By Matt Smith, Chief Executive Officer, with contributions from Greenheart staff
These stories were written by my fellow travelers, Greenheart staff who interact with host organizations and participants every day. Enjoy!
Story 1: Wisconsin Dells, WI, visited with Renee Clarke, Senior Account Manager, Host Relations, Work and Travel; Abbie See, Associate Director, Operations.
Literally traveling with hearts on our sleeves, Greenheart took the Bridge USA Welcome Picnic in Wisconsin Dells by storm! Start with Free Food, Free Games, and Free Prizes provided by area businesses and J-1 visa sponsors, inject over 500 international exchange visitors and voila: You have THE premier welcome event of the summer!
It was so rewarding to see the local support and sponsors working together after months of planning. Further, Tawsif Anam, State Outreach Director in the Office of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, attended, meeting with the lively exchange visitors and Senator Johnson’s local constituents serving as volunteers.
The sun doesn’t shine every day – that is the reality of operating or working at a water park. Yet even when Noah’s Ark Waterpark was shut due to chill and rain, we still got great insights into participants’ everyday life by touring the park behind the scenes and employee housing sharing a meal and engaged in fun icebreaker-type challenges.
Seeing animals makes us all feel a little like kids. This sensation is nonstop at Timbavati Wildlife Park where our participants to share their own love for animals with the hundreds of visitors every day from all over the Midwest. They also taught us a few things about teamwork.
Seeing our participants in action at Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty filled our hearts and our bellies: we connected over their programs and got to sample the delicious food they made.
It was at this stop where we were asked if we were some sort of team traveling to The Dells! Our response: “YES! We are a team in cultural exchange!”
Story 2: Canobie Lake Park visited with Lydia Belden, Host Relations Account Manager, Work and Travel
It’s truly a family affair at Canobie Lake Park. These participants from Jamaica are returning for their second or third season on the program, and each year they’ve welcomed another family member to join them at the park.
Participants were grateful for the support provided by Canobie Lake Park throughout the summer. From enjoying the park attractions to connecting with coworkers and participating in employee events and outings, they made lasting memories during their cultural exchange experience.
Story 3: Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, visited with Joe Burns, Director, Placement Services, Work and Travel
They call Hershey, Pennsylvania, “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” and after three days there I realized that the name fits for reasons that have very little to do with chocolate.
Matt and I traveled to Hershey to spend time with the team at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R), and to visit Greenheart Intern and Work and Travel participants across their properties. We were impressed by what HE&R has built around the program. Their support extends far beyond the workplace, from orientation and onboarding to housing, transportation, cultural activities, volunteering, and ongoing participant support. That commitment is reflected in the stories of the participants we met.
Many had returned for multiple summers, some growing into leadership roles along the way. Meeting Vanesta Mullings, who first came to Hershey as a Greenheart Ambassador Scholar. was a highlight of my visit. With her hat decorated with flag pins representing the countries of her new friends, her enthusiasm for cultural exchange was unmistakable. She embodies so much of what we hope participants take away from BridgeUSA programs: new friendships, greater confidence, and curiosity about people and cultures from around the world.
Another highlight was joining participants for a volunteer project at Ronald McDonald House. For many, it was their first time volunteering. One participant arrived expecting simply to help tidy the facility. Instead, he met a family from his home country staying at the house and learned about their situation. He left with a heartfelt connection that none of us could have foreseen.
We ended our visit with a behind-the-scenes tour of Milton Hershey School. After seeing the scale and efficiency of an operation supporting more than 2,000 students of modest means, we stepped inside one of the student homes and met a house family preparing for the new school year. That contrast stuck with me. Behind an extraordinary operation are families making an extraordinary commitment, helping students with the everyday experiences and life skills that prepare them for independence and success.
Learning more about Milton Hershey School also helped connect the dots from our entire visit. HE&R is part of the legacy created to support the school, and the emphasis on service, opportunity, and helping people reach their potential is evident throughout the Hershey community. Those values align closely with Greenheart’s own mission and are part of what makes our relationship with HE&R so special. They also gave “The Sweetest Place on Earth” a new meaning for me.
Thank you, everyone, for such a positive update on GGHTs! We also thank and appreciate our host organizations for hosting our Work and Travel participants and offering them incredible opportunities for cultural enrichment and growth.
If you are a business who would like to host international seasonal staff for a cultural exchange, please visit HirewithGreenheart.org to learn more.
To learn more about Greenheart’s Work and Travel program visit GreenheartExchange.org.