Work & Volunteer

Star Island Corporation owns and operates Star Island in the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire. The island is ten miles from mainland New Hampshire and is operated as a seasonal religious and educational conference facility. The Corporation generates and manages all its own utilities (water, waste, power) and operates its own first aid station. The island has 34 buildings including numerous historic hotel and guest housing buildings as well as utility buildings and meeting spaces. The Corporation also operates a transportation system for staff that comprises Corporation-owned and staffed boats as well as contracted ferry and boat resources. The Corporation employs 10 year-round staff people and between 100 and 120 seasonal staff people (“Pelicans”, largely college-aged) annually.

Star Island is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in regard to race, sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

The Star Island Corporation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization based in Portsmouth, NH seeks qualified candidates for the position of part-time Shoreside Laborer and Messenger.

The Shoreside Laborer and Messenger is a part-time, mainland-based position serving to assist with logistics coordination at the dock during the conference season and run errands on behalf of the staff and guests. This position is largely based outdoors and is physically demanding with considerable heavy lifting, including transport of luggage, trash, recycling, freight, and equipment.

Listed below are specific duties and responsibilities of the Shoreside Laborer and Messenger. This list is not comprehensive and other duties may be assigned as needed.

  • Meet food and freight deliveries at the dock, help load and unload boat, and ensure proper handling.
  • Help facilitate removal of trash and recycling from boat in town, as needed.
  • General sweep and cleaning of boat after unloading and keeping the mainland dock area and sheds tidy.
  • Transport packages and mail to and from mainland office and dock.
  • Facilitate parking of guest cars or moving cars, as needed.
  • Greet guests, staff, deliveries, and volunteers and assist with questions and concerns.
  • Maintain inventory of mainland sheds and help facilitate transportation of lost & found luggage and items, and other transport during the conference season.
  • Run errands to purchase items that cannot be otherwise ordered for guests and staff and deliver to the dock.
  • Establish communications with vendors, guests, boat captains, deck hands, and other staff.
  • Adhere to and promote relevant health and safety protocols, including those related to COVID-19 (e.g. mask wearing, 6’+ distancing.)

Qualifications: Responsible, friendly, professional, flexible, and tactful; 18 years of age or older; must possess a valid driver’s license and have at least two years-experience operating vehicles, preferably in a professional environment; must have experience providing quality customer service; must have ability to work independently and ability to problem solve creatively.

Application consisting of a cover letter and resume should be sent to office@starisland.org (no phone calls please). For more information about Star Island please visit www.starisland.org.

At Star Island Corporation, we appreciate the value and richness of different perspectives and experiences. We constantly strive to be a more diverse and inclusive workplace. We work to make you feel welcomed and engaged as a valued member of the team. We provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Star Island will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

 

The Pelican application deadline has passed - interested applicants should check back in June to apply for our end-of-season hiring period!

Information for 2021 Pelicans

Video: What it's like to be a pelican

Video: What it means to be a pelican

Being a Pelican is more than a summer job on Star Island– it is about joining a community of interesting, talented, and hard working individuals. We seek staff members who will commit to doing a good job, whether that job involves providing direct services to conferees (such as making beds, cooking food, or working at the front desk) or serving on our support crews (such as repairing trucks, painting buildings, or running our wastewater treatment facility). The powerful Pelican community that arises each season is an outgrowth of common goals, hard work, and mutual support.

A Pelican on Star Island is both a worker and a member of the island community. We share a small island with people who come for rest and relaxation. Our job is to make a good week on Star possible for our guests.



 

Thanks to Anna Solo for the photos!

#pelicansarepelicans

Hear from past Pelicans about their experiences on Star Island:

A Busy Summer
A Pelican Summer: Music Director
A Pelican Summer: Bellhop Supervisor
Pelicans Take Flight (pg 38)

Follow Hiring Activity on Twitter

Pelican Hiring Flyer

 

Year Round

There are no year round positions available at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers

The contribution of a strong corps of volunteers makes it possible for Star to bridge the gap between great needs and limited resources. Volunteerism accounts for as much as one fourth of our labor needs throughout the year, from island facilities projects to administrative office tasks and from committee participation to the donation of professional expertise. Together it is an impressive display of dedication from a caring and talented community.

On-Island Volunteering Opportunities

For those interested in contributing to the work that goes into running the island, there are opportunities for volunteering alongside our island staff. You provide the elbow grease, and we’ll provide the boat transportation, a bed, hearty and delicious meals, and the wonderful community of our friendly hard-working staff.

Spring Volunteer Weekends

Come help reawaken Star Island from its winter slumber and spend a beautiful spring weekend on the island! We have five spring work weekends in May and early June. Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to: kitchen staff, housekeeping, painting, gardening, and grounds/landscaping.

Learn more about our spring volunteer weekends.

Spring volunteer weekends go from Friday evening to Sunday evening. An exception is Memorial Day weekend, which goes from Friday evening through either Sunday or Monday evening.

Summer Season Island Volunteering

Due to health and safety protocols we will not be hosting island volunteers for the 2021 season, with a few exceptions.

If you have questions, please email our Summer Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@starisland.org.

Summer Garden Volunteering

Want to spend a Saturday or two on the island this summer working in the gardens? Our flower and vegetable gardens thrive on the love and hard work of our volunteers. Work includes weeding, watering and harvesting. No experience necessary, as we’ll try and match up people each Saturday with varied experience levels. The boat leaves Portsmouth at 6:45 on Saturday morning and returns back to town at 5:15pm. Lunch, training and tools are provided. Email Kristen Simard if interested.

Gift Shop And Bookstore Volunteering

The Isles of Shoals Association operates both the Gift Shop and Bookstore on Star Island. If you are interested in volunteering in either of these shops during the conference season please contact the Isles of Shoals Association by clicking here.

Office Volunteering

Office volunteers assist in large mailings, filing, data entry, and errands throughout the year. If you live locally and are interested in being one of our invaluable office volunteers, please email us at office@starisland.org.

Ambassador Program – Spreading The Word About Star

Star Island is always looking for volunteers willing to help spread the word about the myriad of conferences we offer in their local communities. If you would like to help on this front, please visit our Star Island Ambassadors page. For questions or comments about being an Ambassador, please contact ambassadors@starisland.org.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome offers of volunteer help outside of our island and office. If you are a professional or an expert in a certain field (fundraising, engineering or food service for example) and would like to lend your expertise to our committees or staff, please email our office at office@starisland.org.

Island Volunteer Ground Rules

  1. All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
  2. Volunteering is essentially working for your room and board, so that means that volunteers need to be prepared to work, not just hang out. Unfortunately, if people don’t work when they’re supposed to be volunteering, they might not be allowed to come back, or they might have to pay for their stay.
  3. Likewise, Volunteers (like staff) are not allowed to attend conference events unless specifically invited by the conference. Volunteering is a way to contribute to the island, not a way to go to your conference for free.
  4. Having volunteers is always dependent on the island having enough housing for them. There are weeks during the summer when conferences use every guest room available. We can’t house volunteers during those times. These weeks are listed on the application.
  5. Volunteers work on many crews, such as Housekeeping, Gardening, Grounds, Dish Crew, etc. For more information about the positions that might be available please see the Volunteer Position Descriptions below.

What To Bring

We will supply you with bed linens and shower towels. You should bring personal medications, glasses (reading/sun), comfortable shoes, flashlight, sun block, battery operated alarm clock, hat and swim wear (optional). Be prepared for all weather conditions; it can be warm and muggy or cold and rainy. Layers work well. Clothes should be neat and comfortable. For jobs with which you have contact with guests, but please also bring some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. You might want to bring snacks and a water bottle, but if not, they can be purchased on island.

Lodging

Volunteers stay in rooms assigned by the on island Volunteer Coordinator and Island Registrar. While we would love to give everyone singles, space is limited so most of the time you will be sharing a room.

Island Volunteer Position Descriptions

Grounds

Grounds work includes mowing the lawn, killing poison ivy and simple landscaping work. Assisting our groundskeeper may require use of power equipment for mowing and weed whacking.

Housekeeping and Laundry

Housekeeping is one of the largest areas of need on the island. Expect to be dusting, sweeping, mopping, and washing walls, windows, and furniture. Daily rounds include taking out trash, replacing linens, and making beds.

Gardening

Help take care of the island’s many flower and vegetable gardens! Tasks are varied and may include weeding, selecting and cutting flowers for floral arrangements, starting seeds, transplanting, harvesting veggies for meals, and watering. The island is also home to a small poultry flock and, if interested, volunteers may be involved in everyday poultry care and management: feeding, watering, and cleaning the coop.

Brute Strength work: moving and hauling

If you choose this work, you might be helping the truck crew move the food from the dock to the kitchen, or the luggage from the rooms to the dock. There is always a lot of work requiring strength on the island.

Refinishing Furniture

Star Island has some beautiful antique furniture that needs care and repair.

In-Town, changeover assistance

This volunteering area is for anyone interested in catching some Star Island spirit on the mainland. On Saturdays our conferences change over which means one group departing and one arriving. You may be asked to greet people as they arrive, move baggage or direct parking all in conjunction with our Pelican changeover crew.

 

Ambassadors

Love Star Island? Become an ambassador! (You probably already are one). Check out our ambassador page for ideas and materials to spread the word about Star Island.

Ambassador Webpage