Chop Wood, Carry Water -
Volunteer Opportunities at Rowe

Located in the beautiful Berkshires, Unitarian-Universalist Rowe Camp and Conference Center is widely respected as one of the finest small conference centers in the country. As Rowe Conference Center, in the fall, winter, and spring we offer weekend retreats with renowned leaders. Topics include psychology, spirituality, arts, environment, relationships, and much more. Every summer, we become Rowe Camp. Founded in 1924, Rowe camp offers a unique summer camp program for teenagers, younger people, and adults. Our programs encourage personal growth and responsibility in a fun-filled community environment.

Rowe is an exceptional place to work and live. If the idea appeals to you of living in a close-knit community united by a shared vision of making Rowe C&CC the best possible place it can be, this may be for you.

All positions at Rowe call for energetic, flexible, well-organized, self-motivated people with positive attitudes. If you believe in the work that Rowe is doing, can juggle several projects at once, have the flexibility to move from one project to another and still remain focused and in good humor, we would like to hear from you.

Work-Study Sabbatical

Are you at a transition point in your life? Do you want to stop what you're doing and take time for yourself? Do you want to explore who you really are and where you're going? Whether you are recently retired, just finishing college, or taking a break from your current work, our work-study program may be just what you need in your life right now. Our work-study program is a sabbatical for people who want to slow down, take stock, explore new directions, engage in creative and meaningful work, and be part of a value-based, supportive community.

Work-study participants work 33 hours a week in exchange for room, board and the opportunity to attend many of the conferences. The sabbatical lasts anywhere from six weeks to a year, depending on your schedule. The period for work-study is from Labor Day until late June. If you aren’t able to participate for the full six weeks or are available only in the summer, but would still like to contribute your time and energy, we also have a volunteer program. Work is arranged by matching Rowe's needs with your skills and preferences and may include housekeeping, maintaining our buildings and grounds, office work, and more. Our cooking internship is an opportunity to learn vegetarian cooking and breadbaking from our wonderful cooks! This work is hard, but it's wonderful training. For further information see below.

The study portion of the program is self-directed. It includes personal study, group work, attendance at conferences, and the experience of living in community and the opportunity to practice new skills in day-to-day life.

Work-study people live in community with each other and in a more loosely knit community with the rest of our staff. Living, working, and playing with the same group of people isn't always easy. Life here is full of complexities, challenges, laughter and joy. Communication skills, conflict resolution and relationship issues are part of our normal life. each person is invited to speak the truth with honesty and openness, to find new ways to deal with conflict, to take risks, to enter into the mysterious realm of inner life and be changed and transformed by the experience.

There are many intentional communities throughout the United States and abroad. Like people, they have different "personalities". Part of the challenge is finding the right place and program for you. Many communities were organized as intentional communities. They sometimes develop work to support their community. Rowe was not. Rowe was organized as a Camp and Conference Center. Part of its focus is to offer those who come here a sense of community, to create a space where the sacred can enter into the everyday, to be a part of the evolutionary transformation that is happening. The community at Rowe has developed around the work that is our vision.

UU Rowe C&CC balances a respect for the integrity and freedom of each person with the needs of the community and the organization. We are dedicated to fostering a new society that can nurture the best in each of us, reward idealism and caring and expand hope and vision. Being in the program is a way of offering your service to create a more loving world. It is a generous act, and we thank you. If you believe in what Rowe is doing and want to help us make this place as good as it can possibly be, then please call or write now for more information. We invite you to become a part of the personal, social and spiritual transformation that is taking place on our planet.

Click the link below to view, print, or download information and an application form in PDF format:

In order to view the document, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available as a free download here. Most systems come with this installed. Depending on your browser settings, the document will open in a new window or be downloaded to your desktop. You can also right click to save it on your desktop.

Or, to receive an application form by mail, please use the form below, call us at 413-339-4954 or email us at Great Work!

Rowe’s Cooking Internship

At Rowe, food is about nourishment of body and soul. We offer the freshest, healthiest, most attractive gourmet vegetarian food you can imagine. Our chefs consistently amaze everyone with their delicious culinary artistry, as well as their willingness to cater to special diets. Their hands nurture our bodies, their hearts nurture our souls.  

In addition to our standard work-study program, in which you are assigned to work in one of our three departments: office, facilities, or kitchen housekeeping, we also offer a cooking internship. We are looking for serious students who want to learn the skill of vegetarian cooking. Because of the focus of this program, we require a minimum of a 3 month commitment.

This program gives interns an opportunity to work with and learn under our wonderful chefs. This program has all the features of the basic work-study program with the exception that you will not be able to attend conferences as you'll be cooking for them. 

Cooking for our programs is very hard work, but this can also be wonderful training. The focus of this internship is vegetarian cooking and bread making. Prior cooking experience is not necessary; however applicants must have a serious desire to cook, a willingness to take direction, and be in good physical condition. Cooking for groups is physically taxing. You must be able to lift heavy pans and be on your feet for long stretches.

This is an experiential program in which you will learn by doing. How much you learn and how far you depends on you. The application process for this program is the same as for the standard program, although you are asked to include a letter explaining what cooking means to you and why you feel called to this program.

To share one's time and talent is a generous gift, one that adds meaning to our lives. Rowe has a vision of creating a world where peace, justice and love are the values we live by. This seems monumental, but it happens with every small act of love. Help us manifest our dream. For more information, please use the form below, call us at 413-339-4954 or email us at Doing Good.

Conference Season Volunteers

Can’t take six weeks away to do the work-study program? We also appreciate having volunteers during our conference season which runs from Labor Day through mid-June.  April-June, Sept-October and Dec-Jan tend to be our transition times. We greatly appreciate extra help during those times. Other times are possible as well.  Acceptance into the volunteer program is based on space availability.

Thank you for your interest in working at Rowe!

Please fill out the following form and click Submit. We'll send you an application in the mail that should arrive within the next couple of weeks, or call in the case of volunteers.

If you prefer to use other means to reach us, please use the following contact information: