Hostelling International Partnership

Q: What is a hostel?
A: Hostels are a warm, friendly and inexpensive place to stay. They are also great places to meet people from all over the world. Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) is a national partner with GSUSA, with the mission, "to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling." Hostelling International has more than 4,000 hostels in over 60 countries!

 

Jump to:            Hostelling Resources            Hostelling Programs

 

Girl Scouts Discover the World with Hostelling International USA!

Remember the first time you traveled somewhere new? Were you excited? Energized? Amazed? Help Girl Scouts have similar experiences. Hostelling International USA (HI-USA)’s partnership with GSUSA offers girls under 18 free Youth Membership, unique programs, and travel experiences that can help them earn Girl Scout age-level awards and discover the world. Since the 1930s, HI-USA has provided Girl Scouts with opportunities for travel through educational and recreational programs that build life skills and promote global understanding.

 

Discover Hostelling

HI-USA’s mission is “to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.” Hostelling offers a special kind of travel that opens doors to self-discovery, intercultural exchange, and new people and places. Hostels are safe, clean, inexpensive accommodations that provide a base for exploring and learning. Hostels are also welcoming places that encourage meaningful interactions. Equipped with dormitory-style rooms, common rooms, and kitchens, hostels provide Girl Scouts a place for making friends and discovering new ways of thinking.

 

Connect with the World

Girl Scout troops can take advantage of HI-USA’s Getaway packages. The Discover the World patch, World Travel 101 and Cultural Kitchen empower girls to learn about and explore their world. Unique opportunities for Girl Scouts are available throughout the country from HI-USA hostels and local councils.

 

Take Action

Start your Girl Scouts on a hostelling adventure today! Visit www.hiusa.org and click on programs to learn more about opportunities for Girl Scouts from Hostelling International USA.

 

Testimonials

From Girls:

  • "Cultural Understanding will benefit my community and world by helping people's understanding of each other and having more tolerance of their neighbors. I learned many new things about people from other countries and it helped me to know to be more open to other cultures and when you meet them to not be judgmental about their difference but to understand them. " Becca, age 16-17
  • "Cultural understanding can benefit my community and my world because if we all know about other cultures then people may think before they judge other. I also learned when encountering new people that you should not assume someone is a certain way of the place they are from." No name, age 14
  • "If you understand another person's culture better, you can better understand that person because you know something important about them. If you think of it worldwide, people can communicate better and understand each other better." Madeline age 11-12

From Leaders:

  • "I definitely think the program had an impact on the girls' appreciation of other cultures. They truly did choose a country they knew little to nothing about, and they developed a bit of an understanding of that culture. Their exposure and opportunity to learn about their country was further strengthened by being able to talk with others from cultures similar to their chosen country in Africa..." Judy - Troop Leader
  • "The program opened the girls mind to think outside of their small community." Judy- Troop Leader
  • "The girls spent a lot of time telling each other about the visitors they sat with and what they had to say.” Debbie - Troop Leader
  • "The hostel experience gave the girls an opportunity to talk to new people and how to work as a team." Amy - Troop Leader

Hostelling Programs 

Whet your appetite for world travel with the Cultural Kitchen program!

Explore the world of Portland hostelling with the Portland Travel Adventure program!

 

Hostelling Resources