There are two types of residential volunteers at IMS. Some provide operational support during certain annual courses – specifically the Teen Retreat and Staff Retreat. For more details about volunteering for these special retreats, click here. Others come for stays lasting one month, serving in the Facilities Department. For more information, see below.
Month-long Volunteers
The month-long service volunteer positions are designed for those who want to volunteer at IMS and integrate practice with daily life, all within a supportive and friendly environment. Applicants must have an established meditation practice and retreat experience at IMS of at least two week-long retreats in the past ten years. All volunteers will be subject to a criminal background check. Please note, all volunteers will be required to follow IMS Covid-19 testing protocols.
Month-long service volunteers work alongside our Maintenance and Housekeeping staff in exchange for meals, housing, and access to the retreat environment and staff community. There are also regular interviews about meditation with our Resident Teacher(s). Volunteer service is approximately 30 hours per week, with two days off each week. Service assignments depend on applicants’ skills and the needs of IMS at the time of service. The dates of service are from the 1st through the last day of the month.
Month-long service volunteer tasks are at times strenuous and physically demanding, and can routinely involve repetitive motion, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling up to 50 pounds, bending and standing for long periods. It is essential that applicants be able to safely perform the essential functions of the role for which they volunteer.
Maintenance and Housekeeping duties: Warm-weather tasks include gardening, lawn, and trail maintenance. Work during the winter months includes snow removal. During any season, the job may include cleaning common spaces, guest rooms, storage areas and offices, laundry, trash removal, and projects like window washing. Volunteers may also be scheduled to help with Opening Day tasks such as greeting yogis, conducting tours , and training yogi bell ringers. Volunteers will be working with common cleaning chemicals and other materials that chemical sensitive people may find challenging, such as paint and stain.
To apply
If you are interested in applying, please use one of these forms:
- Month-long Volunteer Application Form (Interactive PDF; requires Adobe Reader XI)
- Month-long Volunteer Application Form (Word Doc)
Contact
For questions regarding this program, please email volunteer(at)dharma.org
