Adventure With a Purpose: Volunteer Tourism in BC

Volunteering while travelling allows you to build a deeper connection to the place you’re visiting while simultaneously meeting the locals, helping a grassroots organization, and earning karma points by doing a good deed.

Often no prior experience is required for short-term volunteering, but be sure to reach out to the organization ahead of time to find out any requirements. Also ask which opportunities are available on your travel dates, what clothing and footwear are recommended, and if any specific documentation is needed, such as a driver’s licence or a criminal record check. For trail cleanups, sometimes membership in the organization is required for insurance purposes, but this is usually available for a nominal fee.

Do you already have a regular gig at home volunteering for a province-wide organization such as the BC SPCA? Connect with the chapter in your vacation area to inquire about temporary opportunities that leverage your existing skills and experience.

 

Cleaning Up Coastlines

British Columbia has an abundance of picturesque coastlines. Unfortunately, the amount of garbage that washes up on beaches has skyrocketed in recent years. 

Surfrider Foundation Canada works to protect the ocean and beaches throughout the country. The Pacific Rim chapter in Tofino hosts weekly beach cleanups (dubbed Washed Up Wednesdays), while the South Vancouver Island chapter does monthly beach cleanups and the Vancouver chapter organizes beach cleanups throughout the Lower Mainland.

BC Marine Trails protects and preserves the lands and waters of British Columbia’s coastline. Each year, the non-profit counts on volunteers for help with collaborative cleanups: collecting marine debris, removing invasive species such as English ivy, and more.

The goal of Ocean Wise is to protect and restore the ocean. One of the many things this charity does is help people organize shoreline cleanups and track information about the types of litter collected, which in turns helps governments, NGOs, and businesses make more ecologically minded decisions in the future.

Living Oceans is devoted to protecting Canada’s oceans and marine ecosystems. Their annual Clear the Coast expedition targets marine debris ranging from discarded pop bottles to lost fishing nets to abandoned boats, which can leach toxins into the water. Clear the Coast is so popular that the available volunteer slots sometimes fill up before the event is even advertised.

 

Removing Invasive Species

Invasive species are plants and animals that have been introduced from elsewhere, and they pose threats to native species all around the world, not just in British Columbia. These harmful interlopers can crowd out native species and lead to more disease, fewer resources, and less biodiversity. 

The Pepakeṉ Háutw̱ Foundation leads ecosystem restoration projects throughout the W̱sáneć homelands on southern Vancouver Island, striving to improve biodiversity and mitigate climate change. All are welcome during the monthly volunteer days. On Aug. 17, the focus is on removing invasive species from Gowlland Tod Provincial Park.

The Squamish Environment Society is dedicated to protecting animals and habitats in the upper Howe Sound region of southwestern British Columbia. The organization often hosts work parties to remove invasive species, clean up estuaries, and maintain trails.

The Invasive Species Council of BC works to stop the spread of harmful species around the province. The council has three handy apps that individuals can use—whether strolling on sidewalks or hiking on trails—to identify and report invasive plants and animals: Report Invasives, iNaturalist, and WeedsBMP. Visit their website to find a wealth of information about DIY projects such as bioblitzes and neighbourhood nature inventories.

 

Building and Maintaining Trails

BC boasts a wealth of trails for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. But all too often, it’s left to volunteer organizations to take care of the trails.

The Galiano Trails Society is dedicated to building and managing more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails on Galiano Island. Trail-building excursions happen on the last Sunday of each month.

The Fernie Trails Alliance maintains the majority of the multi-use trails in Fernie, doing tasks such as trail building, maintenance, and winter grooming. Work parties take place most Thursdays.

The South Island Mountain Bike Society maintains the Hartland riding-trail network in Victoria. The non-profit is always looking for enthusiastic helpers on trail-maintenance days, which usually happen on the third Sunday of the month—and always include a free lunch.

The North Shore Mountain Bike Association maintains trails on the Lower Mainland’s North Shore peaks. Everyone is encouraged to lend a hand on trail days, including Aug. 7 on Mount Fromme, and Sept. 22 and Oct. 27 on Cypress Mountain.

The Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association maintains Squamish’s front-country trail network. Volunteers are welcome on dig days, some of which are geared specifically to women, youth, or beginners.

The Fraser Headwaters Alliance is dedicated to restoring ecosystem health in the Fraser Headwaters bioregion of east-central British Columbia. The organization appreciates help on Goat River Trail maintenance days.

The Four Wheel Drive Association of British Columbia maintains more than two dozen recreation sites around the province, among other tasks. The non-profit is always looking for help from volunteers, especially at various trail cleanups.

The Squamish Access Society helps the local climbing community by maintaining trails and crags and improving infrastructure. Volunteers are needed to help with trail building and maintenance.

The Vernon Outdoors Club promotes recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, biking, and snowshoeing. The club can always use new volunteers on trail-maintenance days.

The Shuswap Trail Alliance builds and maintains trails throughout southcentral British Columbia’s Shuswap region. Everyone is welcome on volunteer days.

 

Assisting at Special Events

Thousands of races, charity walks, festivals, and other special events take place each year throughout British Columbia. Discover the true flavour of any city you’re visiting by volunteering at one of these. Be aware, though, that volunteer slots at the most popular events often fill up weeks (or months) ahead of time.

The Parkinson SuperWalk takes place on Sept. 7 and 8 in more than 20 communities throughout the province. It raises funds for Parkinson Society British Columbia, to help the 17,500 BC residents living with Parkinson’s disease. Volunteers are needed for roles such as registration assistants, greeters, course marshals, and face painters.

Over 9,000 participants work up a sweat in the Royal Victoria Marathon’s 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon events on Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 12 and 13. The start line and finish line for both the marathon and half marathon are on the Legislative Grounds of the downtown Victoria waterfront. Volunteers help with everything from checking in gear to handing out medals. 

The Vancouver International Children’s Festival brings singers, dancers, actors, storytellers, puppeteers, acrobats, and jugglers to charming Granville Island from May 26 to June 1, 2025. Volunteers are needed for tasks such as doing crafts with the kiddos, working the gates, checking wristbands, and answering questions from attendees. 

The Half Corked Marathon has participants weaving—quite literally—through the gorgeous Oliver Osoyoos wine country on June 1, 2025, as costumed runners stop at winery stations along the race route to sip samples of the Okanagan’s tastiest tipples. Volunteers help with loading busses, setting up the finish line, selling race merchandise, cleaning, and more.

Taking place from June 30 to July 6, 2025, the BC Bike Race involves seven gruelling days of races on Vancouver Island. Volunteers do tasks such as handing out food, washing bikes, setting up and tearing down tents, and providing first aid.