tree planter

assistant cook

Apex Reforestation

Tree Planting was a great Life Experience. Was given the opportunity every day of work to be in the great outdoors. The job itself pushes you so much mentally that making it through the season was an incredible task on its own. Dealing with the elements, controlling your emotions, and working as a team to complete projects throughout the day. 

Management's task day in and day out is to warn the planters of any dangers that may be around the area we're planting - bears, falling trees, cliff drops, etc. They also must delegate ways to finish the block efficiently so that the company can move each crew to their area in a timely fashion. Quality of trees is the biggest thing, so it's also their job to make sure we are not just planting lots of trees, but also to ensure they will grow properly. 

The hardest part of the job is the fact that you're in the middle of nowhere. When you're planting trees all day and when the work is over for that night, you're only driving a short ways through the bush to stay closer to the job at hand. It's very stressful if you want to get ahold of someone, but a phone signal is a five hour drive away. 

The most enjoyable part of the job has a lot to do with the worst part of the job. You are in the middle of nowhere, the faster you accept that the easier the job becomes. Being able to shut your mind off and simply push through the job itself makes things much easier. You start to not care so much that you're in the bush, and look forward to planting in the mountains and rain every day. 

The company takes deductions from your pay to supply the planters with good food to eat, and clean water to drink. It makes it much easier on you after twelve hours of planting to not have to make yourself dinner when you get back. Lots of the workers have fires at night and are always willing to hear and converse about your endeavours throughout the shift. It really makes out to be a great life experience and something that I will never regret doing.

Work hard, enjoy being pushed to the limit and make good money doing it. This is a tree planting company, so everything in this review is garnered towards tree planters new or old. This job is ruthless, but this company makes it oh so easy. No need to worry about schedules, meal times etc. everything is done for you and all you have to do is show up with a good attitude and seize everything you've ever wanted (only 2 per person, please!). I loved working here and the people make it an amazing experience. If you really push yourself and go above and beyond the call of duty, you have a good shot at snagging a desirable drivers role, and make some good extra cash on top of your daily pay. The payouts are quite consistent, and all the proper documentation is sent out promptly. There are some camp chores to do every once in a while, but if people weren't so disastrously messy and unwilling to clean up after themselves, we'd be out of a job! Anyway highly, highly reccommend Apex as an employer. They'll push you hard, but you gotta push yourself harder. Great for noobs and there is room for growth within the ranks for those go-getters, but you gotta come back next year! If you are a vet with 4+ years of experience, I would look for something more lowkey, with higher average pay.

So many things to say about this place 
At a work meeting the manager said if your reason for planting trees is to save the environment forget about it your motivation is money..... The environment is not going to be enough to push you to plant trees but the  money is... (Each tree is only 17cents)  they pay you min wage for the first 2weeks but after that you have to plant more then min wage to be able to stay in camp I know a few people who left because they could easily make more doing less back home 

The bathroom situation is rough 
it's a thunder box with a tent over  which is fine but it fills up so fast and reeks of ammonia they don't change it right away it's left like that for atleast 3 days 

Laundry....they have a washer an dryer in camp but we aren't able to use it due to the generator not running so they sent it to get fixed and assured us once it's back we can do laundry until then go into town .....which again would be fine but there's so many of us here also there are other tree planting companies in town it's hard to find a washer or dryer to use due to so many people... the generator finally came back but they still haven't hooked it up because the camp will be moving to another location so they don't want to put the effort of hooking it up just to tear it down talking to the other planters you find out that even if they were working it doesn't do that great of a job anyways machine are old and worn down they don't drain the water or properly rinse it off.....


There honestly so much more to add on to this 

Tree planting is sold as a rewarding challenge, but the reality is far worse. Many planters end up making less than minimum wage after working exhausting 10+ hour days. Low tree prices and disorganized management make it nearly impossible to earn a fair wage.

Basic necessities like clean water were sometimes unavailable, and hygiene in camps was terrible. After a grueling day, we returned to dirty camps with broken facilities. Management was disorganized, often failing to provide proper planning, equipment, or support.

Despite the hard work, pay was inconsistent, and some days felt like free labor. If you’re thinking about tree planting, be aware that the industry thrives on exploiting workers who push through brutal conditions for little reward. Until companies treat planters fairly, it’s not worth it.

You make this job what you want. If you work hard you will see improvements by the end of the contract, although it is a tough job off the get go so you must have a goal of what you want to accomplish during the summer. Must be patient and committed while working through physical and mental adversity. Not for everyone. It is what you make it.

Good enough company to start with. Pay is less than other companies for the same blocks and specs. Management was great my first season, in the second season we had a different manager who was not as good. 
New fleet of trucks every year which minimizes mechanical time losses, although the tires are very old and worn out, which is a bit dangerous and causes a lot of flats.
Large camp sizes (100+ people), which can be fun or annoying depending on what you're looking for.

This job was hard, both physically and mentally. It built character and was financially rewarding if you put in the work. Close friendships were made in a work hard, play hard atmosphere. Any student should jump at the chance for an opportunity to plant.

Mentally and physically challanging job. The employees which come from all across Canada make Apex a great place to work.

Worth sticking around to move into management if you are considering it. Pay scales rapidly in management at Apex. Hours are long but this is standard for the industry. Nothing beats being outdoors all day in the beautiful woods and mountains of BC! I miss it. 

Good people, very cool remote areas to work. Job is hard but pays off well if you work hard. No camp cost, and a very good camp set up, if in motels they are paid and you’re given a per diem.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Tree planter 1 salary reported	$250 per day
Assistant cook 1 salary reported	$225 per day

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