We believe that the Quest model can work on any campus as a way of expanding global knowledge, sparking valuable conversations, and building community among students.

As we continue to build our Quest program at UW-Madison, we hope that students and campus organizations on campuses around Wisconsin, the U.S., and the world will consider organizing their own Quests.

We are happy to share our knowledge about trip organizing, fundraising, and site and theme selection. Please feel free to contact us, or stop by for a visit, if you would like to learn more about how to organize your own Quest.

Here are a few tips as you begin the brainstorming process. Some are obvious, others maybe not, but all are things that we have learned along the way:

Start with One. Though it’s tempting to think about a suite of Quests that your campus or group could organize, it is better to get started with one trip and do all that you can to pull everything together well. The best advertising for future Quests are the good experiences that students had in the past, so do all that you can to make each Quest a positively life-transforming experience.

Plan Ahead. Since it takes several months to recruit, interview, fundraise, meet, and finally go on a Quest, you need to give yourself plenty of lead time. For an international Quest, we recommend beginning the initial brainstorming and contacting about one year in advance of travel.

Use Existing Institutions. Connect with campus ministries, student organizations, and other community groups who have an interest in the place or theme that you would like your Quest to focus on. They can offer meeting space, advertising, and perhaps even financial support. Also, check if your campus offers student travel grants or low-cost vehicle rentals.

Choose the Right Destination and Theme. Obvious, but not easy. The right theme depends on the interests and backgrounds of the pool of students you are recruiting from, and your choice of destination should consider you fundraising capabilities, student interest, and the resources the each destination offers. See the “Suggest a Trip” page for more on this topic.

Don’t Be “Just One More Group”. We recommend not putting all of your destination activity planning in the hands of an eco-tourism agency, travel agent, or another group who hosts volunteer, service-learning groups all the time. These organizations are prone to see your Quest as “just one more group” to move through the system, instead of as a unique set of people with unique goals. Unless you are very focused and determined, by working with one of these groups you will likely end up spending too much time traveling, fast-paced sight-seeing, and packing and unpacking your suitcases, and not enough time connecting, communicating, and reflecting.

Less is More. The best Quests don’t try to do everything and see everything, but rather to connect meaningfully with the destination and the people who live there. Try not to change sleeping locations too much. Build in time for rest, personal and group reflection, and unstructured exploration. Find hosts who can give you a rare perspective on the place, and who embrace your vision.

Organizing a Quest is challenging, but also extremely rewarding. Ask questions when you get stuck, and have faith that your efforts are for the good of your community and the world.