The National Trust for Historic Preservation in July will launch a major cross-country campaign to promote and preserve Route 66, and it wants enthusiasts of the Mother Road to help.
In essence, it’s a way for Route 66 fans to travel the road for free.
The organization said in its announcement:
We’re looking for a team (five total) of dynamic digital storytellers who can help us bring Route 66 to life for an audience of millions by joining our caravan across the country for one-week stints. As a part of this volunteer position, we will provide transportation, meals, lodging, and reimbursement for incidental expenses in exchange for your social media prowess and your unbridled passion for the open road. […]
As brand ambassadors of the National Trust, roadies must be skilled communicators online and in person. They must be adept at making compelling content on the fly from anywhere where they can find a signal. They must also be able to go with the flow on a cross country road trip where – despite stringent planning and the best of intentions – anything can and will happen. And of course, a high comfort level with interacting with, respecting, and amplifying a range of diverse viewpoints is a must.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, roadies must have flexible availability in the month of July when our road trip will take place.
According to the National Trust, a general list of responsibilities will include:
A general (and by no means exhaustive) list of responsibilities includes:
- Snapping Instagram photos for the National Trust and its partners.
- Being on camera for live video segments.
- Assisting the road trip team in travel planning and troubleshooting.
- Writing short- and long-form travel stories for the National Trust and its partners.
- Setting up and staffing public events, sometimes multiple times a day.
- Filming and editing high quality video of the road trip experience.
- Coordinating closely with National Trust staff around the country to facilitate the distribution of your content.
Those selected for the trip must take part in training June 15-17 in Albuquerque. All expenses for the training including meals, lodging and transportation will be covered.
More about the necessary qualifications and how to apply may be found here. Applications will be accepted up to May 4.
(Image of Route 66 in California by Meins Photography via Flickr)