Volunteer Project List

We are looking for volunteers to assist with our twice weekly comedy nights. Meet professional comedians and mingle with international travelers at this event, which is open to the community. Volunteers will be expected to assist with setup, checking in guests, answering FAQs, and breaking down the set. 

Shows are on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Volunteers are expected to come before the show and stay after to complete setup and breakdown procedures. We ask for a commitment of two shows per month.

HI Boston is looking for volunteers to lead and support welcome parties for guests at our bustling hostel; which hosts travelers from across the globe. The HI USA Welcome Party allows guests to meet and interact with each other, at the hostel and have some fun together! These Welcome Parties also serve as an opportunity for guests to learn some information about Boston history and the culture of our local communities/neighborhoods.
You can sign up for individual dates or recurring. We prefer our volunteers can commit to at least 2 welcome parties per month.

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is looking for volunteers to lead and support our welcome parties! Hosted twice a week, HI USA welcome parties provide a space for guests to meet, mingle, and learn more about LA history and culture. 

Volunteers must be 18+ 

Held Tuesdays and Fridays. We ask that you commit to at least two events per month. 

HI New Orleans is looking for volunteers to show groups of travelers what they love about the city of New Orleans! It can be pub tours, walking tours, open mic nights, or anything you're passionate about! If you have a talent you'd like to share in our space or a place that means something to you, we would like to hear about it!

If you would like to lead a tour, but you're not sure exactly what you would like to do, feel free to reach out as well; we have pre-selected ideas and routes if you need inspiration.

We are looking for a friendly volunteer to bring International guests from our hostel in downtown SF to Golden Gate Park to experience the museums it has to offer! If you join the team, you will act as a tour guide by facilitating conversation during travel on the public transit ride and share some local tips about the area during.

Once you arrive at Golden Gate Park, you will walk with the group to the Conservatory of Flowers & the De Young Museum & Observatory. You can offer any tips & guidance about places of interest nearby & generally speak about your personal experiences.
 

Get to know San Francisco in a whole new way and meet people from around the world!

Training provided.

Do you know the best burrito spot in the Mission? Do you know the history behind Dolores park? Do you love to meet new people & share the history of San Francisco?... Then this might be a great fit!

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers to lead travelers on recurring tours of the Mission District. You are welcome to come with ideas of your own of where you would like to take a group, otherwise, the tour guidelines will be provided. Get to know San Francisco in a whole new way and meet people from around the world!

Join us for a walk along the one of the least visited neighborhoods in Boston! Bring guests to the Belle Isle Marsh; a tidal salt marsh which is a glimpse into the historical appearance of the pre-settled Boston area, with beautiful oceanic sights year-round and opportunities to see rare and endangered species! From there, walk through the little-known-about Orient Heights neighborhood and visit a hidden gem; the Queen of the Universe Shrine! The views from the shrine are spectacular! You'll discuss the immigrant history of East Boston, and the interesting engineering that went into expanding Boston's terrain. Information will be provided. 

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We are looking for a few volunteers wanting to bring International guests to see the Painted Ladies, the Church of 8 Wheels, & the Madrone Art Bar for a night of fun! As a leader, you are expected to facilitate conversation throughout the night and lead people from location to location, supplying your opinion as a local.

We are looking to run this weekly or bi-weekly, but can be somewhat flexible around your schedule. Minimum commitment would be 1x month.

This would be a 3 hour event starting somewhere from 8-9pm to 11pm-midnight.

Training provided. Must be 21+

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers interested in facilitating cultural exchange by bringing international hostel guests on an excursion to a local bar/arcade. You will be the tour guide of the night bringing guests from our downtown hostel to this location and participate in a few rounds of BINGO along the way. Our hope is to educate guests and expose them to different ways of thinking and understanding the world through a fun game night.

We would love if you either have the knowledge or would be open to educating yourself about how Drag Queens became a part of the SF culture and the role of the LGBTQ+ community in the Bay and share this with the guests!

We are looking for volunteers to connect with International guests and travelers and bring them to farmers markets around the city! Our suggested locations are: the Ferry Building, the Civic Center, and Fort Mason.

This opportunity would start around 9am on either Sundays or Mondays and conclude around 11am.

We would ask that you meet the guests at the hostel in downtown (312 Mason st) and take public transit with them to whatever location we decide on. You would facilitate conversation, supply them with any info about the location & the city in general, and just give them a local's perspective on things.

Buy some fruits and veggies for yourself and show them some of your favorite items!

We are looking for a friendly volunteer that would be excited to take International guests from our downtown hostel to Grace Cathedral on Saturday mornings for a yoga session! Meet travelers from all over the world, share your experiences of living in the Bay Area, and enjoy a 90 minute yoga class in one of the most beautiful churches in SF!

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to connect with the community, work on your fitness, and meet people from all over the world, this could be a great fit!

Training provided.
 

The HI USA PUB TOUR allows our travelers to engage in a common social activity that allows an opportunity for them to learn more about the community and each other. The primary purpose of a PUB TOUR is to expose guests to new locations within our community and have conversations with other guests.

Hey! 

Do you have an interest in or a passion for showing people fun places and teaching them cool facts? 

Well, we at Hostelling International of San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf think that's pretty great!
We would love to have passionate volunteers show travelers from all around the world the many great things that San Francisco has to offer!

This opportunity includes: 

- Creating a walking tour of your desire of a certain area or place (a neighborhood, museum, park, etc)

- Committing to a stable schedule, but we're flexible on when, depending on what works best for you. It can be once a month or every week. We currently have wonderful volunteers that have been running tours every weekend for 20 years! 

- Have fun! Teach the travelers about our wonderful city and create an atmosphere of inclusion and cultural exchange with your groups. 

If you have a tour in mind, but have no idea how to put it together, no problem at all! We will work with you to create it. We focus on making our tours educational and fun!

Some ideas for tours:
- Native Plant Walk (teach people about the native plants right here at Fort Mason National Park)
- Fisherman's Wharf
- The Castro District
- Haight-Ashbury
- North Beach/Little Italy
- Chinatown
- A museum of your liking (lead the travelers trough the museum and describe the art to them, such as its history)
- The Murals of the Mission District

We uphold diversity in all its forms, everyone is encouraged to apply. 
HI SF Fisherman's Wharf in on Ramaytush-Ohlone lands. 

Join us for a walk along the harbor! Lead guests from the Hostel to Maverick Station, to the Piers Park area for beautiful skyline views. Walk along the most beautiful piers in the harbor, with stunning views, while sharing the interesting history of the East Boston neighborhood and its immigrant roots. -----

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The Legendary Freedom Trail is a 1-2 hour walk along some of the most historic spots in Boston. We're hoping to find volunteers (1 or 2) to take our guests along this route, and help guide and educate them on the history and context around this path. 

Our traditional Freedom Trail is simple! Follow the red line and talk about the history of Boston and its relationship with the American Revolutionary War. 

Our Expanded Freedom Trail is more complicated, and covers topics that span from historical context, the American Revolution, economic classes, immigration, strange historical quirks of Boston, civil rights icons, and includes a gorgeous view of the city from the Charlestown Ferry! It's much longer, 4 hours on average. But it's tons of fun! 

HI Boston is looking to find a passionate person, interested in a weekly urban hike, either for the Expanded Freedom Trail, or the Traditional Freedom Trail. 

Do you enjoy interacting with people from different countries and cultures? Are you interested in sharing your knowledge about Boston history and the history of our many communities? Everyday, we offer tours and outings for hostel guests wanting to see and experience all that Boston has to offer. We invite you to bring your area of expertise to curate a custom tour. This is a great opportunity to meet and engage with people from around the world.

We are seeking an active and upbeat individual to lead weekly morning jogs (for all levels of runners) for HI Chicago hostel guests.  

You would coordinate a path based on the group's skill level, and facilitate cultural exchange through conversation. The volunteer would make a loop route, starting and ending at the hostel. 

Currently available times are:

Sundays before 9am

Wednesdays, Thursdays before 10am

Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays before 10:30am

Monday mornings are flexible.

We would work with your schedule to find a time where you can lead a recurring, weekly or bi-weekly event.

We are seeking an active and upbeat individual to lead weekly fitness activities in nearby Grant Park or on the beach for HI Chicago hostel guests. 

You would coordinate a casual game or activity, such as beach volleyball, a game of soccer, or field games (capture the flag, for example). The volunteer would meet guests at our hostel in the Loop, then walk them or lead them on public transit to the park/beach.

We would work with your schedule to find a time where you can lead a recurring, weekly or bi-weekly event.

Do you appreciate art? Help guide our guests from the international community to the Harvard Art Museums. We're aiming to arrange for a Thursday morning or afternoon tour (Date could be flexible) of no more than 6 guests at a time to the Harvard Art Museums. You'd bring guests on the subway and walk them to and from the museums, and then back to the Hostel. Admission is free. 

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Do you love the bustling Back Bay and beautiful Bay Village neighborhoods in Boston? 

I'm seeking volunteers to bring guests to the Back Bay and Bay Village, to explore the tranquil peaceful Bay Village, a hidden gem of Boston, to the bustling "second downtown" of Back Bay! Bringing guests into the Boston Public Library, to the Marathon Finish Line, down Newbury Street, up to Commonwealth, or into the Public Garden!

It's a short and simple tour that has plenty of opportunities to share a nice moment, share interesting history of the Back Bay area, and immerse the visiting hostel guests in the Boston culture! 

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! 

Are you a member of any of the following museums? : 

Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Science
Institute of Contemporary Arts
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
New England Aquarium
Any other museum in the City of Boston or neighboring areas? 

Or are you someone who would like to come visit a museum once or twice a month with us? 

We're looking for guides to lead hostel guests to local museums. The guests will be paying for themselves, and your role is to provide local imput, maybe some history along the way. You'll guide them there and back, or part ways with those who wish to stay beyond the end of the event time. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions! 
 

Are you someone who is knowledgable about the history of Providence or Rhode Island? Or are you the type of person that just likes to walk around a nice small city and take in the sights? 

We're looking for a guide to bring guests out to Providence. You'd meet them in the hostel, bring them to South Station and catch the train down to Providence. You'd lead the guests on a guided tour through the downtown area, around Brown, and back to the Station by the designated time. 

You can then guide them back to the hostel, or you can go home from there. 

You can do this event if you're a Boston Local OR a Providence Local who doesn't mind the train ride. 

Do you love all things Salem? 
Halloween? Witchcraft? History? 

If so, we're looking for people who would be interested in leading a once-monthly field trip from our Hostel to Salem, MA. 

You'd bring guests from the Hostel, to Salem. Walk them through the history of the city, from the Witch Trials, to Modern Day!

Then you'd bring them back to the Station by the designated end time, and either return with them, or head home from there. 

 

Are you a local hiker? Do you take walks in the park every week or seek out the natural spaces in the Boston area? 

I'm looking for volunteers to lead day hikes and parks tours throughout the city of Boston!

There's so many good nature tours, parks and trails around Boston, and with the warm weather approaching, it's never been a better time to get started on a new project, sharing these beautiful spaces with the international visitors at the hostel!

Let me know if you're interested and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
 

Want to come and help travelers experience San Francisco and its historical parks? If so, we would love to have you join our volunteer team of locals who lead outings for global travelers!

We are HI SF Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Mason, a historical building located in a National Park, which is a part of a  network of National Parks run by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. 

Chrissy Field, our sister National Park, is a gorgeous location with a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. You, as the volunteer, would meet the guests at the hostel, do introductions, and then you and the guests would walk down to Chrissy Field National Park for a picnic of some light snacks and beverages (which you and the guests can choose and grab before leaving the hostel) and some games like Jenga, card games, board games, etc. 

All training is provided.

 

HI SF Fisherman's Wharf acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula.

Lead movie nights for world travelers at the historical Fort Mason Hostelling International Hostel. 

Come and facilitate movie nights every Tuesday for people from all over the globe! 

We have our own movie room, where you and the guests will watch a movie, eat some popcorn, and then have a discussion about the movie. Your role will be to interact with the guests, get the popcorn going (we have a giant carnival-style popcorn machine!), and then lead a discussion with them afterwards about the movie. 

All movies will have some cultural, historical, or geographical significance. 

All training is provided.

 

We believe that the collective power of varied racial backgrounds, abilities, and gender identities fosters a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences.

HI SF Fisherman's Wharf acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula.

San Francisco has so many amazing neighborhoods with distinctive charm and hidden gems. We are currently seeking volunteers to lead our travelers on custom designed tours of these areas while highlighting the diversity and history of historically marginalized communities.

All welcome party volunteers must be 21 or over. 
If you're under 21, please feel free to enquire about other volunteering opportunities. 
All training is provided.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The simplest description of this opportunity is that you will guide guests from our hostel, and give them a background on the area, the history and the culture, to the best of your ability. You'll guide guests to the Karaoke lounge nearby, and facilitate social interactions, allowing guests to share their cultures and intermingle with the local culture as well.

Our Karaoke Night events are considered a "Pub Tour".

HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, a non-profit historical hostel, is looking for volunteers to lead Food Tours of the Mission Neighborhood for guests from all over the world!

San Francisco has so many wonderful things to offer visitors and all the incredible food in the Mission is definitely at the top of that list. 

Share your love of food and SF with travelers, who are looking to discover what our city has to offer. Take them to 3 different food spots in the Mission and talk about the culture and history of the neighborhood.

We are looking for a dedicated guide, who can commit to leading a tour on a regular basis and steady schedule. It can be weekly, bi weekly, or once a month. For example, every Saturday at 10:00 or the first Wednesday of every month at 11:00. 

The travelers buy their own food, your would just take them to the particular food spots and talk about the history and significance of the food. 

All training is provided.

HI SF Fisherman's Wharf acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula.

PURPOSE/DEFINITION and HI USA MISSION

HI USA is 501(c)(3) non-profit education association. Our purpose is to "inspire a deeper understanding of people places and cultures for a more tolerant world." As a non-profit, the revenues we receive through overnight stays and memberships is reinvested in mission delivery.

The HI USA PROHIBITION PUB TOUR allows our travelers to engage in a common social activity that allows an opportunity for them to learn more about the community and each other. The primary purpose of a PUB TOUR is to expose guests to new locations within our community and have conversations with other guests.

As the PROHIBITION PUB TOUR volunteer, we ask that you ensure your program provides opportunities for guests to learn and share history, culture, and perspectives. When leading the PUB TOUR, we require the following: 1) We have an already established area and bars selected that includes: A unique history/story that gives insight to the local culture. 2) The tour must include questions and/or activities that encourage conversations and/or reflection among the guests. Some examples include asking guests if they have locations with a similar history or inviting guest to share their favorite pub traditions!

By adding these elements into the PUB TOUR, we can ensure that our guests are getting an experience that is FUN, but also gives them an opportunity to gain a better understanding of our community and different perspectives!

We are looking for a pub tour on any of the following days of the week: Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.

HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, a non-profit historical hostel, is looking for volunteers to lead walking tours of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood!

Take guests from all over the world back in time to the day of the hippies, the music, the psychedelic movement that changed the world, share knowledge of the architecture and how the Haight-Ashbury came to be the neighborhood that it is today!

We are looking for a dedicated guide, who can commit to leading a tour on a regular basis and steady schedule. It can be weekly, bi weekly, or once a month. For example, every Saturday at 10:00 or the first Wednesday of every month at 11:00.


All training is provided.

We are seeking locals to show international and domestic travelers around LA’s best cultural institutions. Whether at The Getty, The Broad, or one of LA’s countless other world-class museums, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the world – both from the exhibitions and the hostel guests you’ll meet. 

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is seeking volunteers to lead our guests on an excursion to Griffith Observatory and Los Feliz. Share an iconic piece of L.A. history and explore beautiful Vermont and Hillhurst Avenues with travelers from around the world. 

We are looking for 1 to 2 volunteers to assist with our Temescal Canyon Hike. This is a moderate 3-mile hike in the Pacific Palisades with gorgeous ocean views!

Volunteers will be expected to meet guests at HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel, travel via public transit to the trailhead, and lead the group on the hike. 

This is a Sunday morning event, hosted from 9 AM to 1 PM. We would like someone who can lead the hike on the second Sunday of every month. If you have additional availability, you may be able to assist on other days as well!

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica Hostel is seeking volunteers to lead a tour of DTLA’s Historic Core. Share L.A. history and stop at local favorites like The Last Bookstore and Grand Central Market while getting to know travelers from around the world. 

HI Santa Monica is seeking local guides to lead guests on walking tours of Culver City. Educate travelers about your neighborhood, share your favorite places, and get to know people from around the world. This is a great opportunity for anyone passionate about travel and cultural exchange.

HI Santa Monica Los Angeles Hostel is seeking local guides to lead guests on walking tours of Santa Monica! Educate travelers about your neighborhood, share your fave places, and get to know people from around the world. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in travel and cultural exchange. 

HI Santa Monica Los Angeles Hostel is seeking local guides to lead guests on walking tours of Venice Beach and the surrounding area. Educate travelers about your neighborhood, share your favorite places, and get to know people from around the world. This is a great opportunity for anyone passionate about travel and cultural exchange. 

We are looking for volunteers to help lead travelers from all over the world on a tour of the City by the Bay on two wheels!

Meet the travelers at the hostel, walk over to grab your bikes at Blazing Saddles and ride on! Bike from Fisherman's Wharf, to the Palace of Fine Arts, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and down to Sausalito for lunch before taking the ferry back to SF! Share fun and historical facts and tid-bits with the travelers along the way!

The tour starts on Sunday at 10 am and ends at around 3 pm.

If you have your own bike, great! If not, no worries, we will rent one for you for the tour. We also pay for your ferry back to SF.

All training is provided!

We are excited to invite individuals to join our volunteer team, celebrating the strength of diversity in all its forms. We believe that the collective power of varied racial backgrounds, abilities, and gender identities fosters a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences.

HI SF Fisherman's Wharf acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula.

Do you enjoy meeting new people and showing off Boston's coolest attractions/neighborhoods? Then sign-up to be Boston tour guide at the Boston Hostel!

HI Boston is looking for individuals interested in leading tours around Boston for groups of travelers from all over the world. These walking tours feature fun neighborhoods, unique themes and local attractions and provide a local glimpse into Boston’s unique culture and history. These excursions also help travelers learn more about Boston and build important dialogues between each other as they explore the city. If you love Boston, then help world travelers love it too!

Are you a musician or artist? A dancer? A poet? A comic? Would you like to perform for a hostel crowd and teach people about the artistic medium you're performing? 

Do you play or perform to cultural music, or music with cultural relevance? 
Do you play or perform to music that has an important message that promotes Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, etc? Does your art include these elements?  

If you want to bring this to our international guests, I invite you to volunteer your time to perform. It's an excellent opportunity to get practice in, with an audience, and share what you know with a curious traveling crowd. 
___________

 

We are looking for volunteers to run a Pizza and Pool Night at Hosteling International - Fisherman's Wharf. 

Come and hang out with international travelers, play some pool, and eat some pizza!

No previous pool experience necessary! Training will be provided. Our goal is to connect and create lasting memories for the volunteers and guests alike! We are looking for volunteers who are interested in cultural exchange, sharing some tips about local things to do, etc, 

Responsibilities would include:

- Receiving the pizza (it'll be preordered ahead of time)

- Engaging with the travelers. A lot of the travelers are traveling alone, some are shy, or don't know English very well; events like these are opportunities to create a welcoming environment for everyone to feel included by engaging in conversation and inviting them to play pool.

- Help people play pool and understand the rules of pool (training is provided for this part if you're not familiar with the rules). 

- Clean up the pizza boxes after the event i.e. put the leftovers in the fridge and put any empty boxes in the compost bin.


HI SF Fisherman's Wharf acknowledges that the Ramaytush Ohlone are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula.

We are looking for 2-4 volunteers to take International guests to the weekly free concerts at the Golden Gate Park bandshell! Each week on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings, they host different performances ranging in genre in the heart of the music concourse from spring to fall. We are looking for a volunteer to take guests from the hostel in downtown to the park and facilitate conversation along the way on one of these days depending on your schedule.

You are:
- wanting to meet people from all over the world
- like outdoor concerts
- great at facilitating conversation
- are available 1x month up to 1x week

If this sounds like you, please send in an application!!


Benefits of working with HI USA:

• Meet new people from all over the world, including travelers, staff, and fellow volunteers
• Work to increase understanding and tolerance by helping people break down cultural barriers
• Help travelers to the community have a great travel experience
• Build skills in public speaking, foreign languages and intercultural communication
• Participate in fun appreciation events for local volunteers
• Receive personal and professional development opportunities
• Earn HI USA membership and dorm overnights at HI USA hostels

HI Chicago is seeking volunteers to help create and lead a cemetery walking tour at Rosehill or Graceland cemeteries, which each hold a rich history of the city. The tour that YOU develop will highlight the culture and history of Chi-town. Tours should include the diverse history of the city, minority owned businesses that hostel guests can support and patron, as well as major sites in the city that cannot be missed. 

Local volunteers offer a unique insider’s perspective to our hostel guests. By leading walking tours, volunteers create the opportunity for hostellers to learn more about the historical and cultural relevance of the area and have a one on one encounter with a local expert.

We can work with your schedule to schedule tours. We are looking for a 1.5 hour – 3 hour tour/outing on any of the following days: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. This would be recurring weekly..