• infobot@lakesoffire.org

VOLUNTEER FAQS

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I’M JUST HERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Lakes of Fire is an entirely volunteer-run event. Without volunteers, the event would not exist. The more people that volunteer, the more participants we can have (within limits, land-space permitting) and the more things we can accomplish. We need volunteers to help us check people in at gate, keep our perimeter safe, remind participants to please-don’t-climb-the-fire-art, and make everyone’s experience the best it can be, just to name a few.

You can sign up after you purchase your ticket on Volunteeripate at volunteer.lakesoffire.org. If you have questions about getting started with Volunteeripate, check out the Ticketing Process page or our guide on signing up for shifts. Not all volunteer shifts are released in the system at the same time and the timing is determined by the department leads. If you don’t see a shift you are looking for please check back or email the department you are looking to volunteer with at the event.

You can find all department contact information on our website page Lakes of Fire Leadership.

Volunteering is split into 3 different time frames:

  • Pre-event
  • Event
  • Postevent

Volunteers are in the highest demand during the event. Pre-event volunteer opportunities are scarce, and most of the time they go to volunteers who already have a relationship with their team lead. 99% of the volunteer hours we log are on site, so keep that in mind when trying to bribe us into finding you pre-event hours: they are rather hard to come by.

ALL THE KINDS! Seriously, there are lots of different teams you can sign up for.

If you want to read a little about each one, you can find out more via our Teams pages. If you are unsure, the volunteer coordinators can help to give you some direction – please let us know what kinds of skills you have so we can place you appropriately. We heard chicks dig skills; we do, at least. (There’s even a little section on our volunteer form for you to tell us about your mad skills.)

Absolutely!  We have volunteer opportunities for ALL abilities and skill levels.  Literally everyone – some people might drive around with Mobility’s shuttles, spread love and appreciation by volunteer fluffing with the VDT, walk a 2 hour LNT shift, or give out hugs at the Greeter’s station.  If you are uncertain where to start, please feel free to reach out to us, and we will help you find the volunteer role of your dreams.

Yes! You can sign up to work around the clock through the whole event if that’s what tickles your pickle. Saying you have an interest in a specific team or working at a certain time does not guarantee you will be working that role or shift. Hundreds of volunteers sign up each year, and sometimes shifts fill up quickly. Make sure to reach out to your team leads if you have a really constrained schedule. Even if you really, really, really want a certain shift, we can’t guarantee you will get what you want. Some shifts are really high demand, others are not; le sigh. We have several volunteer opportunities that require specialized skills or pre-requisite training. If you are interested in one of these positions, reach out to our team leads to find out about upcoming training opportunities within their departments.

That actually varies by team. If you need to reach out to a team lead, you can contact them directly, or you can send the Volunteer Coordinators an email and we can try to help.

Please keep in mind that only the department leads can schedule shifts for their teams – please be patient. You might not hear back from them the day you sign up, especially if it is early in the year. Just give them a few weeks before you go on a rampage.

Not automatically. We have shifts with the Mobility Team that we lovingly refer to as HandJobs that is a lot of picking things up and putting them down again. Ultimately, as long as you are volunteering with a particular Lakes of Fire Department and you sign up and sign in for your shift it will count.

Yes, please contact our Medical (ESD) department. You can also now sign up for shifts in Volunteeripate and upload your credentials as a .jpeg. Signing up does not guarantee you the shift until the ESD leads have verified your certifications.
Also, I  have this funny tingling in my fingers right now, and it happens mostly when I type informational FAQ forms. What should I do?

The doors of LOF open on Wednesday to *all* LOF attendees. Some departments do require on-site pre-event work.  However, your department lead will let you know if there are any early entry openings available. Theme camps are also given a different time for entry – direct all theme camp related entry questions to our Placement team.

Maybe. There are some departments, like Leave No Trace, ESD, Rangers, and Info_Bot who love people excited to help in post-event restoration. You can sign up for specific Exodus shifts, they are labeled accordingly, to get a late departure time. When your shifts is scheduled will determine your departure date. Usually the day of your shift plus one day. So if your shift is Sunday afternoon you will be expected to depart by Monday afternoon. Exact times are still being determined. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit the Your Account section on Volunteeripate to find your entry and exit dates.

That’s affirmative. People seem to drop out at the last minute all the time. We might need a few shifts in any of our departments on a moment’s notice. The best way to see about any volunteer openings is to come to the newly designed Function Junction and find the Info_bot desk.  We will have current information on volunteer opportunities, where to go and how to sign up for them.

Please note: if you do sign up on site for a last minute opening, just make sure the team lead records your full name and correct e-mail information so you get credit for your hard work!

It is true that volunteers from the previous year’s burn who worked more than 8 hours get access to pre–ticket sales for the next burn. This is only for volunteers who worked—not just signed up for—at least 8 hours of work with official LOF Departments.

Be sure to clarify with your team lead if your hours count toward that volunteer criteria.

It is true that volunteers from the previous year’s burn who worked more than 8 hours get access to pre–ticket sales for the next burn. This is only for volunteers who worked—not just signed up for—at least 8 hours of work with official LOF Departments.

Be sure to clarify with your team lead if your hours count toward that volunteer criteria.

Unfortunately not. The only way to log official volunteer hours is with one of our official volunteer-based departments. Your work for a theme camp is a gift for the community, and that is spectacular, and we thank you for it!

Sorry guys, we don’t work on credit here at Lakes of Fire. You can only get a volunteer ticket if you worked the previous year for the stated hour requirements. We like to look at the volunteer ticket as a kind of pay-it-forward scenario: do your work this year, and it will come around to help you in the next one.

You mean, aside from the inner nirvana you will feel giving back to the event you adore? There is always swag, really cool swag to proclaim your awesomeness as a Lakes of Fire Volunteer. The kind of swag depends on the type of volunteer shift you want to do – some teams offer a full bar, others offer swanky t-shirts or laminates.

Our Volunteer Team fluffers might bring you some fun snacks and cold water when you are hard at work, or you might find a nifty care package if you’re a night shift volunteer.

Each year during the event, On Friday, we host a big old Volunteer Appreciation party. Look for announcements in the WWW and on our website for updates closer to the event. Did we mention that 8 hours of volunteering means you can qualify for access to a volunteer ticket and jump the general sales line the following year?

Nope.

Not even if you baked us a three-tiered cake that looked like our logo. Sorry guys, but we have no control over that. If you missed the window, you have to take your chances on the ticket lottery.

YOU MUST BE SIGNED UP FOR SHIFTS IN VOLUNTEERIPATE TO RECEIVE CREDIT. 

When you get to your shift, make sure you check-in with your shift lead to ensure you are clocked in at the shift start and clocked out at the end. You can confirm you have been signed in and out for your shift by visiting your ‘Shifts & Hours’ section on Volunteeripate at: https://volunteer.lakesoffire.org/account?tab=hours. Tracking down your team lead in January of the event year and getting them to remember you will be pretty hard if your name is John and you have brown hair and *didn’t* sign in.