Hostelling International USA celebrates 75 years with open houses in Truro and the Vineyard

Local Council to hold free open house community event at hostels in Martha’s Vineyard and Truro

The Eastern New England Council of Hostelling International-USA will host two special open houses to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of American hostelling, which started in Northfield, Massachusetts in 1934.  The free events will provide an opportunity for the local community to learn more about the hostel experience and HI-USA’s mission to make travel accessible to all, especially the young. 

Festivities will include barbecues and refreshments, live entertainment and volleyball games.

• Martha’s Vineyard Hostel Open House
  Wednesday, August 26, 2009; 5pm–8pm, 525 Edgartown-W Tisbury Road, Martha's Vineyard
  
• Truro Hostel Open House
  Sunday, August 30, 2009;  1pm–4pm, North Pamet Road, Truro
  

“The open houses provide an opportunity to celebrate the communities surrounding the hostels as well as the agency’s anniversary,” says Deborah Ruhe, Executive Director of the Eastern New England Council. 

An invitation to the event has been extended to President and Mrs. Obama who will be on Martha’s Vineyard the date of the open house.

The Hostelling Movement began in 1909 when a German school teacher began taking his students on overnight field trips in the countryside to encourage a healthy lifestyle and an appreciation of the natural world.  Hostelling was brought to the United States by school teachers who had experienced European hostels on a trip with their students.  Soon, hostels sprung up all over the country. 

Since 1934, New England hostels have hosted nearly two million guests.  There are currently over 60 American hostels in the Hostelling International USA network.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Karin Turer, (617) 718-7990 ext 23 or kturer@usahostels.org.  Click here for more informations on the hostels.

Release courtesy of Hostelling International USA.