Volunteer

The Art team offers pre-event and on-site volunteering. Before the event, they handle art grant submissions, work with selected teams, and manage logistics. On-site, they provide services like artist check-in, setup assistance, safety checks, and documentation.

Positions Available

There are currently no positions available.

City Department handles the event layout and overall experience, with teams covering sound, placement, on-site placement, and theme camps. They ensure the city is well-organized, accessible, sound rules are enforced, camps are set up properly, and theme camps have what they need.

Positions Available

• Sound Team
• On-Site Placement

Sound Team

Night owls, join us to keep the dancing alive! Shift Leads and Sound Monitors roam with decibel meters, ensuring sound stages follow our policy. This supports good relations with landowners, the town, and residents, crucial for the event’s future. Enjoy the music and volunteer with us—training provided! Accessibility factors: This role requires walking, a friendly attitude, the ability to work in a loud music environment, and is family friendly (ages 8+) during daytime shifts.

On-Site Placement

Help everyone find their home at SideBurn! As part of the placement team, you’ll greet participants and show them to their camping areas. You’ll help make sure everyone is setting up their camps in the proper spots, and ensure a smooth landing for all those entering the event. Accessibility factors: This role involves walking, verbal communication, map reading, being comfortable navigating around cars, and is family friendly (ages 14+).

Communications manages our website, newsletters, social media, content, and design.

Positions Available

There are currently no positions available.

DPW is responsible for the event’s infrastructure, including transporting, setting up, and tearing down signage, lighting, barriers, and providing support to participants and theme camps. We need hard workers with various skills—whether you’re a master carpenter, painter, or someone who enjoys using power tools. DPW is the first on-site and last to leave, working pre- and post-event. During the event, we assist with tasks like traffic control, deliveries, refuelling, and repairs. Quick thinking and problem-solving are essential. Accessibility Factors: These roles involve walking, climbing, lifting, using hand tools, problem solving, following instructions and is not family friendly.

Positions Available

• Early Arrival/Long Crew
• Transportation
• Leave No Trace (LNT)

Early Arrival/Long Crew

Want to help lay the foundation for SideBurn? Join the DPW early arrival crew! You’ll unload the transport truck, set up infrastructure and lighting, and assist with the city layout. You’ll collaborate with the lighting, transport, and sign crews to secure everything before the event, and raze the city post exodus. You must be available the Saturday before the event – the Wednesday after the event. Email sarah@sideburn.ca if interested. Note: You will be turned away if you show up without confirmation.

Transportation

As a member of the transportation team, you’ll help load and unload the infrastructure truck at both ends of the event and maintain a log of equipment drop-offs. Drivers must have a valid Class G license and be comfortable driving a large box truck. Shifts: You must arrive before the event and stay after it concludes.

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Help us keep our site beautiful for future SideBurn events! Join the LNT crew to enjoy more time in nature while ensuring the land remains pristine and free of debris. Includes searching for MOOP, documenting leftovers, and managing larger cleanups, such as effigy ash. Shifts: Begins Monday morning after the event. Family-friendly (ages 8+).

FAST is a group of experienced fire artists, safety volunteers, and trained professionals dedicated to ensuring safe fire use in art, performances, burns, and flame effects. Look for us in red FIRE SAFETY shirts, on-site before and during the event, based at the Community Safety Headquarters. Some roles require special Fire Safety Training, which must be added to your volunteer account before signing up.

Positions Available

• Ember Chaser
• On-Call & Officer of the Day
• FAST Burn Support

Ember Chaser

During the Effigy and Temple burns, sudden wind changes can carry embers that may cause damage if not monitored. Ember Chasers ensure embers are promptly stomped out or sprayed down, escalating larger issues to the Fast Officer of the Day. This role requires you to be sober, quick on your feet, and able to carry a 50 lb water fire extinguisher. Accessibility factors: This role involves being sober and alert, walking, running, standing, and is not family friendly. Shifts: 2.5 hours from 8:30 PM to 11 PM (or until the perimeter drops) on burn nights only.

On-Call & Officer of the Day

These FAST leads enforce open fire policies and inspect flame effects. This role requires being sober, on radio during your shift, and attending a daily safety meeting at noon. Accessibility factors: This role involves being sober and alert, walking, and is not family friendly. Shifts: 12 hours (12 AM – 12 PM and 12 PM – 12 AM), with the Officer of the Day serving a 24-hour shift. FAST training is required.

FAST Burn Support

As a Lead and second-in-command on burn nights, this role assists the Officer of the Day in running the Effigy and Temple burns per planned protocols. Accessibility factors: This role involves being sober and alert, walking, and is not family friendly. Shifts: 5 hours from 6 PM to 11 PM (or until the perimeter drops). FAST training is required.

Flow is one of the first teams you will meet and they see you off during exodus. We manage parking, the entry gate, radios and your smooth entry and exit from the event.

Positions Available

• Greeters
• Parking
• Gate
• Exodus

Greeters

Join our team to welcome participants and create a friendly, inclusive atmosphere! Accessibility factors: This role involves standing, walking, friendly attitude, and is family friendly (ages 8+). Shifts: 2 or 4 hours during gate hours on Thursday and Friday from 10 AM and 12 AM.

Parking

Help guide vehicles and gear efficiently to ensure smooth traffic flow. All cars must park in designated areas, with placement based on organization. Accessibility factors: This role involves walking, directing cars, bending to car window height, and is not family friendly Shifts: 4-hour shifts from 8 AM and 12 AM.

Gate

Be the first point of contact for participants by collecting tickets, verifying IDs, and attaching wristbands. If you enjoy meeting people and fostering a welcoming atmosphere, join us! Accessibility factors: This role involves standing, walking, verbal communication, reading and communication in English, finger dexterity, bending at waist and/or knees, and is family friendly (ages 14+). Shifts: 4 hours between 8 AM and 12 AM.

Exodus

The team coordinates with Parking and Gate to help participants exit safely after the Effigy Burn, Temple Burn, and event close on Monday. We aim for a smooth, organized traffic flow. Accessibility factors: This role involves walking, standing, verbal communication, and is not family friendly. Shifts: Monday from 8 AM to 12 PM.

Positions Available

• Headquarters
• Engagement

Headquarters

This team manages the setup, operation, and strike of the event’s headquarters, which includes radios, Polar Vortex, and volunteer check in. Volunteers answer questions from participants, provide directions, check radios at shift changes, and support overall operations. Accessibility factors: This role involves reading, writing, speaking English, some standing (seating available), a friendly attitude, and is family friendly (ages 14+). Shifts: 3-4 hours.

Engagement

Are you passionate about SideBurn, Burning Man, and the 10 Principles? Do you love connecting with people? Shifts include roaming the event, engaging with the attendees, sharing information, and answering questions about all things Sideburn. Accessibility factors: This role involves walking, a friendly attitude, and is family friendly (ages 8+). Shifts: 4 hours, Saturday and Sunday.

Safety teams are vital to ensuring a safe event, with departments including Rangers and Sanctuary. These roles require special training, such as Ranger or Sanctuary Training, where others do not (Perimeter).

Positions Available

• Perimeter
• Rangers (including Khakis)
• Sanctuary (including Supervisors)

Perimeter

Some say seeing the awe on your community members faces is even more special than the burn itself. Perimeter volunteers maintain safety during the Effigy and Temple burns by watching for anyone crossing the lines until the perimeter lead declares it safe. You’ll be stationed just inside the perimeter, facing outward. Accessibility factors: This role requires standing and/or kneeling for the entire burn, remaining sober, following directions, and is not family friendly. Shifts: 4 hours from 7 PM to 11 PM (or until the perimeter drops) on burn nights only.

Rangers (including Khakis)

Rangers ensure safety at the event while aiding the community and enhancing the experience. They are not enforcers but should have good people skills. You’ll roam in teams with added responsibilities and a radio. Rangers must stay level-headed and listen to others, identifiable by their khaki shirts. Annual training is required before your first shift on-site, on Friday, May 16th. A virtual training session will be available on April 2nd from 7–9 PM for those who want to prepare in advance. Black Rock Ranger training is also accepted with a manual review. Accessibility factors: This role requires walking, a friendly attitude, problem-solving skills, the ability to give and follow directions, verbal communication, remaining sober and alert, and is not family friendly. Shifts: 6 hours, with some critical roles requiring 12 or 24 hours.

Sanctuary (including Supervisors)

The dedicated Sanctuary volunteers are there to reduce mental and psychological harm through peer counselling while respecting each person’s personal experience. If you love connecting with people on a deeper level, offering support, and being a calm, patient presence, this team is a perfect fit. A non-judgmental, accepting, and compassionate attitude is key! This role can involve roaming (Vibe Patrol) or providing support at Sanctuary (Listeners), depending on your interests. You must complete training before the event—either virtually on April 27 or on-site Friday May 16th at 10:30 AM. Sign up for training here. We’re also looking for Supervisors to assist during on-call 6-hour shifts. Supervisors will check in with incoming Sanctuary volunteers twice during their shift at designated times to provide support. Accessibility factors: This role involves being sober and alert. Shifts: 4–6 hours, with some critical roles requiring 12-hour shifts.

While we create SideBurn to unplug from regular life, our technology team supports the tools and infrastructure needed to issue tickets, sign up volunteers, and allow the entire team to communicate efficiently.

Positions Available

There are currently no positions available.