Open your heart to the service of others

Individuals and groups are invited to share their time and talents at the monastery. Our work is possible because of the hundreds of volunteers who join us in caring for the earth and supporting our ministry of hospitality through guest services. Volunteer outdoors or indoors, depending on your preference.

Volunteers are at the heart of every mission, ministry, class, program, project and event that happens here. Thank you!

Environmental volunteers—
help with our mission of caring for the earth

Help us preserve the natural environment at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Whether you volunteer alone or with a group, we appreciate your interest and support. Depending on the season and the amount of time you have to offer, you might volunteer in the prairie and plant or collect seed, pick apples, split logs, prune bushes, or maintain nature trails.

Wisdom Prairie Workdays

Volunteers are essential partners in our environmental stewardship. Consider joining us for a volunteer workday in the restored prairies, savannas and woodlands at Holy Wisdom Monastery to sustain your spirit and the land. Activities shift seasonally, with common projects including invasive species removal and seed collecting.

Wisdom Prairie Workdays are every Wednesday throughout the year from 9:00-11:30 am. Meet at the kiosk at the top of the monastery building parking lot and come for as long as you can.

Please register by emailing Amy Alstad, aalstad@holywisdommonastery.org.

Trail monitoring

Consider coming for a walk on our trails whenever your availability permits. We could always use your help monitoring trail conditions!

Protocol for trail monitoring is simple: Walk a section – or two or all – of the Holy Wisdom trails and report what you encounter using a simple online form. For now, this is a purely a monitoring program. In other words, no need to engage with trail users e.g. about dogs or other infractions. Click HERE to access the reporting form for trail monitoring.

Contact Amy Alstad for more information about volunteering on the land.

Guest services volunteers—
help with our mission of hospitality

Do you have a few extra hours each week to help out at Holy Wisdom?

Kitchen volunteers

Volunteer in the kitchen and assist the monastery chef with prepping food, setting tables, washing dishes and processing garden and orchard produce. Pick the day and shift that fits your schedule.

Guest greeter and event helper

Volunteer as a guest greeter and event helper and assist with special events (weddings, memorials, parties, etc.) at the monastery.

Housekeeping volunteers

Help as a housekeeper volunteer and assist the monastery housekeeper with washing, drying and folding sheets and towels from guest rooms.

Front desk volunteers

Help as a front desk volunteer greeting guests, answering the phone, fielding questions and helping with office projects.

Volunteer for four hours and we provide lunch if it is being served the day you are here.

Contact Toby Grabs for more information about volunteering in guest services.



Call with questions

  • Environmental/outdoor volunteering:
    608-836-1631, x123
  • Guest services/indoor volunteering:
    608-836-1631, x100
  • VSP (volunteer portal):
    608-836-1631, x120

Email your questions

VSP – Volunteer Portal Account

We ask volunteers to create an account in VSP to schedule volunteer times, cancel shifts when unavailable and keep track of how much time you volunteer at Holy Wisdom.

Create a volunteer account
Volunteer account (VSP) home/login
Report your volunteer hours