This lesson gives volunteers a clear, phone-friendly guide to ONDA Boquete’s weekly programming board. It is meant to help you explain what is happening each day, answer basic guest questions, drive hiking sign-ups, and set expectations clearly before guests join an activity.

Purpose of the role

As a volunteer, your job is to help guests understand what’s on, what fits their vibe, and what they need to know before joining.

This matters because good programming does more than fill a calendar. It helps create connection, makes the hostel feel alive, and gives guests easy ways to meet people and enjoy Boquete. When volunteers explain activities clearly, guests feel more confident saying yes.

Purpose of this lesson

Use this lesson to:

• Quickly check what happens on each day
• Give guests a short, accurate explanation of each activity
• Know which activities are free entry
• Know which activities require sign-up and payment
• Refresh yourself before or during your shift

If you do not know an answer, escalate to the Site Manager.

Weekly programming at a glance

Daily specials at a glance

How to explain each weekly activity

Monday — Pool Tournament

• A structured pool tournament, not just casual play
• Guests can sign up and join the bracket
• Good for competitive guests and social guests alike
• Starts at 7:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “Tonight is our pool tournament at 7. It’s free to join and it’s run as a bracket.”

Tuesday — Live Music

• A small live band plays on-site
• Easy, relaxed atmosphere
• Good option for guests who want to hang out without committing to a big activity
• Runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “We’ve got live music from 5 to 7 tonight. It’s free, and you can just show up.”

Wednesday — Night Market & Traditional Dance

• A social evening event with a local, cultural feel
• Includes the night market and traditional dance
• Starts at 5:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “Tonight’s event starts at 5. It’s a night market with traditional dance, and guests can just join.”

Thursday — Pub Trivia

• Guests play in teams
• Maximum 6 people per team
• Prize is 3 rounds of drinks for the winning team
• Starts at 7:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “Trivia starts at 7. Teams can have up to 6 people, and the winning team gets 3 rounds of drinks.”

Friday — Board Game Night

• Casual social night
• Guests can join anytime
• Board games are available from the game shelf
• Runs through the evening

What to tell guests:

• “It’s board game night tonight. Guests can jump in anytime, and we’ve got games on the shelf.”

Saturday — Karaoke

• Open karaoke night
• Guests can sing or just enjoy the atmosphere
• Usually starts around 7:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “Karaoke starts around 7 tonight. It’s free and anyone can join.”

Sunday — Bingo Night

• Social bingo night
• Prize is one free drink at the bar
• Starts at 7:00 p.m.

What to tell guests:

• “Bingo starts at 7 tonight, and there’s a free drink prize.”

ONDA Hiking Club

The Hiking Club is the one part of the weekly board that needs sign-up and payment in advance.

Core rules volunteers must know

• Guests must sign up and pay at the bar
• Guests should keep their receipt
• All tours leave at 9:00 a.m. sharp
• Transportation is included
• Entrance fee is included
• A free drink at the bar afterwards is included
• Once paid, there are no refunds
• There is no fixed minimum participant number
• Capacity is usually limited by the van size
• Current working capacity is up to 15 people, unless a bigger van is arranged

What to always tell guests about hiking club

• Where to sign up: at the bar
• Where to pay: at the bar
• Departure time: 9:00 a.m. sharp
• What is included: transport, entrance fee, and one free drink after
• Refund policy: once paid, there is no refund
• Space is limited: capacity depends on the van

Hiking club outings

Short guest-friendly descriptions

Hot Springs & Waterfalls

• More of an outing than a true hike
• Guests visit a waterfall first
• Then head to the hot springs to warm up and relax
• Good for guests who want a scenic day out without a tougher hiking focus

What to tell guests:

• “This one is more of a day outing than a hard hike. You go to a waterfall first, then to the hot springs.”

El Pianista

• The tougher option of the true hikes
• Better for guests looking for a more challenging trail
• Known for cloud forest scenery and a more immersive jungle feel near Boquete

What to tell guests:

• “El Pianista is the tougher hike. It’s better for guests who want more of a challenge.”

3 Waterfalls

• Popular trail through the cloud forest to three waterfalls
• Scenic, active, and more adventurous
• Some sections can be rocky, slippery, and steep

What to tell guests:

• “3 Waterfalls is a scenic cloud forest hike where you visit three waterfalls. It’s beautiful, but some parts are steeper and more slippery.”

Pipeline

• More accessible hike through the cloud forest
• Known for birdwatching
• Follows the pipeline trail and leads to a hidden waterfall

What to tell guests:

• “Pipeline is a more accessible trail and a good option for guests who want nature, birdlife, and a hidden waterfall.”

How volunteers should use this information

Before guests ask

• Know what day it is
• Know what tonight’s activity is
• Know what today’s special is
• Know whether tonight’s event is free or paid
• Know whether guests can just show up or need to sign up first

When talking to guests

• Keep your explanation short and confident
• Match the activity to the guest’s mood
• Mention the time
• Mention whether it is free
• For hikes, mention sign-up, payment, departure time, and no refunds

When promoting hiking club

• Mention it early, not at the last minute
• Make it clear that spots are limited by van capacity
• Tell guests to sign up and pay at the bar
• Remind them that the van leaves at 9:00 a.m. sharp

What not to do

• Do not tell guests that all activities need sign-up
  Only the Hiking Club requires sign-up and payment
• Do not give vague timing like “later” or “sometime tonight”
• Do not forget to mention that weekly evening programming is free entry
• Do not promise refunds for hikes
• Do not guess answers when you are unsure
• Do not overcomplicate the explanation
• Do not sell a hike as “easy” if you are not sure
• Do not forget that capacity depends on the van
• Do not send guests to the wrong place to sign up or pay

What success looks like

• Guests can quickly understand what’s happening today
• Guests know the time, format, and cost before they join
• More guests sign up for hikes because expectations were clear
• Volunteers can explain each activity in one or two simple lines
• Guests are sent to the bar for hike sign-up and payment without confusion
• Questions that are outside your knowledge are escalated to the Site Manager

One-line summary

Know the weekly board well enough to explain each activity simply, promote the hikes clearly, and make sure guests always know what it is, when it starts, whether it’s free, and what they need to do next.