The 2020 Wooden Boat Festival has been canceled due to COVID-19
45th Wooden Boat Festival, September 10-12, 2021
Why Volunteer?
We have an incredible community of over 500 volunteers who come together each year to make this Festival happen. Volunteering for the Festival is a great way meet new friends, experience the Festival from the inside, and simply have some fun! If you volunteer for 3 shifts, you'll also receive a volunteer t-shirt and a 3-day Festival pass! Not ready to commit to 3 shifts? No problem! We can still use your help, and you'll get into the Festival for free on the day(s) you work.Have questions?
We're excited for you to join the Festival team, and we want to make it easy for you to get involved. Read through the information below, and if you still need help, give volunteer coordinator Angela Hewitson a call at 360.385.3628 x124 or email her at volunteer@nwmaritime.org.
Step 1
If you’re new this year, fill out the volunteer application. Then move on to step 2. Please note that if you fill out the volunteer application in 2020, you will need to complete a 2021 release waiver when it becomes available. Then move on to step 2 below.
If you’re a returning volunteer, you will need to sign the 2021 release waiver when it becomes available. Then move on to step 2.
Step 2
Shifts go live July 2021
Select your shifts! Remember, working 3 shifts gets you a volunteer t-shirt and a 3-day pass. Volunteering fewer than 3 shifts gets you into the Festival for free on the days you work.
Select your shifts, then move on to step 3.
Step 3
Ready to find out how to be the best volunteer ever?
Take a look at our volunteer handbook to learn everything you need to know about volunteering at the Wooden Boat Festival.
Select Your Shifts
Shifts go live in July 2021
If you’ve already filled out the volunteer application (or, for returning volunteers, if you’ve filled out this year’s release waiver) it’s time to read about the different volunteer crews, then select your shifts. Please use the same name and email address for each shift you select. Be sure to hit “sign up” before moving on!
The AV Crew works closely with presenters to ensure presentations run smoothly. The job involves helping presenters connect laptops to our AV system and handling lights and volume. Hands on free training classes are provided prior to Festival. No prior AV experience necessary!
Email volunteer@nwmaritime.org to find out about joining.
The Balcony Bar overlooks Port Townsend Bay and serves drinks to those interested in a quieter place to relax. This team is responsible for setting up and stocking the bar, checking IDs, and selling, pouring, and clearing up after beverages. Volunteers must be 21+ and able to work hard and stay focused with an amazing view of Pt. Hudson.
Please DO NOT sign up for Wee Nip shifts here. Wee Nip volunteers are handpicked by the Wee Nip captain and are organized separately.
If you have bartending skills and enjoy an on-call schedule, this job is for you! Fill in at Bar Harbor and Balcony Bar in case a scheduled volunteer is unable to make their shift. Please note: this is not the same as "bar back," but rather a wonderful crew that is available to fill in at a bar if needed. You do not need to check in at the Volunteer Tent for these shifts; however, you must be 21+, reachable by cell phone, and within 10 minutes of Festival grounds during your shift. Please read the Bar Harbor and Balcony Bar job descriptions before signing up to be part of the Bar Backup Crew!
Since this job runs on an on-call basis, it does not count towards the 12-hour minimum for receiving a 3-day Festival pass and a volunteer t-shirt.
It’s hard work in a fast-paced environment, but really fun to be part of this team. Specific duties include pouring beverages, serving and clearing tables, washing dishes, moving ice, kegs and supplies, taking out the trash, and checking IDs. In addition, this crew stocks and maintains beer/wine supplies for other Festival bars. All members of this crew must be 21+ years of age. If you're a person who loves to work hard, see what needs to be done and get it done, and wants to have a lot of fast-paced fun, this is the job for you! We encourage you to sign up for 3 Bar Harbor shifts so we can keep things efficient. Please only sign up for the "super fast-paced" shifts if you are comfortable really working hard! While Bar Harbor is always busy, these shifts are even busier!
Please DO NOT sign up for Wee Nip shifts under Bar Harbor. Wee Nip volunteers are handpicked by the Wee Nip captain and are organized separately.
This is a great job for you if you like to put all your focus on one area! This person oversees the Boatyard Stage which includes ensuring the stage is signed properly with new schedules for the day, and making sure the presenters show up. If presenters don’t show up, you would try to help problem solve what may have gone wrong—are they lost?—and keep attendees and staff informed about late starts and no-shows.
Please sign up for all three shifts so that we can be as efficient as possible!
Do you like to interact with people? Can you maintain flow and the coming and goings of ALL things Festival goers?
Then we need you!! We need a strong player in this role with the ability to check wristbands, direct people to main gate, to the volunteer tent, and assist exhibitors coming and going through this entrance. Does this active experience speak to you? Ultimately you are contributing to the success of us hosting Festival again and again!
"Knee deep in the water somewhere, got the blue sky breeze..." will be your theme song on this crew! (credits Zac Brown Band)
We're so excited to have a station for folks to get out on paddleboards and rowboats at the Festival this year! These volunteers will carry the boards/boats to and from the water, help answer basic paddling and rowing questions, and then watch out to make sure everyone is safe. One person on the crew will help the crew captain on the shore getting waivers signed and lifejackets on.
You'll get a little wet and you need to be strong (able to carry the boats/boards in and out of the water). Friendly and helpful attitude is a must! A background check will need to be preformed as you might be interacting with kids underage.
Help the Finance Team keep Festival flowing smoothly!
Keep a low profile walking around the whole Festival reconciling sales receipts throughout the weekend! Experience is an asset, but do not dismay- if you were not on Green Team last year, you can and must attend a special training on August 20th at 5:30 pm. A background check is required for formality sake. After all... Green Team is known for their killer snacks!
This crew is hand-selected for its abilities in boat handling, great attitudes, and ability to work well under intense pressure. Harbormasters oversee all things on the water and help get all boats in and out of the harbor safely. If you’re interested in joining this team, contact our Harbormaster at harbormaster@woodenboat.org.
Responsible for providing First Aid for all people at the festival site throughout the weekend. This is an Event Medical Team who contracts to provide first response services, with a crew of advanced first aiders, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and more. If you have medical experience and are interested in joining the team, please email jdpollack@gmail.com. They welcome new members!
We are always looking for on-call volunteers who have a "go-with-the-flow attitude" and can fill in as needed. If this sounds like you, please let us know by clicking "sign up now." Please note: clicking this button does not sign you up for a specific shift and doesn't count towards the 3 shifts needed for a 3-day Festival pass unless you end up filling in; it just puts you on our list of volunteers who might be able to help us in a time of need! You can also be added to this list by emailing volunteer@nwmaritime.org.
Runners are an unbelievable help to the volunteer coordinator and everyone involved in the Festival. You turn potential problems (like too few volunteers) into smooth-sailing operations! As the runner, you are the “jack-of-all-trades;” someone who can fill in as needed and be shifted around.
This position requires someone who enjoys spontaneity, can learn on the spot, is okay with down time, and has a go-with-the-flow-attitude. Runners are often the volunteers who "save the day" by filling in when others are unable to make it to their shifts—our knights in shining armor!
This is the workhorse crew of the Festival responsible for the setup and teardown of Festival grounds. Join this crew to get your volunteer hours in while keeping your schedule open during the Festival so you won't have to worry about missing that cool presentation or demonstration. We love to see returning faces, so if you've helped with setup or breakdown in years past, we'd love to see you on this crew again! All members of this crew must be reliable, over 18 years of age, physically fit, able to lift 30+ lbs, and comfortable going with the flow and jumping in where needed.
Setup:
Setup volunteers are in charge of setting up fences, tables, and the North Star Stage, trash can delivery, banner hanging, sign posting… to name a few. Join the pre-Festival buzz. It's a fun couple of days!
Teardown:
We have a very special place in our hearts for those who join the teardown crew and stick it out til the end with us. We rely on these volunteers each year to tear down and clean up the Festival after most people have gone home. If you're reliable, can do some heavy lifting, and don't mind missing the volunteer party Sunday evening, please join this crew! The 3-6 PM shift will even give you the option to attend the volunteer party (plus, it's a short shift... who doesn't want that?)!
We are looking for one trusty volunteer to take on the task of putting up and switching out the presentation signs early each morning. Put all of the signs up Friday morning (8-10), and then switch them out Saturday and Sunday mornings (8-9) before the grounds get busy. Doing this job will count as a normal four hour shift! It's a super easy way to get a shift in when the grounds are quiet and you can focus on one simple task. So take a morning stroll around the grounds and be our sign switcher!
Shift Hours:
Friday 9/7, 8-10AM
Saturday 9/8, 8-9AM
Sunday 9/9, 8-9AM
Select Your Shifts
If you’ve already filled out the volunteer application (or, for returning volunteers, if you’ve filled out this year’s release waiver) it’s time to read about the different volunteer crews, then select your shifts. Please use the same name and email address for each shift you select. Be sure to hit “sign up” before moving on!
This crew is hand-selected for its abilities in boat handling, great attitudes, and ability to work well under intense pressure. Harbormasters oversee all things on the water and help get all boats in and out of the harbor safely. If you’re interested in joining this team, contact our Harbormaster at harbormaster@woodenboat.org.
Responsible for providing First Aid for all people at the festival site throughout the weekend. This is an Event Medical Team who contracts to provide first response services, with a crew of advanced first aiders, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and more. If you have medical experience and are interested in joining the team, please email jdpollack@gmail.com. They welcome new members!
Have questions?
Our volunteer coordinator, Angela Hewitson, is happy to help! Give her a call at 360.385.3628 x124 or email her at volunteer@nwmaritime.org.