2024 Dates & Locations
Please complete the registration form to become an award-winning Granite State Ambassadors volunteer.
We have a couple format options for you.
Hybrid (mostly virtual) Certification $40/pp
We don’t usually start trainings until March because of the weather, but this virtual option allows us to get started sooner.
Class Meeting Time 1: Thursday, January 25th 9am-11am – Virtual using ZOOM
Class Meeting Time 2: Tuesday, January 30th 9am-11am – Virtual using ZOOM
Class Meeting Time 3: Thursday, February 1st 9am-11am – Virtual using ZOOM
Class Meeting Time 4: Tuesday, February 6th 9am-noon – IN-PERSON Concord/Manchester area depending on class size. Includes morning refreshments.
IN-PERSON CERTIFICATION – CONCORD AREA $50/pp
Includes morning refreshments and lunch.
Class Meeting Time 1: Wednesday, March 13th, 9am-4pm
Class Meeting Time 2: Wednesday, March 20th, 9am-4pm
We will be scheduling the in-person format for late May and July as well.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 603-851-8624 or kelly@nhgsa.com.
Thank you – we look forward to meeting you!
2023 Certification Agenda | 2024 Planned Volunteer Opportunities
Click the REGISTER NOW button to register for 2024. If you want to be on the list for the May or July class, just fill out the registration form and don’t select a class.
Each training is identical and runs from 9am-4pm for the two days.
Not sure if becoming a GSA is right for you? Watch our Information Session here (16 min).
BECOME A GRANITE STATE AMBASSADOR (GSA) VOLUNTEER
There are so many great reasons why people join the NH Granite State Ambassadors.
• You learn an incredible amount of knowledge about New Hampshire.
• There are plenty of fun events and activities to participate in while volunteering.
• It may better your chances for advancement within New Hampshire’s tourism industry.
• You meet an enormous amount of people from all backgrounds.
• We have certified over 2,000 industry friends and volunteers. About 350 are actively volunteering at any time.
• You become part of a group of people who are all interested in serving our state.
• You can attend free familiarization tours throughout our state.
• You can volunteer at New Hampshire’s various visitor centers and events.
• Find out why it is “Always Sunny” in New Hampshire!
View our Yearbooks to get a glimpse of life as a GSA!
2022 Edition
2021 25th Anniversary Edition
2018-19 (typical) | 2019-20 (covid)
HOW TO REGISTER
CLICK THE REGISTER LINK above.
Send your $50.00 registration fee in to ensure your spot (see address below). Ask about a discount for being referred by a GSA.
Approximately 2 weeks prior to the training, you will receive an email with details of what to expect, an agenda, directions, and any special information you will need to feel comfortable at class. We will run an orientation Zoom class if you are unfamiliar with Zoom or taking a course online. We are good at walking you through the process so please don’t be intimidated.
You must attend both days to complete the certification.
CERTIFICATION FEE:
$50.00 for in-person / $40 for virtual- includes fourteen hours+ of intensive training including two key GSA trainers & two dozen speakers. Discounts for being referred by a GSA.
GSA notebook including materials, literature, and information on NH’s Tourism Industry
GSA official name tag with lanyard
Graduation certificate from NH Granite State Ambassadors
Lunch (full-day) & Snacks
On-site Tour of host location
Reusable tote bag
Prizes, gifts, and surprises
“Granite State Ambassador” certification & membership
Mail Certification Fee to
NH GRANITE STATE AMBASSADORS
PO Box 417, Campton NH 03223 (Kelly’s home office)
Memo Line: Certification Training
What is expected from our GSAs is both a simple and complicated question. Depending on why you are becoming a GSA, the answer differs.
We train both employees and volunteers. About 40% of our classes include tourism industry professionals including chambers, visitor centers, and other people who work directly with visitors, guests, and people moving to NH. And we train about 60% who are traditional volunteers who want to participate in our volunteer programs within visitor centers around the state who are members of NHGSA.
If you want to be a volunteer, we ask that keep your membership in NHGSA “active” by volunteering your time at one of our member visitor centers and/or several special events. The membership card you receive at the training graduation is good for approximately one year. After that, each year at the annual AMBIES award luncheon (late fall), every NHGSA member in good standing will receive their updated membership card. Included on the card will be their Lifetime and Annual Hours.
Member in good standing:
A GSA with at least 3 volunteer service hours within the past year or 50 hours of equivalent tourism-related employment.
A typical volunteer shift is approximately 3 hours. A volunteer chooses when and where they want to serve. Noting that some visitor centers (like Manchester-Boston Regional Airport) and many special events are very competitive for shifts. Others are easier. Some GSAs volunteer once a week, some twice a week, some once a month, some only in the summer, and some only in the winter. It’s up to you!
If you are an industry GSA, we ask that you stay “active” by communicating with us, servicing the public in a GSA way, promoting the marketing efforts of NH Division of Travel and Tourism, and if you want, volunteering your time at a special event and/or visitor center. We would love it if you’d send information about your company that guests would be interested in. We have a high level of communication to our GSA volunteers (who staff visitor centers), and that information is important to us. It helps us “sell” your property/organization/state.
Sponsors, official member centers, and our key partners will also receive GSA membership cards for staff/volunteers within the company who are and/or become certified GSAs. The fee is included in their annual sponsorship/partnership depending on the amount paid.
To become a Granite State Ambassador, you first have to become certified through our 14-hour+ training course – click here to review the agenda. In a normal year, we have 4 certification training classes each Spring in different locations around the state. Trainings are generally held March, April, May & August.
Typical Presenters
Greater Concord Chamber
Portsmouth Collaborative
Lake Sunapee Region Chamber
Lakes Region
Tourism Association
Manchester-Boston
Regional Airport
NH Department of Agriculture
NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development
NH Fish and Game
Northern Community Investment Corporation
NH Made
NH State House
NH State Parks
Strawbery Banke
Portsmouth Peace Treaty
White Mountain
Attractions Association
White Mountain
National Forest
NH Economic Development
Each class location will also have 4-5 local speakers