WHAT DOES VOLUNTEERING AT SACRED GROVE ENTAIL?

Volunteering at Sacred Grove is a unique spiritual retreat experience with Seva as the core focus. Sri M says that Seva is an integral part of one's Sadhana. All our retreats are 100% run by volunteers from different walks of life. As a volunteer, you perform various duties at the Sacred Grove campus, including food preparation, dining hall set-up, cleaning, meditation hall set-up, parking, and checking-in attendees. Volunteers play a significant role in ensuring the retreats run smoothly and efficiently.

DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RETREAT TO BE A VOLUNTEER?

There is no fee charged to be a volunteer. 

WHEN DO I NEED TO ARRIVE AT SACRED GROVE TO VOLUNTEER?

We recommend arriving at Sacred Grove the evening before Day 1 of the retreat. You must be at Sacred Grove no later than 8:30 AM on Day 1 of the retreat to attend a mandatory orientation meeting at 9 AM. 

WHEN SHOULD I PLAN ON DEPARTING AFTER THE RETREAT SO I CAN ADEQUATELY COMPLETE MY VOLUNTEERING DUTIES?  

Please plan to leave on the last day 3 hours after the dinner service is completed (~9pm or so).  Please do not plan to drive back from Graham earlier than that, as it leaves the team short-handed to wrap up everything after the retreat.

HOW MANY HOURS AM I EXPECTED TO VOLUNTEER

We expect volunteers to dedicate approximately 8-10 hours of volunteering per day during this time. If you have other work commitments, kindly ensure they do not conflict with your volunteering shift. Also, please plan to do any work at your hotel room or in your car and not elsewhere on campus at Sacred Grove.

CAN I DO MY WORK PART-TIME OR IN BETWEEN VOLUNTEERING BREAKS

If you have more than an hour or so of work commitment during the retreat, please consider volunteering for a future retreat when you are able to dedicate your time to it.  Should you choose to work during volunteering breaks, please plan to do any work in your hotel room or your car and not elsewhere on campus at Sacred Grove.

IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR VOLUNTEERS?

Volunteers should be 15 years or older.  Anyone younger than 15 years of age will not be allowed on campus except for attendees.  

ARE FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE FOR VOLUNTEERS?

We invite all volunteers to enjoy the nutritious vegetarian meals prepared by fellow volunteers during the retreats.  However, volunteers are responsible for making their own arrangements for accommodation during the retreats. 

 We have negotiated discounted rates for accommodations at the following hotels in Graham, TX, for the retreats. Please make the reservations directly with the hotel. We recommend that you do not use third-party websites to book hotel rooms, as it becomes easier for the hotels to track the guests of our retreats and serve them properly.  

Please note that we will also start a retreat-specific WhatsApp group to help facilitate conversations with other volunteers about arranging roommates, sharing rental cars, organizing a ride, etc.

CAN I HAVE A PREFERENCE ON VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT MATCH MY SKILLS or INTERESTS?

Volunteers can sign up for their preferred service activities in advance, and we will accommodate those preferences as much as possible. Please note that the teams will be assigned based on the needs of the retreat and the number of people required to staff each team. Don’t be discouraged if you are assigned to a team that doesn’t align with your preference. The joy of volunteering is to give back, meet new people, make friends, and facilitate a successful retreat.

IS THERE AN ORIENTATION FOR VOLUNTEERS BEFORE ARRIVING AT SACRED GROVE?

Yes, we will conduct two orientation sessions for confirmed volunteers, and they will build on each other. The first orientation will be online via Zoom ~3-4 weeks prior to the retreat, and you will receive an invite for that. The second orientation will be an in-person session at Sacred Grove at 9 AM on the first day of the retreat.  

DO VOLUNTEERS GET INITIATED INTO KRIYA YOGA?

No, Kriya Yoga initiation is NOT part of the volunteer program. If Kriya Yoga initiation is your main focus, please consider joining the Kriya Yoga retreats as an attendee, not as a volunteer. 

DO VOLUNTEERS GET 1-ON-1 TIME WITH SRI M?

All volunteers will be able to individually offer their pranams (respects) to Sri M and receive his blessings at the end of each retreat. We cannot accommodate 1-1 sessions due to the volume of participants and time constraints. 

CAN I BE A REMOTE VOLUNTEER?

We do not have many spots for remote volunteers but if you have specific skills to apply and wish to volunteer remotely, please make your request at: sacredgrovevolunteers@blossomfoundation.com 

CAN I VOLUNTEER PART OF THE RETREAT, MEANING JUST ONE DAY OR HALF A DAY?

We do not have open spots for part-time volunteering at this time. We are seeking full-time volunteers for a minimum of one 3-day retreat. 

CAN I SPEND TIME ON THE SACRED GROVE CAMPUS AFTER VOLUNTEERING FOR A RETREAT?

The Sacred Grove campus is only open to retreat participants and volunteers during scheduled retreats. If you have any other queries about the volunteering program or your participation as a volunteer for one of the retreats, please email us at sacredgrovevolunteers@blossomfoundation.com.