Vocational Skills Development Program

Two boys are in a garden, each pushing a wheelbarrow filled with leafy vegetables. The garden has rows of plants and a greenhouse on the right. In the background, there are trees, hills, and a red barn under a partly cloudy sky.

Program Overview

Sunshine Farm provides structured Vocational Development services for adults served by Community Living British Columbia (CLBC). Programming focuses on skill acquisition, work experience, routine building, and safe participation in a working farm environment. Services operate within a certified organic agricultural setting and emphasize functional learning, practical tasks, and individualized support.

The program is designed to help individuals develop competencies that increase independence and enhance participation in community, vocational, or volunteer roles.

A man smiling while gardening inside a greenhouse, sitting beside a large round wooden container filled with soil and small plants, surrounded by flower pots and gardening supplies.

Scope of Services

Eligibility

  • Adults 18 years and older

  • Referred and funded through CLBC

  • Individuals able to safely participate in a working farm environment with staff supervision

  • Participants who benefit from structured, interest-driven, hands-on learning

Program Capacity

  • Contracted for 18 individuals per day

Hours of Operation

  • Monday to Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm

  • Closed on statutory holidays, designated closures, and professional development days

Location

Sunshine Farm operates on 12.5 acres of Certified Organic Class One farmland at:

2225 Saucier Road, Kelowna, BC

Service setting

Indoor Facilities

  • Accessible multi-purpose resource building

  • Teaching kitchen for food preparation and nutrition sessions

  • Dedicated spaces for literacy, computer use, art, and group instruction

  • Covered deck with seating and easy transport access

  • Washrooms designed for accessibility

  • Heated outbuildings for year-round tasks

The program utilizes the full farm environment to support vocational and life-skills development. Facilities include:

A man wearing a black baseball cap and purple shirt is smiling and holding a tray of freshly baked cookies.

Greenhouse & Workshop Areas

Two fully equipped heated greenhouses

Woodworking shop with tools, materials, and workstations

  • Mechanics workshop for equipment maintenance and hands-on repairs

  • Designated outdoor workspaces for seasonal agricultural tasks

  • Gardens, orchard areas, and seed production zones

A man in a blue jacket and black beanie giving a thumbs up inside a woodworking or gardening workshop. There is a wooden planter box on the floor in front of him, with tools and supplies like large buckets and a trash can visible in the background.

Equipment

Use of equipment (e.g., mowers, tractors, tools) requires:

  • Mandatory staff supervision

  • Task-specific instruction

  • Appropriate safety equipment

All materials, tools, and PPE are provided by Sunshine Farm.

A person wearing a yellow safety vest and a blue cap is using a red and black dirt auger in a field with sparse green plants, trees, a windmill, and cloudy sky in the background.

Program Activities

Activities are functional, hands-on, and directly connected to real farm operations. Skill areas include:

Agricultural Skills

  • Planting, watering, pruning, weeding

  • Seed harvesting, cleaning, sorting, and packaging

  • Greenhouse workflows: propagation, transplanting, care

  • Soil preparation and compost handling

  • Seasonal crop maintenance and harvesting

Practical & Vocational Skills

  • Woodworking and small carpentry projects

  • Basic mechanical tasks

  • Tool identification, safety, and use

  • Weighing, measuring, labeling, and packaging

  • Following routines, task completion, and work habits

  • Record-keeping and inventory support

Life & Creative Skills

  • Cooking and kitchen-based instruction

  • Art and music activities

  • Literacy and computer practice

  • Group participation and communication skills

Expected Outcomes

Participants gain:

  • Increased confidence and independence

  • Improved vocational and practical skills

  • Stronger social connections and teamwork skills

  • Opportunities to contribute in meaningful farm-based roles

  • Preparation for volunteer or community involvement

A man holding a painted wooden mask, standing in a woodworking workshop with tools, wood pieces, and a workbench around him.