New Volunteer Questions

[Tomes]

Where is the Activities For Kids Tent? I'll be volunteering there this year. Thanks

In between the Family tent and the Dance tent is another tent and fenced off open area for the kids' stuff.
Hope this helps,
Tomes

[K-Step]

I noticed some "New Volunteer Questions" from a while back. I first started volunteering in the mid-1990's, and hope some of these answers are useful for newcomers for this year as well.

First of all, WELCOME! Being a volunteer at Falcon Ridge (FRFF) can be a really satisfying experience, and leave one feeling very much a part of a team, even part of a family.

Onto some ... New Volunteer Questions

QUESTION: Are ticks a problem?

Not really, that I have heard about or experienced. Also, the current site is not that buggy, either. In general when camping, I usually get bitten by mosquitoes before others nearby to me. So, I am a good indicator if bugs are a problem. And, I have NOT found the need to put on bug repellant at FRFF.

QUESTION: Is there a place to charge my cell-phone?

While there is not much access to electricity there, I recommend an easy, cheap solution to this which can also be handy to have around one's home during prolonged power outages (like we had in CT recently.) Many stores, like Radio Shack, now sell battery-powered cell-phone chargers. These can use simply AA batteries. That works great at FRFF. It is also a handy for emergencies in general. These cost as little as $10 these days, such as the one from Ray-o-Vac

You can also buy cell-phone chargers which plug into either your car's cigarette lighter, or power jacks. These can cost as little as $6-$10. You will likely be camping near to your vehicle, so charging a phone is easy that way.

QUESTION: I almost hate to ask, but what color is the volunteer t shirt ?

The tradition is: this is a surprise which one discovers upon arriving each year. The one thing you can be sure of is that it will be different than the last year's color, so you can at least eliminate that from the list of possibilities. Just ask. Whichever color it is, it will go well with denim or khaki shorts.

QUESTION: Anything to be aware of dress-code-wise for working Safety & Security ?

This gets asked annually. While there is no official dress-code, you are asked to wear your volunteer t-shirt whenever you are working, so that is part of your answer. The other part is to remember that the weather can vary a bit, and that it can get a bit cool at night. Many folks prefer long pants for night shifts or if the weather is getting cooler. Otherwise, the informal standard seems to be shorts or a skirt, the t-shirt, and a hat to keep the sun off. (Remember, you will be sitting or standing outside for hours at end, at least some shifts during the warmest, sunniest part of the day.)

Other things you may find handy to have on Safety & Security shifts are:
-- Sunglasses
-- A Festival Map in your pocket (for showing lost people where things are)
-- Rain-Gear. You may never need it. But, having it available is nice if some rain comes by on your shift
-- Sunscreen. Tucking a tube of SPF in your pocket is handy, in case you notice you are starting to get burnt
-- Small Flashlight. Some shifts end in the evening after dark. This helps to keep from tripping over things

Also, not everyone takes one, but I have found a day-pack is handy for keeping one's things in, while on a shift. Keep in mind there is no Volunteer Lunch, so bringing some snacks in your pack around midday is handy. It is also a good place for a water-bottle, if you are on a roving shift on a warm day. You will see more than a few volunteers on this crew with small day-packs.

QUESTION: If I want to camp close to my car, which areas are best ?

You can camp next to your car in almost all areas.

QUESTION: If I'm too tired to drive home on Sunday, can I camp there ?

Yes, you can. But, as was mentioned earlier, beware that the portable toilets get picked up sometimes on the early side Monday morning. Also, know there is no official volunteer dinner Sunday night, or breakfast Monday AM. However, Sunday afternoon, there are sometimes some left-overs in the Volunteer Meal Tent, which might help sustain one. And, some of the regular food vendors remain open till late afternoon or 6 pm-ish, Sunday evening. So, if you want a full dinner, you can buy one. But, do not wait too late after 6 pm, or most all the vendors will be gone.

Hope some of this help!