Volunteers needed for our Himalayan Programmes with Top B-schools

We are about to conduct our next Collaborative Leadership Programmes with some of the top B-schools in our country. 

Just as in the past 13 years, we are giving our best trekkers the chance to join us as volunteers to assist with facilitating this programme. 

So if there’s something you should look forward to in the coming months, it’s this.

What is the Collaborative Leadership Programme?

If you’re not familiar with it, this is a programme we have been organising since 2011. It is a flagship programme of our Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL).

During this experiential learning programme, management students plan and execute their own Himalayan trekking expedition. It is designed to test the endurance, grit, strategy and planning capability of the students. At the end of it, students take back real-life management skills from the world of mountains.

It’s a highly acclaimed programme that several IIMs and other B-schools have included in their curriculum. Although it began with IIM Indore, over time, IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow have made it a credit course, along with other B-schools such as the Goa Institute of Management. It has extended to several other universities, too. 

For Indiahikes to organise it is a huge pride and responsibility. It’s an equally big responsibility for our volunteers to shoulder.

Why being a volunteer is a huge learning experience

Volunteering for the Collaborative Leadership Programme carries a lot of weight. You learn effective leadership skills. You support the InSOUL team in facilitating a programme where students trek in the Himalayas for the first time, step out of their comfort zones, and draw learnings from the experience.

As a volunteer, a lot of the programme’s success depends on you.

You are assigned a team of 8-10 students. You are not only trekking with them but are also representing the InSOUL team. It is your responsibility to ensure that the students complete the programme successfully.

What are we looking for in our volunteers?

We are extremely picky about our volunteers. This is for two reasons.

First, volunteers must be able to facilitate this for B-school students. This is not easy, considering these B-school students are some of the top minds in our country!

Volunteers play a big role in managing the whole programme. This requires good people skills, excellent communication skills, time management skills and basic qualities of humility and eagerness to go beyond your duty.

Every volunteer:

• Must be between the ages of 25 and 35
• Must have at least 3 years of work experience
• Must have done at least one Himalayan trek with Indiahikes
• Must be extremely fit
• Must have excellent communication skills

If you fit the bill, you’re welcome to apply as a volunteer. 

I understand you may not meet some of the criteria. If that is the case, please spread the word to your inner circles. It's a wonderful opportunity for anyone. 

When and where is the Collaborative Leadership Programme happening?

The programme will be held on different treks like Kedarkantha, Surya Top, Dayara Bugyal, Kuari Pass and for just one team, the Pench Tiger Trail. Each trek will have about 35 students.

(Volunteers do not get to choose the trek. They will be classified based on their skills and experience.) 

Here are the dates of the different programmes:

• Sep 16-24
• Sep 17-25
• Sep 19-27
• Oct 26-Nov 3

Your pickup to the basecamp of the trek will be scheduled at 6 am on Day 1 from Live Free Hostel, Dehradun. If you’re chosen for the Pench Tiger Trail, the pick-up will be from Nagpur Railway Station, at 11 am. Further details about transport will be confirmed with you after you're selected. Please accept these as approximate pick-up times.

Indiahikes will sponsor your volunteer work throughout the trek. All stay, food and trek costs are borne by Indiahikes. You have to get to Dehradun/Nagpur and out of Dehradun/Nagpur on your own. 

Note: While these are the confirmed dates, do keep one one-day buffer at the end. Given the current weather conditions in the Himalayas, it is also important that you book flexible air tickets in case the institutions change their plans. 

Cancellation policy for volunteers: In case Indiahikes or the institution calls the programme off at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances, Indiahikes will accommodate you within our regular groups during the same dates. This cannot be converted into a voucher or a refund. 

If you’d like to apply as a volunteer

We have a two-step process to select volunteers.

Step 1: A questionnaire to get to know you and your skills

Step 2: A video interview to assess your potential as a volunteer

Please fill out this application form based on your experience:

There are limited slots available for these volunteerships. So apply soon.