Ronald Kvernmo

We follow an old Sámi tradition of treating our helpers as part of the family. The structure here is flat – everyone is equal. We don’t care if you’re male or female, young or old, dark or light – as long as you’re kind and not racist, you are welcome here.

Our winter season runs from December to early April, and we prefer helpers who can stay the whole period.
From April to November, we welcome stays from 3 weeks to several months.

We are a family-run company with 40 huskies. That means we really love dogs and spend a lot of time with them. Having many dogs is not just a job – it’s a way of life. You’ll become part of our family, helping care for the dogs, the children, and the nature around us. Life here is meaningful, full of fresh air, muddy paws, and unforgettable moments.

All experiences

Job with the sled dogs.

Animal Care

GRATANGEN, Norway

Come help our Sami family with huskies in Norway!

Animal Care

GRATANGEN, Norway

Reviews

4.0
(9 reviews)9

Staff & Host

4.0

Hours & Tasks

3.5

Hostel

3.5

Learning & Fun

4.5

United Kingdom

5

This was my first experience of volunteering aged 50. From being greeted at the airport by Ronald I felt really at ease. Ronald amd his family treats everyone equally and respectfully during there time visiting. Ronald and his Wife taught me many Sami traditions and ways to treat the land and care for huskies and develop new skills I never knew I had in me before. Being with huskies and learning there daily routine was an amazing experience to see how loved and cared . Ronald had me building new huskies houses and carrying of loads of diy jobs which I absolutely loved.

about 2 months ago

Czech Republic

4

I had a really nice time with Ronald and his family. I felt respected, and Ronald made an effort to include me in family life. He also took us on fun weekend activities like climbing and swimming.
Remember that even though the landscape is beautiful, the area is quite remote.
The work is enjoyable if you like animals and spending time outdoors. I had the chance to learn a lot about dogs, dog sledding, Sami culture and drive a snowmobil which i appretiate. Extra thanks to Jonas, Laith, Ronya and Jiří.

4 months ago

Ronald replied

Thank you, Klara, for your kind words and for being part of our life here!
We’re happy you enjoyed the nature, the dogs, and learning about Sami culture. It was great having you with us – and your feedback is much appreciated. We’ll make sure to clarify tasks and expectations for future volunteers.

Warm greetings from all of us here (yes, all of us 😉)!

United Kingdom

5

I had a fantastic time here with Ronald , Beate and their wonderful family . The work taught me a lot about dogs , Sami culture and how to overcome challenges outdoors. I felt extremely welcomed and loved exploring the surrounding areas in my free time. My only disclaimers here would be : 1) Don't apply if you are not an outdoor person 2) Don't apply if you cannot deal well with stressful situations (e.g barking dogs)
You are given a progressive sense of autonomy as you learn how everything works which I really valued. Finally a big thanks to Ronja , Jiří , Silvia , Klára and Jonas!

5 months ago

Ronald replied

Thank you for the great feedback! You’re absolutely right – the dogs get loud before running, but once they start, they’re silent and focused.

We appreciate your hard work and positive attitude. You handled everything well, and it was a pleasure having you here. You're always welcome back! 😊🐾

Italy

3

I volunteered here expecting a 25h experience, but the reality was a full-time 7/7 with no guaranteed time off. This lack of transparency was the biggest issue, questions about hours and responsibilities were met with vague answers, forcing me to assert my agreed upon limits.
The work itself was demanding but manageable; however, the disorganized environment and lack of clear scheduling made it difficult to plan anything outside of work. I strongly suggest to update the annoucement with honest expectations.
I hope this review is polite enough, as “kindly” required. Best of luck in life.

6 months ago

Ronald replied

Our profile clearly states that we live a tough and demanding life, which is necessary to survive here. Despite this, you showed little interest in what we do, ignored the children, and spent much of your time on your phone instead of learning about the animals.
Life in the mountains with animals doesn’t fit into a strict schedule—it requires flexibility and engagement. It’s easy to criticize a small Sámi family from the comfort of a big city, but true understanding comes from participation.

Austria

4

It was an incredible time. The host family and especially the coworkers made the stay unforgettably. If you like to be in the nature and to really work a lot, that place is perfect for you. The work with the dogs is amazing and it never gets boring. In general you really need to be flexible, plans are changing super quick and you never know what will happen in the next hours. You should be confident and stand up for yourself, especially in the high season (Dezember - March) times can be tough and stressful. But if you don’t have problems with that, this place is amazing.

6 months ago

Ronald replied

You are absolutely right, we are living a tough life here in the mountain. But it seems like Sophie was made for this! You are always welcome back!

Perfect for you if you're looking for

Contact with animals

Spiritual

Mountain

Wilderness

Family

Snowy