Service Exchange
3HO International’s Winter Solstice could not happen without Service Exchange participants. We are a community event generated by the people and for the people. The success of the event depends on each person’s dedication and commitment to doing seva (selfless service). One of the most exciting rewards of Solstice is the opportunity to co-create the event through daily participation at every level. Our interdependence creates a sense of intimacy that adds depth and meaning to everything we do at Solstice.
As a Solstice Service Exchange Team member your principal commitment is to make your service area successful. As a member of the team, you will generally serve approximately 5-6 hours a day in your service area but may serve more. In return, 3HO will offer you a discounted ticket to attend Solstice.
Being accepted on a Service Exchange Team means that you will pay a reduced registration rate of $400. As a Service Exchange member, know that your contribution allows the festival to be available at a ticket price below $1,000 and at many different options for international people and with scholarship opportunities. Without the help of volunteers, the retail prices of this event would continue to climb steeply every year and would be well over $1,500 per person. 3HO International thanks every person who does karma yoga, service exchange and service area managers. It is your seva and volunteer work that brings the mission of the uplifting experience of Kundalini Yoga and meditation to humankind.
Area Manager Opportunities
If you are a seasoned Solstice sevadar who’d like to be considered for an area manager position, we’d like to hear from you!
Managers should be practical and willing to give their time as leaders to accomplish the tasks required to keep the camp running. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience serving at Solstices, ideally in the area where we have a need.
Service Area Managers are Service Exchange participants interested in taking their service experience to the next level.
You should be an accomplished Service Exchange participant who is interested in making a long-term commitment to Solstice. A Service Area Manager’s service commitment includes, but is not limited to:
- Daily staff meetings
- Preparation for Solstice throughout the year
- Helping to recruit Service Exchange members and outlining your Karma Yoga needs prior to Solstice
- Managing your Service Exchange members and Karma Yogis at Solstice
- Leading your Service Exchange members and Karma Yoga team in the daily meditation and check-in on site
A Service Area Manager’s time commitment varies more than a regular participant. A manager has to make the schedule and oversee their team, so their hours are not as regular. Expect to serve between eight and ten hours per day during the event.
Requirements: Participants who have a special talent for serving children and young people are encouraged to apply to be activity leaders and care coordinators for the Program. Applicant must have attended at least two Solstice Events and participated with children’s camp in some way, either as parents or guides. Must be 20 years or older.
Applicants must provide two professional references able to verify capacity and responsibility with children and participate in a background check.
APPLY TO BECOME A SOLSTICE YOUTH CAMP MANAGER HERE.
For more information, email Customer Service.
Service Exchange Opportunities
The Admin Team weaves the web that holds Solstice together. You work closely with the 3HO Events Manager supporting all aspects of camp. You take care of all other service exchange teams! From handling logistics and managing vehicles to creating shopping lists and coordinating purchase runs, you have a hand in it all. This is a fun and rewarding team to serve on.
Service dates:
We are seeking applicants who have technical audio/video experience and first consideration will be given to people who have previously attended Solstice. The sacred sound current is one of the most critical aspects of a successful Solstice. From morning sadhana to the evening program, the community relies on the heroes of the Sound team to manage all of our audio and video needs in a conscious and professional way.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
This team requires grounded, calm and friendly non-medical people to receive people and help get them the care that they need, whether it’s using the self-serve station, getting a doctor evaluation, or addressing some other issue. Some people will also serve as on-call transportation staff in the event of a medical emergency.
Service dates:
As a member of the Green Team, you will work to facilitate the removal of all the recycling, trash and compost we make around camp. This is a fun area for those who are passionate about sustainability and educating camp members about the different trash options that are present at camp. If you like to do physical work and don’t mind getting a little dirty, this seva is for you.
Service dates:
Grounds Crew helps with facility upkeep and maintenance. Grounds include straightening up and maintaining showers, doing maintenance work such as replacing light bulbs, fixing leaky taps, securing classroom shelters in wind and rain situations, and helping to move tables and stages when needed. Working on the Grounds Crew means being energetically available and effective at accomplishing the tasks required to set up the camp and to keep the camp moving in a smooth and healthy way. We keep the basics of camp up and running so that our community can have a “grounded” experience. Grounds Crew requires a humble and serviceful attitude.
Service dates:
Gurdwara is a special place that holds a high vibration of prayer for the whole event. It’s where everyone gathers after sadhana to ground the shakti energy of Kundalini Yoga with prayer and devotional singing. Serving in this area requires some knowledge of Gurdwara protocol and Sikh Dharma terms and practices. The Gurdwara team sets up and breaks down the area, runs Morning Gurdwara, the Akhand Path, Kirtan programs, and shares knowledge of Sikhi and Gurdwara with new attendees.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
The Hospitality Team is a visible presence in the center of camp that serves as a practical “guest services” area, and is a place to go if people need more emotional support. This team requires previous attendance at Solstice, to be able to get people the information they need or point them in the right direction.
Service dates:
Every participant at Solstice signs up for Karma Yoga as a way to give back for the beautiful experience they receive at Solstice. Karma Yoga is an integral part of Solstice, as each of us creates a shared Solstice experience by contributing through service.
As part of the Karma Yoga Service & Support Team you will help support the needs of the karma yogis and service exchange participants by keeping in touch with area managers to schedule where people might best serve on any given day, helping to track and encourage attendance at Karma Yoga meetings and educating participants about the joy of seva. This team needs people who are inspired by and understand how to share the energy of giving.
You will also be at the Karma Yoga table in the Onsite Check In/Registration Area signing up those who did not register on-line for their karma yoga team. This requires people who are able to remain calm during hectic times and be a patient and engaging personality to educate people about what they will be doing in their Karma Yoga area. For these reasons, we only accept people who have previously attended a Solstice event.
Service dates:
Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced kitchen setting and preparing food? We have multiple Kitchen Service Exchange teams at Solstice, including:
- Apply for Dinner/Soup Prep
- Apply for Beans and Rice Brigade
- Apply for Breakfast Soup
- Apply for Children’s Food
- Apply for Clean-Up
- Apply for Lunch Prep
- Apply for Veggie Chopping
- Apply for Yogi Tea
Service dates:
The Solstice Luggage Shuttle team has the privilege of welcoming participants to Solstice. We receive all gracefully, give them some basic direction, and deliver their bags to their campground or cabin. We are busy on the first arrival days and again as camp closes. In between, our workload slows. Making sure we are in contact with our team and responsibilities, we have time to enjoy Solstice.
Service dates:
Serve breakfast, lunch or dinner daily.
Service dates:
The Photo/Film team’s commitment is to make your service area successful by providing inspirational, uplifting, quality images and video to 3HO International and the Global Community. Seeking videographers and film people for this area for Instagram material.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
Service dates:
Start serving on Friday, Dec. 15th
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
The programming team supports all classes and other types of programming on site. The Programming Team seeks yogis to host the classes for Solstice. This team serves the teachers and students, and interfaces with the Sound and Grounds teams to keep the flow of the daily class schedule moving efficiently and smoothly. For each class, there is a team member who helps set the teacher up, take care of their needs, and facilitate any issues that come up logistically for the classes.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
Setting a friendly, inviting and calm atmosphere for participants as they arrive at the Solstice site is the most important function of the Reg Check-In Team. To create this requires a team that is able to stay composed and organized when registration becomes very busy. Our work is detail-oriented and requires patience and grace. You will serve Solstice participants by completing the check-in process on-line, handing out badges, and supporting in other ways that provide a great start to their Solstice experience. This is a good place to practice a humble, service-oriented attitude. All team members must be comfortable with and adept at using computers. You will be working closely with 3HO customer service and other staff members.
Service dates:
Start serving on Friday, Dec. 15th
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
You are the first person people will see as they come into camp! This team will be responsible for welcoming people into camp and screening registration status. Our gatekeepers help direct new arrivals, check badges, and record car information as people leave and enter camp. Gatekeepers receive a full event exchange.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
The Solstice Setup and Breakdown Crew is responsible for setting the intention for a blessed, healing, inspiring experience at Winter Solstice. We arrive early and stay late. We need strong souls who are comfortable with physical work. General tasks include unpacking storage, painting signs, a degree of skilled carpentry and plumbing work, helping in the kitchen, and cleaning. It is a good mix of physical, creative, hard, fun, work.
Because of the time commitment for this service exchange team, participation on the Set-up and Breakdown crew is a full-event exchange. This means there will be no cost to register for the festival if accepted on to the team!
The Set-up crew also includes 3-4 people to work in the kitchen. Please tell us on the application if you’d like to work in the kitchen during Set-up.
Service dates:
Start serving on Monday, Dec. 11th
Serve until 1pm on Saturday, Dec. 23rd
With a much smaller camp this year, 3HO is changing the format for all ages of children. We are rebooting and shifting this year and during this transition we ask for your patience while we slowly rebuild.
3HO will be providing childcare in a simplified camp format so that parents can help each other, planned activities can happen for all age groups and parents can support each other to have the days of deep meditation through White Tantric Yoga and the additional programming. We will provide a special shaded shelter & playground, a certified lifeguard at the pool and toys/games for children aged 3-12 as well as a separate child friendly menu.
There will be a certified lifeguard at the pool but parents must be present with them.
We will have service exchange volunteers who can support parents and keep the toys and childrens shelter clean and organized.
All parents are expected to volunteer 1-2 days of time helping at the children’s camp.
3HO is providing an environment for children to have fun with their friends and families, as we safely rebuild the children’s camp.
We have in place the same policy as prior years, which is parents with children of an age that requires supervision (12 and under) can not sign up for a management or service exchange position, but instead can join the parents karma yoga team, to be with other families and support each other in caring for your children.
If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service.
Service dates:
Serve until noon on Friday, Dec. 22nd
No Longer Accepting Applications.
Winter Solstice is an international event that draws people from around the globe. Our primary need is for capable Spanish to English translators. If you would like to offer to serve translating another language, please apply and together we will evaluate the need at the event. Translators must be able to fluently and easily convey communication from tantric facilitators, keynote teachers, and camp staff.
Are you someone with a passion and knowledge of taping in-person events? We are looking for 3 people to livestream morning sadhanas every day, and record selected classes on the 16th-18th. All the files would be uploaded after each class. Each team member will be able to do 3 days of White Tantric Yoga. A plus if you have your own video equipment.
Service dates:
APPLY TO SERVE ON THE VIDEOGRAPHER TEAM (VIRTUAL SOLSTICE) HERE.
The Rights of a Service Exchange / Service Area Manager
- The right to work in a safe environment
- The right to be treated with respect by all staff members, attendees and other service exchanges
- The right to be told clearly the expectations of your service exchange
- The right to be engaged in meaningful work
- The right to be actively included regardless of any physical limitation
- The right to participate in Solstice outside of your agreed upon volunteer time
- The right to take the rest that you need
- The right to be told what impact your work has on the community
- The right to receive an annual report and understand the financial impact of your volunteer time to the organization
- The right to receive & give feedback on how you are doing as part of the program; are you meeting the volunteer agreement expectations or not so that we can improve on our collaboration
- And finally, the right to find joy & fulfillment in your contributions