Experience
TRAINING
Our Wilderness Lifestyle Experience Training
Live with purpose in the remote wilderness
Do you feel stuck in a routine that doesn’t reflect the life you really want?
Are you looking for a clear path to transform your life into a more meaningful life, grounded in nature, self‑sufficiency and community?
For up to 6 months, you can participate in the Wilderness Lifestyle Experience. It is a structured training program where you live in the remote wilderness, join a self‑sufficient community, commit to your personal development and contribute to something bigger than yourself.
At a glance
- Duration: From 6 weeks up to 6 months
- Location: Remote research-based ranch in British Columbia, Canada
- Age: 18+
- Key focus: Personal Development, Horseback and survival training, ranch chores, conservation projects, self‑sufficiency skills, community living
This experience is for you if you want to live in nature, grow every day, learn practical wilderness and ranch skills and be part of a committed community rather than taking a short vacation.
What you’ll experience
Before you start your journey, you will go through an application process so you can make a conscious, informed choice if this path aligns with your values.
When you arrive, you don’t have to already know how to live in the wilderness; you receive structured training in essential wilderness and horse skills so you can live and travel safely and confidently in this remote environment. Throughout your stay, there are unlimited opportunities to grow and contribute in different areas of ranch life and conservation, as long as you take responsibility and communicate your interests, because opportunities come with responsibility taken.
As you progress on your transformational journey, your days and mindset begin to shift. You start to live more in alignment with your values and experience a purposeful daily rhythm shaped by the remote wilderness rather than by a city-life schedule. You develop practical skills in horseback travel, survival, self‑sufficiency, ranch life and conservation that build your confidence and independence and show you that you are capable of much more than you thought.
With every week you spend here, you gain more clarity about your interests, goals and lifestyle choices and you begin to see a realistic path towards a more intentional, self-sufficient lifestyle. You become part of a like‑minded community that supports your growth, shares your goals and holds you accountable through daily meetings, success reviews and shared responsibilities. You will grow into an active contributor who can make a positive impact, whether you stay connected to the Chilcotin Ark or take your new skills and mindset into the next chapter of your life.
Want to see what your wilderness lifestyle experience could look like?
Here is what past students said:
“Being here at the ranch, has taught me a lot about the person I am now and the person I want to become. I have realized that the only person who can open doors to numerous possibilities is yourself and that you need to write your own story and not let someone else write it for you.” – Maaike, Netherlands
“Being positive and looking for the good in a situation is a choice, making a conscious decision to live that way every day means I can accomplish more than I ever did before. Roles that took me months and years to develop in my previous jobs have come to me in just a few short weeks. Here, I am more confident and outspoken than I have ever been.” – Charlie, UK
“I’m now less than a week away before going back home, and I can’t wait to start this next chapter in my life. I feel focused again. I feel passionate about something again. I have a direction and a purpose. ” – Dana, Canada
Learn more in the Blog Stories written by past students:
Empowerment Community – Learning How to Empower Myself and Others
Investing in my Personal Development
Canadian Mountains – Finding my Purpose in the Wilderness
Wilderness Adventure – One Step Further into the Wilderness
The Key to Self-Empowerment? Accomplishment
Wilderness Lifestyle – First Step of the Journey
Wilderness Experience – How I Returned with the Elixir
The Trail to Self-Actualization is a Rugged Mountain Slope
The Powerful Impact Nature and Horses will Forever Have on Me
Wilderness Lifestyle Experience Process
Your personal development is at the center of your Wilderness Lifestyle Experience. That is why we provide you with clear information before your arrival:
1. Apply for your Wilderness Lifestyle Experience
Before you arrive, you complete questionnaires and online courses that help you clarify your interests, goals and purpose so every activity you do in the wilderness contributes to your growth.
2. Arrive for training and immersion
When you arrive at the ranch, you start with hands‑on wilderness horseback and survival training so you can live and travel safely in the remote mountains. You learn to ride, saddle, pack and shoe horses, split wood, start a fire, identify and harvest wild edibles, cook over a campfire and navigate through the mountains.
3. Co‑create your wilderness lifestyle experience
You become part of daily ranch life by contributing to cooking shared meals, general maintenance, housekeeping and caring for the horses, chickens, dogs and cats that support a self‑sufficient lifestyle. Build your own schedule around your personal development interests aligning with the goals of the organization and its philosophy. Take responsibility for chores and projects, and choose areas to develop your skills such as conservation, carpentry, mechanics, sales & marketing or permaculture. This is a self directed program, so you can learn anything by investing in yourself and taking responsibility.
4. Reflect, contribute and grow
By taking responsibility for chores and projects you will get out of your comfort zone and challenge old habits. This is were the true value lies. By immersing yourself in the wilderness environment you will gain practical skills that empower you, build confidence and independence and find clarity about your interests, goals and purpose through real contribution. You will reflect on theses experiences and your growth through daily reviews, blogs, photos and videos as you gain clarity, skills and a new wilderness‑based lifestyle perspective.
Why this experience matters – Benefits
In a world of constant noise, screens, superficial relationships and quick vacations, many people feel disconnected from nature, community and their own potential. You know you are capable of more, yet you feel stuck in a conventional routine that doesn’t reflect your values, with no clear path forward, leaving you restless, unfulfilled and trapped.
For over 30 years, we have hosted transformational wilderness experiences in the Chilcotin Ark, creating opportunities for people from all walks of life to live in a remote wilderness environment and experience a self‑sufficient lifestyle where they reconnect with nature and themselves. Here, you have limitless opportunities to explore areas that match your personal development interests, including carpentry, mechanics, permaculture, ranch maintenance, conservation, and sales & marketing.
This experience allows you to align your lifestyle with your values, create a purposeful daily rhythm, gain practical skills that empower you, build confidence and independence and find clarity about your interests, goals and purpose through real contribution. You experience what a meaningful life feels like when your days are shaped by nature, responsibility and community, not by routine and distraction.
Here, you live every day by the Six Principles of Nature Connection, Nature Conservation, Personal Development, Self‑Sufficiency, Empowerment and Conscious & Aware living. You join a community where we support each other in our goals and mission, share our experiences daily and hold one another accountable through meetings, success reviews and shared responsibilities.
Through this wilderness lifestyle experience, you develop your skills in flexibility and adaptability, resilience, leadership, efficiency, teamwork, problem‑solving, responsibility, initiative‑taking, commitment and keeping a positive attitude no matter the challenge. These skills stay with you long after you leave the ranch, shaping who you become and how you live your life.
Is this Wilderness Lifestyle Experience right for you?
This wilderness lifestyle experience is right for you if you are ready to leave your comfort zone, commit to your growth and take responsibility for creating a meaningful life. You see challenges as opportunities and you want to be part of something bigger than yourself in the Chilcotin Ark.
This wilderness lifestyle experience is right for you if:
- You want a meaningful change, not just another trip.
- You are self‑motivated and ready to create and follow your own schedule that balances personal development and community responsibilities.
- You are physically fit and willing to put in long hours of physical activity in a fast‑paced environment.
- You value contribution and want to give back through conservation, community living and mentoring others.
- You support the community and get involved in group activities, such as weekly success reviews, daily meetings, planning communal activities and taking care of daily ranch chores.
- You are open to simple, self-sufficient living in the wilderness
Practical requirements:
- Age: 18+
- English: Beginner level is welcome; you learn through immersion in community life.
- Time commitment: Monday–Sunday, 24/7 commitment to yourself, your goals and the shared responsibilities of living in this environment.
- Rules: Strictly no alcohol, smoking or drug use at the ranch and throughout your experience.
This is a wilderness lifestyle training opportunity only and is not a paid position.
Our community studies, practices, and implements the six principles on a daily basis. They are timeless concepts, and those who join us contribute toward our growth and evolution. At first, you may be unsure of how you can contribute. We believe everyone has unique ideas, skills, and perspectives that are of value. As you progress through your transformational journey on our graduated process you will uncover your unique skills and reach self actualization. You will have the opportunity to practice reciprocity by giving back to the environment you are benefiting from. This is an incredibly rewarding experience that can occur at every stage of your journey. Your contributions facilitate our continuous growth and evolution to future generations. This creates our ability as a collective to contribute towards something bigger than ourselves. To live a life with purpose.
Training Start
We offer this wilderness lifestyle opportunity year-round, but hands-on training programs are only held during the spring and summer months. All students must complete training before starting, meaning your program must begin in either the spring or summer. From there you are welcome to continue your experience throughout the winter months. Duration of your stay must be confirmed before your arrival. This will be based on your interests and our available capacity.
For up to 6 months, you can stay on our remote guest ranch and experience living in the true Canadian wilderness. Your Wilderness Lifestyle Experience includes a 2 week wilderness horse back and survival training at your arrival, your shuttle transportation from/to Vancouver, room and board, and all the lifestyle experiences such as mountain riding, animal care, developing your self-sufficiency skills and more. While we highly recommend the full 6 month immersion to get the greatest value and depth of experience, shorter stays are also possible (min. 6 weeks). Let us know your preferred dates and we will get back to you with more information.
We have a unique ecological environment with limited space so students organize their experiences a long time in advance. Spaces are limited so we do not overtax the environment we are benefiting from.
Availability: Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
What’s Included
Transport: Shuttle pickup and return from / to Vancouver
Accommodation: Shared Prospector Tents
Food: 3 healthy and nutritious home cooked meals a day. You will be required to contribute towards cooking and dishes. Please note that due to our remote location, we are unable to accommodate specific dietary requirements. If you have particular food needs, you will need to bring those items with you.
Training and Development: Program includes hands on wilderness horseback and survival training upon arrival. The training is included and a requirement as we are located in the remote wilderness and most of our activities involve horses. You’ll have access to a variety of online training resources, in house procedure manuals and receive mentorship from our community partners. You will have the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of the organization. If there’s something you’re eager to learn, you can take the initiative and pursue it! Opportunities come with responsibility taken.
What’s not Included
Visa: Requirements vary based on length of stay and activities. Recommended: ETA Visa
Health Insurance: Full cover Health & Travel Insurance required for duration of experience.
4 steps to your unforgettable adventure
Talk with one of our mentor guides
You'll discuss the details & goals of your adventure
Take our online course
Get prepared and learn more about your trip or training
4.
Jump into your wilderness adventure with us!
Leave everyday life behind as you reconnect with nature and yourself