Volunteers are the backbone of the Festival of Trees. When you volunteer, you bring the joy of the Holiday season to thousands of visitors, and you join a group of dedicated people who have fun while they help make the Festival a truly magical community event.
iPad Users
Admission and Raffle Sales
All admission and raffle ticket sales are processed via an iPad-based automated system that records contact information for every Festival Guest. The system assigns and records all purchased raffle ticket. This task requires a familiarity with an Apple iPad and fairly good data entry skills. The iPad User is also responsible for processing all credit card payments via the iPad.
Café and Gift Shop Cashier
All Café and Gift Shop sales are processed via an iPad-based system. These cashiers – who must be at least 18 years of age – should be comfortable using an Apple iPad and handling cash. The cashier is also responsible for processing credit card payments via the iPad.
Will Call Desk
Online orders are processed in the Festival office and are available at a special “Will Call” desk at Entrance A (the main entrance) of the Festival. Will Call volunteers assist with the distribution of pre-purchased tickets. The Will Call Desk will involve limited use of an iPad.
Important Tasks that Don’t Involve iPad Use
Cashier
Each point of sale requires someone to receive cash payments and make change. Our cashiers – who must be at least 18 years of age – need to be comfortable handling cash.
Gift Shop Sales Assistant
At least one volunteer is assigned to assist the cashier with sales in the Gift Shop.
Tree Ranger
Notwithstanding our “Please Don’t Touch the Trees” signs, we’ve become increasingly concerned about damage being done to the trees during the Festival. As a result, each shift the Festival is open will include two volunteers who will monitor activity on the main floor.
Admissions Ticket-Taker
A volunteer is assigned to collect admission tickets and to distribute Program Books and Scavenger Hunt sheets at the main entrance.
Tree Watch
Since the offices at 13 Branch Street are open during hours the Festival is closed, we assign up to four volunteers per shift to monitor activity in and around the trees. [Each Tree Watch shift will include four slots.]
Scavenger Hunt
A volunteer is assigned to distribute Scavenger Hunt prizes.
Perfect Tasks for Our Student Volunteers
Social Media Assistant
Throughout the Festival, volunteers are needed to encourage our guests to utilize various social media to ‘Share the Magic’ of the Festival of Trees. This could include taking photos for the Festival’s social media outreach effort or helping our guests post their photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Café Assistant
Throughout the Festival, volunteers are needed to insure the Café remains clean and inviting for our guests. One volunteer per shift will be assigned to work with our food vendor to clean tables, replenish condiments, assist with trash and generally support the smooth operation of the Café.
Volunteer Support
Volunteers are discouraged from leaving their assigned post during their shifts. As a result, one volunteer will be assigned during each shift to distribute cold water and replenish supplies at each station as necessary.
Special note for children and high school students… The Festival of Trees offers an annual scholarship designed to assist young people who have volunteered at the Festival as high school students.