VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Serving Your Fellow Pilgrims
Perhaps you're inspired to walk the Camino or you've already walked one of the many routes to Santiago de Compostela.
If the Camino is in your blood and you're wondering what you can do to keep that Camino fire burning. If you want to support the pilgrim community, you've come to the right place.
Here are some ideas for you.
Ways to Volunteer
American Pilgrims on the Camino encourages our members to get involved and serve the pilgrim community in the manner that best suits their skills and time availability. This can be as hospitaleros, staffing the Ribadiso Welcome Service, serving at the Pilgrim office in Santiago, at the local chapter level, or even on our board of directors.
Volunteer Opportunities with American Pilgrims
The American Pilgrims on the Camino is a volunteer-led organization.
If you're looking for a way to give back to the pilgrim community, we have many volunteer opportunities available for our members that range from short-term, project-based commitments to ongoing, long-term involvement.
Click on the boxes below to learn more about our volunteer opportunities. We request volunteers be current members of American Pilgrims. We hope to hear from you soon!
Are you interested in leading a group of pilgrims in your area? We could use your help!
What's involved?
Local chapter coordinators
- Organize a chapter if there’s no chapter in your area. Read Forming a Local Chapter to learn the steps
- Are members of American Pilgrims
- Organize and/or host events, take pictures, or lead walks
Skills required
- Organization
- Inspiration
- Motivation
- Communication
- Familiarity with Google Workplace and MailChimp helpful, but not required
Time commitment: varies by season, but generally 3-5 hours/week. Orientation is provided by chapters team.
For more information contact chapters@americanpilgrims.org.
Do you like leading hikes, planning events or hanging out on Facebook? Do you want to get involved at the local chapter level but don't want to be a chapter coordinator? We need you!
What's involved?
Some of the available options include
- Hike Leader - finds local hiking trails for chapter members to participate in
- Event planner - plans events for the local chapter to participate in
- Newsletter editor - work to produce a monthly e-newsletter showcasing events in the chapter
- Social Media moderator - keeping the local Facebook group up to date as well as other platforms
- Offer your time and talents to help your local chapter coordinators by organizing or hosting events, taking pictures or leading walks
- Videographer - someone to take video of events happening in the chapter and share with newsletter editor and social media volunteer
- Welcome Back volunteer - to engage/interview chapter members that have recently returned from the Camino and talk with them about their experience.
Skills required
- Working knowledge of the local area spaces and place for activities (Hike Leader, event planner)
- Working knowledge of Mailchimp and/or other e-newsletter design tools (Newsletter editor)
- Working knowledge of Facebook, and other social media platforms (Social Media moderator)
- Videotaping skills (Videographer)
- Willingness to engage fellow members of the chapter via phone or zoom or in person (Welcome Back volunteer)
Time commitment: varies depending upon the task. Orientation is provided by the current local chapter coordinator(s).
Interested in learning more about volunteering in a local chapter? Watch this short video from our Youtube channel.
For more information, contact your local chapter. Follow this link to find your local chapter.
If you want to play an important role in the future of American Pilgrims on the Camino, consider serving as a member of our all-volunteer board of directors. This offers an opportunity to give back in a different way.
What's involved?
- We seek qualified board candidates whenever we have an opening
- Membership in American Pilgrims is required
- Members are notified by email when we are accepting applications
- Board members serve a three-year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms
Skills desired
- A strong background in communications and/or marketing
- Technical/IT
- Spanish language
- Hospitalero training
- Legal background
- Past nonprofit board experience
- Financial/accounting
- Volunteer management
- Local chapter leadership
For more information on the work of our board members, visit the Board of Directors page on our website.
If you enjoy taking photos and documenting an experience, we welcome your experience and high-resolution photos.
What's involved?
Our photographers will
- Serve as a photographer at our Annual Gathering of Pilgrims.
Skills required
- Basic photography skills and editing experience
- Creativity and collaboration
Time commitment: Attending the 3-day annual Gathering, plus time afterword for photo editing. Orientation is provided by Communications or Gathering Committee.
Please email the events team if you're interested!
Have you attended our Annual Gathering of Pilgrims and had so much fun you want to help with the next Gathering? We'd love to have you join the team!
What's involved?
Tasks may involve one or more of the following
- Managing advance registration of pilgrims (requires training in our membership database)
- Managing on-site registration of pilgrims upon their arrival
- Planning and coordination of evening receptions
- Program planning, design, and coordination
- Budget development and management
- Managing the design and purchase of printed materials
- Compilation of information to support transportation of pilgrims to the site of the Gathering
- Management of technical support for presenters/speakers at the Gathering
- Management and coordination of vendor tables
- Management and coordination of entertainment
- Management of attendee communications in advance of the Gathering
- Management and coordination of the raffle
- Management and coordination of the online silent auction
- Administration of Facebook group or other social media channels
Skills required
- Experience in event planning (for groups of 200-300 people)
- Ability to work well with a team of volunteers
- Patience under pressure
- Experience (or willingness to be trained) in Excel, Word, GSuite, NeonCRM, Canva (or other similar design tools, Facebook or other social media platforms
- Experience managing an event budget
Time commitment: varies from a few hours per week to 20+ hours just prior to the event. Orientation is provided by past and current Gathering chairs.
For more information, email our Gatherings chair.
Have you built a website or blogged your Camino? Do you have experience with WordPress? Do you use Google Analytics? Are you a tech geek at heart? We invite you to join our webmaster team.
What's involved?
The role is somewhat flexible and can be tailored to your experience and interests.
Our website volunteers:
- Keep the content on the website up to date
- Create and post new content to the website
- Update local chapter pages
- Work with Communications committee to post La Concha articles on the website
- Source and edit photos for the website
- Provide the board with quarterly Google Analytics reporting
Skills needed
- Familiarity as a WordPress editor or admin.
- Familiarity with page builders and WordPress blocks
- Experiencing writing or editing content for the web
- Experiencing editing content and photos
- Ability to work independently
- Good project management skills
Click this video link to learn more about the tech team.
Time commitment: approximately 5 hours per week on average. More during the quarterly La Concha publication cycle. Orientation provided by webmaster and tech team.
Please contact tech@americanpilgrims.org if you are interested!
Are you a tech geek at heart? Are you familiar with Google Workspace? Do you set up tech at events? We invite you to help our tech team!
What's involved?
Our Tech team volunteers:
- Help us maintain our Google Workspace, adding new users, maintaining email and maintaining the file system
- Help us with reporting and data management from our NEON CRM system
- Assist our Chapter leaders with Mailchimp
- Participate in tech committee and other board committee meetings as required, usually by Zoom
- Exact tasks are somewhat flexible and depend upon your skills.
We're Looking for the Following Skills:
- Familiarity with Google Workspace including GMail, Docs, Sheets, etc.
- Familiarity with Mail Chimp.
- Familiarity with CRM systems and a willingness to train up on our NEON CRM platform
- Ability to work independently
Click this video link to learn more about the tech team.
Time commitment: somewhat flexible, but approximately 5 hours per week on average. Orientation provided by the tech team.
Please contact tech@americanpilgrims.org if you are interested!
Are you a communications professional looking to give back to the Camino? We can use your help!
What's involved?
This is a board-level position for a member of our board of directors. This individual
- Schedules and holds regular Communication team meetings, and is responsible for communications workflow
- Sets priorities and activities that are in alignment with the board’s strategic planning goals
- Collects and shares communications dashboard metrics with the board on a quarterly basis and with the communications team as needed; uses data to inform goal-setting and project decision-making
- Liaises with webmaster and team leads in Membership, Hospitalero, External Relations, Gathering, Grants, Facebook and La Concha, to create and/or edit content and communications campaigns coming out of those teams
- Coordinates onboarding, including training and coordinating communications volunteers for internal communications, Team La Concha, and social media platforms (which includes writers, content creators, specialty editors, copy editors, and proofreaders)
- Trains volunteers at all levels of the organization as needed, and seeks opportunities to introduce policies and best practices and
- Annually reviews communications sent out by the organization for the purpose of planning the communications calendar for the next year.
Additionally, this volunteer maintains a commitment to the mission of our organization, the spirit of the Camino, and the Pilgrim Principles.
Time commitment is approximately 5-10 hours/week, but can be higher throughout the year. Orientation is provided by the Communications team.
If you're interested in joining the American Pilgrims Board of Directors, send an email to chair@americanpilgrims.org today!
Do you have a solid grasp of the English language and can you spot typos, incorrect grammar or punctuation from a mile away? We need your help!
What's involved?
Our La Concha editors and proofreaders will
- Edit and/or proofread La Concha, our quarterly magazine
Skills required
- Editing and writing skills
- Experience in editing online publications that are broadcast to a diverse audience with similar interests
- Proofreading skills, including knowledge of proper punctuation, clear and concise communication, grammar usage, attention to detail and general knowledge of the material
- Ability to meet deadlines
Time commitment Approximately 4-5 hours (over 2-3 days) quarterly. Orientation provided by the Communications Team chair.
For more information email our La Concha editor.
Do you have an eye for design? We can use your help!
What's involved?
Our La Concha Graphic Design volunteer will
- Create layout for quarterly digital magazine
- Process and produce graphics
- Generates proof copy
- Source licensed images, if necessary
- Participate in monthly Communications Team meetings and editorial communications
- Provides input into publication schedule
- Produces final digital copy
Skills required
- Typography
- InDesign or equivalent desktop publishing tools
- Web content management (e.g., WordPress)
- Image processing and tools experience (e.g., Photoshop or equivalent)
Time commitment: Fluctuates throughout the year, with 30-40 hour weekly commitment for one to two weeks per quarter. Orientation is provided by the Communications Team chair and La Concha Editor-in-Chief, with potential input from previous incumbents.
Please email our La Concha editor if you are interested!
Do you have an eye for design? We can use your skills for our social media channels!
What's involved?
This volunteer will
- Create layout for Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media posts
- Process and produce graphics
- Source licensed images, if necessary
- Participate in monthly Communications Team meetings and editorial communications
- Interface with Facebook/social media liaison
- Provide input into Social Media Editorial calendar
- Generate final digital assets for upload/publication
Skills required
- Typography
- InDesign, Canva, or equivalent design tools
- Image processing and tools experience (e.g., Photoshop or equivalent)
Time commitment: approximately 3-5 hours per month. Orientation is provided by Communications Team Chair, Social Media Liaison and Facebook Admin/Moderator Team.
Please contact communications@americanpilgrims.org if you are interested!
We seek an intern to conduct a review of digital marketing and communications initiatives and those of comparable organizations. Based on this study, the intern will develop recommendations to expand the reach of the organization’s current efforts to younger generations, essentially those individuals born since 1981 and individuals from underrepresented demographic profiles.
This part-time position will be project-based, with an anticipated duration of four months and a weekly commitment of 5-10 hours.
Compensation will take the form of academic credit or monetary compensation, as mutually agreed upon by the American Pilgrims board of directors and the digital marketing intern.
Responsibilities
-
- Attend monthly meetings of the American Pilgrims' Communications Committee and regular check-ins with the organization’s designated internship supervisor.
- Assess current digital marketing channels, including:
- YouTube
- Website
- La Concha
- Perform a review of digital marketing channels of similar organizations, as agreed between the digital marketing intern and internship supervisor.
- Recommend communications channels and strategies.
Qualifications
- Current or accepted student in a qualified undergraduate or graduate program of higher education.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience with social media and digital communications.
- Facility with graphic design, desktop publishing tools, and web content management background is a plus.
- Proficiency in Spanish, while not required, is highly desirable, as is previous experience as a pilgrim and/or volunteer on the Camino de Santiago and/or with American Pilgrims on the Camino.
Orientation is provided by Communications Team Chair, Social Media Liaison and Facebook Admin/Moderator Team.
If interested, please contact communications@americanpilgrims.org.
What's involved?
- Review applications submitted by albergues or associations in Spain, Portugal or France
- Review the Grant application
- Complete the review over a period of 14 days
- Recommend to award, reject or reduce the amount of the money solicited
- Submit a rating for the project
Skills required
- Fluency in Spanish as the majority of applications are in Spanish
- Attention to detail
Time commitment: 10-30 hours over a period of two weeks in February. Orientation is provided by the Grants Committee chair or another team member.
For more information email grants@americanpilgrims.org.
What's Involved?
The volunteer coordinator will
- Communicate periodically with the board and committees to ascertain volunteers opportunities available to members of American Pilgrims on the Camino
- Assist with recruiting and training volunteers
- Assist chairs to incorporate volunteers into the work of committees
- Work with Chapter Coordinators to develop ideas for retaining volunteers
- Work with committees and webmaster to keep Volunteer Opportunities web page up to date
Skills required
- Ability to organize tasks
- Good interpersonal communication skills
- Creativity and collaboration
Time commitment: approximately 3 hours per month. Orientation is provided by the Membership committee. If you're interested in this opportunity, email the Membership team.
Do you enjoy writing thank you notes? Do you like showing gratitude? Do you like thinking of creative ways to show others our appreciation?
What's involved?
Our Giving Thanks team members will
- Write thank you notes
- Reach out to members to thank them for membership
- Brainstorm recognition ideas
Skills required
- Good communication skills
- Time management
- Collaboration
- Good penmanship preferred
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per week. Orientation is provided by the Membership Committee.
For more information email the membership team.
Do you enjoy working with databases and details? We can use your help!
What's involved?
Our data analyst will work with the Membership team to
- Develop queries that analyze Neon CRM membership data
- Perform Trend Analysis
Skills required
- Knowledge and experience using client relationship management databases
- Preferred knowledge of NeonCRM
Time commitment: 1-4 hours per month. Orientation is provided by the Tech and/or Membership Team.
If you're interested in serving in this role, email the Membership team.
Do you enjoy making phone calls or sending emails and otherwise talking with people? We can use your talents by following up with major donors (potential and actual).
Tasks involved
Volunteers on this team will
- Contact and Survey/Feedback of Major Donors
- Inquire about their passions for American Pilgrims
- Reason for their donation
- Identify their other causes, other donations and recipients
- Overall rationale for philanthropy
Skills required
- Preferred experience in fundraising and major donor development
- Communication skills
Time commitment: approximately 1-4 hours per month. Orientation is provided by the Membership Committee Chair.
Please contact membership@americanpilgrims.org if you are interested!
Volunteer Opportunities on the Camino
Explore these on-the-ground opportunities in Spain, France and Portugal.
The Ribadiso Welcome Service is a volunteer opportunity for American Pilgrims members at the Ribadiso albergue, operated by the Xunta de Galicia on the Camino de Santiago. Volunteering at Ribadiso is a unique experience.
What's involved?
Volunteers
- Serve for a period of 15-days from May to September
- Care for pilgrims by welcoming them to the albergue
- Answer their questions
- Provide information about the immediate area and about their arrival to Santiago
- Offer a listening ear and
- Direct pilgrims to healthcare resources, if needed.
Skills required
- Must be a current member of American Pilgrims on the Camino
- Must have completed at least the last 100 kilometers of the Camino
- Be in good health and physical condition
- Prior training as a volunteer hospitalero or similar experience is helpful but is not required
- Spanish language skills are highly desired
Sound interesting? All members of American Pilgrims will be notified by email when we are accepting applications for the next season's postings.
Watch a short YouTube video about serving at Ribadiso by following this link.
Follow this link to learn about Ribadiso and the application process.
One way to give back to the Camino is to become an hospitalero. Volunteer hospitaleros serve pilgrims in a variety of albergues along various Caminos routes. To be placed in an albergue in Spain, France or Portugal for a two-week position, American Pilgrims members must complete a hospitalero training session and be certified. We offer hospitalero training several times a year in various places around the country.
Watch a YouTube video and learn more about volunteering as an hospitalero by following this link.
For more information see our Hospitalero Training page or email the Hospitalero Training team.
For many pilgrims the first real contact with the "system" is the Pilgrim Office in St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Pilgrims starting out on their first day of their Camino stop here for their first stamp (sello), weather for the pass and general advice. The office is largely staffed by volunteers. More information and contact is to be found at the St. Jean pilgrim office.
For peregrinos who want another way to show gratitude for their Camino experiences, the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago offers another kind of opportunity. Volunteers serve two weeks in the office, writing Compostelas and distance certificates. The Pilgrim’s Office offers accommodation in return for your service. Visit Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino for more information or send them an email for an application.
Pilgrim House is a welcome center in Santiago de Compostela, where pilgrims can find community, conversation, prayer and help with their practical needs. They offer gathering places for pilgrims, practical services such as laundry and a kitchenette, and quiet spaces where pilgrims can reflect on and process their Camino.
Volunteer duties would include welcoming pilgrims and helping them feel at home; helping out with laundry, backpack storage and printing boarding passes; and being available to talk with pilgrims who need a listening ear. Volunteers also help clean Pilgrim House after every shift.
The term of service is a minimum of one week and a maximum of a half month. In order to help us provide quality service, volunteers must have received a Compostela. At present, Pilgrim House cannot offer lodging or food to volunteers.
Interested persons are invited to visit Pilgrim House's website. Contact Gale Sherry (Manager and Volunteer Coordinator) via email for further information about Pilgrim House or to obtain an application form.
Rev 09/19/24