Volunteer

Join us in making the magic happen!

DEADLINE TO VOLUNTEER HAS BEEN EXTENDED! Sisters, good news–it’s not too late! You can still volunteer to be a SisterSpace worker!

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

Volunteer workers are the backbone of the festival. Without our fabulous, dedicated volunteers, none of it would be possible. Volunteering is a great way to get to know your sisters, and be part of creating behind-the-scenes festival magic!

Please read the information below. Then, if it sounds like something you’re willing and able to do, fill out a Volunteer Form.

SisterSpace’s volunteer culture, and what you can expect as a volunteer:

SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival is planned and executed entirely by volunteers. Volunteering is a great way for women who want to have a positive impact on our festival community to meet new people and get more involved. It’s a great way to “find your people” and make friends!

Most volunteers are expected to commit 12 to 16 hours of time working during the SisterSpace Weekend, in exchange for a greatly reduced admission fee. (A few specialized volunteer positions require less time. A very few positions require much more time, and receive an even deeper discount.)

Volunteer workers get extra time on the land. All volunteers are warmly invited to attend our workers-only dinner and celebration time on Sunday evening after the close of the festival. It’s a fun way to relax, kick back, and celebrate a successful SisterSpace Festival with your fellow volunteers. This is a great time to find out what’s been going on in the other areas and hobnob with your wider community of wonderful sisters.

Bonus: if you like, you can stay over Sunday night and hug your new friends goodbye on Monday morning. All campers must be off the land by 5:00 p.m. Sunday, except Volunteer Workers. Enjoy extra time in nature and in community with your sisters!

Timing: Most positions require you to arrive on Thursday morning or by early Thursday evening to meet with your team leader and fellow crew members and get set up. A few positions require staying through Monday morning to mid-day (specified in description). We will help you find the position that works for you, so that you can work with us.

We look forward to having you join us in the work and in the fun!

Important note: Volunteering can include hard work as well as fun. Festival magic is the result of many women contributing thousands of hours during the year leading up to the festival, and of over 125 Volunteer Workers doing their best from Thursday through Sunday of the festival weekend. While we love our work, it is work, and we need all our volunteers to take it seriously and bring their best selves to their workshifts, on time and prepared to do what is asked of you.

SisterSpace Volunteers, doing what they have committed to do, are absolutely vital to the success and smooth running of the festival.

If your sole reason for volunteering is just for reduced admission, we strongly suggest that you consider applying for a Send-A-Sister discounted admission instead.

• For most positions, volunteers are required to work 12 to 16 hours during the course of the festival, in exchange for steeply discounted festival admission of just $125 per adult, which includes on-site lodging and meals. A very few specialized areas may require fewer hours per volunteer. A few areas may require more than 16 hours per volunteer.
• Volunteers generally contribute $125 toward their festival registration instead of full price registration. Where volunteers work over 16 hours per person during the Weekend, the contribution may be even lower. Subsidies are available for low-income volunteers, depending on donations from our community. Ask if you need this.
• Volunteers are not required to submit a $50 workshift deposit.

Volunteer positions/areas are described below. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@sisterspace.org. Thanks!

SisterSpace Weekend Women’s Festival Volunteer Areas

Below are general descriptions of each volunteer area. Choose your top three options. It’s first-come first-served for most areas so signing up early will give you the best chance of getting your top option!

If there are still spots available in your top 3, you’ll be assigned accordingly. If not, we’ll circle back to you with available volunteer options.

Once your area has been decided, we’ll send you an email and you can register using the provided link.

Registration for most volunteer areas is $125. 

Note: areas marked “n/a” are by prior arrangement only, and will require an interview to determine eligibility. Please do not choose more than one “n/a” area in your 3 volunteer choices. Areas requiring specialized skills may also require an interview to determine eligibility. Interviews are via Zoom or phone.

Accessibility/ASL: ASL-proficient persons, responsible for assisting Deaf and Hard-of-hearing persons at the festival. May include helping with registration and other needs of Deaf/HOH individuals throughout the event, e.g., workshops, end-of-festival meeting, etc.

Accessibility/ASL Interpreters – Performance: Experienced ASL interpreters comfortable with on-stage interpreting. Advance preparation with performer lyrics/scripts, as well as on-stage interpretation for shows, and opening/closing ceremonies.

Accessibility/Mobility: responsible for driving golf carts, to shuttle people who need help getting around the land.

Accessibility/General: be responsible for recognizing and addressing any issues that may arise concerning the ADA community. This area is in the process of being recreated and expanded upon, and we are looking for folks who preferably have some ADA experience. Tasks include being a liaison for campers with service animals, offering assistance in the dining room, and being on call for folks with varying disabilities who may need assistance in navigating other areas of the festival. 

ArtSpace: help monitor the ArtSpace, keep it tidy, and help out during workshops and art projects.

Artist Care: set up performer cabins (making beds, putting soap & hand towels in bathrooms, making sure everything is clean, neat, and welcoming). Set up backstage area (decorate it, set up chairs and tables and mirrors, see to it that the artists receive their pre-requested items). Make sure the performers know their schedule and help them get where they need to go and be comfortable during their stay. Also: Well-maintained vehicles with good drivers are needed to pick up performers at the airport or train station.

Bonfire: make sure bonfire has wood available and keep it going during the evening/nighttime (10 p.m. – 2 a.m.) when people are gathered there. Extinguish it safely at the end of the evening.

Business & Finance: n/a

Camp Cleanup: responsible for picking up trash and recyclables throughout the weekend.

Camper Services/Radios: sit at information table in main gathering building. Keep track of workshop, workshift, performance, and other schedule changes (which will be updated to you as they occur). Answer camper questions or direct them to the correct person for answers.

Community Safety/Security: take shifts, especially during the evening and night hours. Be on-call for emergencies. 

General Store/CafeSpace: sell store merchandise and/or run grill for fast food menu. Foster a fun sociable vibe too! 

Hospitality: greet people as they arrive at registration, and hand out water and welcome packets.

Laundry: pick up laundry from designated cabins and stages on Sunday; take to a specific laundromat in a nearby town and get the laundry ticket. Return on Monday to pick up clean laundry and put it in our on-stage storage container. Requires having your own large vehicle and the ability to lift 25 pounds.

Karaoke: set up the karaoke machine and run it during the activity; keep the energy up.

Kitchen: help with prep, cooking, serving, and/or dishwashing. We always need many cooks and helpers!  We are proud to feed hundreds of women delicious, nutritious meals from Friday lunch through Sunday brunch. SisterSpace’s Kitchen is the heart of the Festival. Please consider volunteering in this essential area, as we need as many people here as possible.

Maintenance: reasonably handy persons, to be on call if campers need assistance in cabins, restocking toilet paper, fixing stopped toilets, any small fix or assistance. (For bigger problems, the camp staff gets called back in)

Medical: qualified persons to take shifts at Wellness Center and The Haven. Take turns being on-call for medical emergencies, especially at night.

Parking: assist arriving campers with where to go for registration, where to park their vehicles, and with getting their belongings into the shuttle.

Pool: certified lifeguards, on duty at our large swimming pool.

Registration: help women get their wristband, lanyard/ID, housing assignment, and orientation packet/festival program when they check in at the festival gate. You may be the first face they see at SisterSpace!

Ride Share: Safe drivers needed. Help connect folks looking for rides to/from the festival (before, and during as needed). During the festival, pick up volunteers from the train/bus/airport on Thursday, and to/from the airport on the weekend. We provide vehicles. If you prefer to drive your own vehicle, we will reimburse gas and tolls. Large vehicles with extra luggage space are especially appreciated. Ride Share drivers are backup for Transportation and Artist Care drivers.

Sacred Fires: gather wood to build the sacred and memorial bonfires, tend the fire, help with the fire ceremonies as well as the opening and closing festival ceremony and blessing.

Security: help keep SisterSpace and all our sisters safe! Night shifts and day shifts available.

Send-a-Sister: n/a

Set Up & Breakdown: arrive early Thursday morning, get supplies out of on-site storage unit. Deliver supplies to areas and help out with various set-up tasks as needed. On Sunday afternoon and again on Monday morning, collect supplies and return to storage. Requires ability to lift up to 40 pounds, solo and/or with another person.

Sexuality Space: help set up and break down Sexuality Space. Help run events and workshops related to Sexuality Space.

Sports: be available at scheduled sports events, hand out equipment, and if needed, get people organized into teams and the games started. Make sure equipment is in an accessible spot and organized for people looking for impromptu games.

Stage: set up and break down the performance areas, help set up lights and sound, and do set changeovers during sound checks and performances. Requires ability to lift 25 pounds and climb stairs. Thursday morning start time.

n/a Sweat Lodge:  gather wood to build the sweat lodge, help construct/tear down the lodge, tend fire and the lodge, and help participants; help with opening and closing sweat lodge ceremony and blessing. (While we are searching for a new Lodge leader, we have another Spirituality-based volunteer area, Sacred Fires.)

Transportation: shuttle campers and their belongings from parking lot to tents/cabins. Pick up campers and workers from bus and train stations in a nearby town. Safe drivers only, please.

Videos: make sure films/videos are up and running properly at their scheduled time.

Volunteer Coordination: n/a

Workshops: make sure workshop spaces are neat, greet presenter(s), and make sure she/they have everything needed. Keep list updated with any changes that may affect schedules, and communicate changes with Camper Services.

Worker Support: help create a relaxing physical space where workers can unwind. Be responsible for distributing worker gifts, discounts, etc., and for worker support in general.