The Wisconsin Council is a volunteer driven organization. Our programming is possible because of people like you. Please join a very dedicated and hands on group of volunteers. Below are current volunteer openings. Contact our office to become a volunteer today.

World Travel 101 Presenters- Co-present mission-based educational workshops to a variety of audiences in order to promote hostelling and responsible travel. World Travel 101 Workshop Presenter reports to the Council Volunteer Coordinator.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES :

•  Deliver World Travel 101 workshops!

•  First, familiarization with standard workshop format and content including the history and mission of Hostelling International USA, intercultural communication components and budget travel tips.

•  In delivery, enrich workshop content by incorporating first-hand travel knowledge and experiences.

•  Assist with workshop marketing, publicity and community outreach.

•  Assist in identifying new audiences and venues for travel workshops.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

•  Public speaking and presentation skills or a strong desire to learn and a comfort with public speaking.

•  Recent international budget travel experience including (ideally) one trip of at least 2 weeks.

•  Familiarity with hostels and hostelling.

•  MUST embrace travel “the HI Way.”

•  Enthusiasm for responsible travel (aka respectful, intercultural appreciation and awareness).

•  Ability to present a variety of audiences in a variety of settings.

TRAINING AND / OR PREPARATION :

•  Thorough review of the World Travel 101 (revised) Tool Kit.

•  Participation in a workshop presenter training session (could be one on one), if appropriate.

•  Observation sessions with council staff or volunteers.

•  Practice session(s) delivering new World Travel 101 (intercultural exchange) content.

TIME COMMITMENT & LOCATION : Three hours per workshop (3-12x per year) plus pre-workshop prep time. Local venues for workshops will vary but may include hostel or council spaces, libraries, bookstores, church/temple meeting rooms, Rotary Clubs, local colleges, universities and/or high schools.

BENEFITS :

•  Reimbursement of travel expenses related to

•  Free admission at council special events.

•  Free admission for you and one guest to the Annual Fundraiser

•  Eligibility for recognition at annual national HI-USA council meeting.

•  Public speaking experience; professional development.

Community Walls Project Coordinator

Purpose: Facilitate the Community Walls project by working with one or two Girl Scout troops/Community groups in the area.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES :

•  Establish and maintain relationships with one or two local Girl Scout troops

•  Facilitate five meetings with participating girls and use the Community Walls curriculum to teach about hostelling, cultural understanding and the art project.

•  Bring art project supplies to the Girl Scout troop and help them create their Community Wall.

Work in collaboration with Hostelling International council or hostel, Girl Scout council, and local troop leaders.

TRAINING AND / OR PREPARATION :

•  Complete Girl Scout council volunteer application

•  Attend one training session.

TIME COMMITMENT & LOCATION : This position requires 2.5 hours of training, plus a total of 5 2-hour sessions with each Girl Scout troop. Location is based at the location of local Girl Scout meetings and/or the Madison Hostel. Benefits: Attend the unveiling reception to celebrate the completed Community Walls, and the opportunity to develop a growing relationship between Hostelling International and Girls Scouts by incorporating cultural competency programming.

Community Walls Presenters- Facilitate the Community Walls project by working with one or two Girl Scout troops in your area. R eports To designated Girl Scout council and Wisconsin Council Executive Director

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES :

•  Establish and maintain relationships with one or two local Girl Scout troops

•  Facilitate five meetings with participating girls and use the Community Walls curriculum to teach about hostelling, cultural understanding, and the art project

•  Bring art project supplies to the Girl Scout troop and help them create their Community Wall

•  Work in collaboration with Hostelling International council or hostel, Girl Scout council, and local troop leaders

TRAINING AND / OR PREPARATION :

•  Complete Girl Scout council volunteer application

•  Attend one training session

TIME COMMITMENT & LOCATION : This position requires 2.5 hours of training, plus a total of 5 2hour sessions with each Girl Scout troop. Position is based at the location of local Girl Scout meetings.

Canoe Program Volunteers- The Canoe Program always needs volunteers to help plan and carry out family-friendly day and overnight trips. In addition, we are seeking a large number of volunteers for RiverSplash in Milwaukee for two days in June, where the council offers free canoe rides to children. Please contact Bill Ross directly at wmbross@hotmail.com for more information.

Hostel Volunteers- The HI-Madison Hostel is in search of energetic, motivated, fun personalities to help out with various hostel activities. Our board of directors, staff, and current volunteers routinely assist with marketing, travel education, stocking the information center, updating media material, as well as websites, hosting and programming, cleaning, painting, fundraising, promoting. The opportunities are endless and can be as creative as you are. This is a great environment to meet travellers, and new people. There are not pre-requisites or limitations associated with this project.

Board of Directors- Join an innovative team of professionals striving to spread the word about hostelling throughout Wisconsin.  What began as a grass-roots movement almost ten years ago in Madison (and over forty years ago in Wisconsin) is now a burgeoning non-profit organization making its mark as a community leader in cross-cultural programming and affordable downtown lodging.

Hostels provide friendly, inexpensive overnight accommodations for travelers and offer a warm atmosphere to connect with diverse people from around the world.  The Madison Hostel has 31 beds and is situated in a turn-of–the-century Victorian house two blocks from the State Capitol; in addition, it is the gateway to our fine city for thousands of international and domestic travelers each year.  The soon-to-be-licensed Eagle Home Hostel in Eagle, Wisconsin rests along the Ice Age Trail and is the perfect location for nature, hiking, and skiing enthusiasts.  Both Wisconsin hostels offer visitors enjoyable, relaxing experiences and are designed to encourage intercultural exchange amongst guests.  But we don't stop there- through our cultural programming, we educate the Wisconsin community and beyond about world travel and the connectedness of humankind.

The mission of Hostelling International is “to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.”  As the Wisconsin Council Board of Directors, our goals include: organizational growth, fund development, cross-cultural educational programming, and the continued expansion of community-oriented strategic partnerships.