FSG Community Service FAQ

Everything You Wanted to Know About Community Service at FSG
(but were afraid you should have remembered from last year)

What is Community Service?
What are Duck Bucks, anyway?
Am I exempt?
How do I sign up?
Can't I check in, unpack and get settled, and then come pick a shift?
What shifts are available?
Where do I go for my shift?
What if I have physical limitations?
What do I need to bring for my shift?
What if I accidentally miss my shift?
Why does it matter?

What is Community Service?
We ask that all attendees 16 & older (except Day Trippers) sign up for 2 hours of community service when they check in. We'll do the best to match your skills and preferences with the jobs that need doing, such as roving security, parking, check-in, or clean-up. Many folks use their community service shift assignment as an opportunity to meet fellow attendees. When you've completed your community service, we offer thanks in the form of Duck Bucks™. And if you had fun, or you're really feeling helpful, or you're looking for something to do, you can sign up for another shift and get double duck bucks! We almost always need people on Friday and Saturday especially, so taking a second (or even third—people actually do it!) shift is a great way to support the festival while giving you a little extra something towards enjoying your stroll through Merchants Row.

What are Duck Bucks, anyway?
Duck Bucks are our way of saying “thanks” for completing your community service. They're the official currency of Free Spirit Gathering and are worth $5 each. They can be used at any of the vendors on Merchants Row, in the camp's canteen, or at the dining hall. They do not expire; they can be saved and used in following years.

Am I Exempt?
If you are under 16, on staff, a presenter giving two or more workshops, a merchant (merchants receive one exemption per business), or you paid $25 to buy out of CS when you pre-registered, you are exempt from a community service obligation. Everyone else is asked to sign up for one 2-hour shift. If you paid $25 to buy out of CS, that information was included in your confirmation email. Please bring a printout with you and show it at the CS signup table so that we can speed you through to Check-In!

How do I sign up?
You'll be asked to look over the available time slots and choose a shift when you first arrive, after you park and before you proceed to Check-In. There will be festival schedules there for you to consult, but you can also look at the schedule grid beforehand. We recommend writing your shift on your copy of the schedule for easy reference.

Can't I check in, unpack and get settled, and then come pick a shift?
Unfortunately, no. There's an awful lot of fun distraction at festival, and it's very easy to forget to come back. You'll be asked at Check-In if you've signed up for a shift, and if you haven't and you're not exempt, you'll be sent back to CS Signup to pick a shift before you can check in. Believe us, it's easier to just take care of it right away.

What shifts are available?
The volunteer shift schedule this year runs daily Tuesday–Saturday, as follows:

 9:00a - 11:00a
10:45a - 12:45p
12:30p - 2:30p (This is the first Tuesday shift)
2:15p - 4:15p
4:00p - 6:00p
5:45p - 7:45p
7:30p - 9:30p

On Sunday, there are no official community service shifts. However, if you're willing to help out by doing a second shift, we can always use people to help with cleanup. You'll get double Duck Bucks like you would for any other extra sushift, and you can save them for next year if you don't get to use them before you leave. Or, as an alternative, you can take $10 off your next event registration. Just come to the white house porch anytime after 10:00a through about 1:00p and ask for Satya, who is in charge of cleanup.

If you know you'll be signing up for a CS shift, we strongly recommend looking at the schedule grid and picking a few shifts that you'd be willing to sign up for. Bring those notes with you, and you can sign up quickly at the CS table and breeze on to Check-In without having to try to make a rushed decision on the spot.

Where do I go for my shift?
When your shift is ready to start, go to the porch of the white house and ask for the CS dispatcher on duty. Remember that you will also need to check in there when you finish your shift, in order to get your Duck Bucks!

What if I have physical limitations?
Not all the CS jobs require you to stand or lift things. When you report for your shift, tell the CS staff person that you need a job that takes your limitations into account—as well as what your limitations are—and we'll do our best to matche you up with something that fits your needs.

What do I need to bring for my shift?
You should plan to be comfortably clothed, wear shoes you can walk in, and apply sunscreen and/or bug repellant. A hat with a brim is a good idea, as is a water bottle/canteen; Ramblewood's water is eminently potable, and we'll happily fill your container before we send you out.

What if I accidentally miss my shift?
If you realize you've forgotten what time your shift is, you can always ask the CS staff person on duty either at the white house or next to Check-In to help you look it up. If you've missed your shift, come talk to the CS staff person at the white house. You'll be directed to the sign-up table to pick a new shift, but the staffer will also make sure you're crossed off the no-show list once you've rescheduled. Don't be afraid; we won't yell at you, and we only bite gently.

Why does it matter?
Free Spirit Gathering isn't just a big festival; it truly is a time for us to come together as a community and share some very magical space! It's the love and enthusiasm and especially the energy of all the participants that creates our Gathering every year. On a very practical level, that two hours of your time and energy is a contribution as a member of the FSG community that helps ensure that our festival is safe, that our spaces are prepared for events, and that everything runs smoothly with as few delays as possible. It may sound corny, but we really can't do it without our CS volunteers and we're grateful for all you do!