State Fair volunteer opportunities
2014 Minnesota State Fair
The State Fair is coming to St. Paul, August 21 - September 1, and YOU can be a part of it! Admission tickets to the fair will be provided for each day volunteering with the DNR!
Almost half a million people visit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Building and Park each year to see fish, birds, to learn more about their favorite lakes, parks, trails, and to see exhibits on various DNR Programs. The volunteer time commitment is at least one day for 4-6 hours depending on the job. Admission tickets for each day along with instructions and fair information will be sent about 1 week prior to the fair. Parking and meals will be the responsibility of the person volunteering.
Follow the web link cited at the end of each position to sign up or contact the person listed for more information.
Smokey Bear and his Voice
For three hours each day of the fair one person will play the costumed character Smokey Bear. Smokey will be required to move among the crowds in and around the DNR building and to pose with people wanting to have their picture taken with him. Smokey does not speak, so another person must be on hand to be his Voice and to help him walk as visibility is partially limited with the costume. The Voice of Smokey must be able to introduce the costumed character to people and assist Smokey getting in and out of his costume.
QUALIFICATIONS: The person playing Smokey must be 17 years of age or older, be at least 5'7" or taller and have a chest or waist no larger than 46" to best fit the costume. Wearing the costume can get terribly hot so people affected by the heat need to take this under consideration. A cooling vest is provided.
Volunteers are needed to fill BOTH time slots of 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon AND 1:00 - 2:00 PM on the day they volunteer. You cannot select just one. People who volunteer to be this Smokey cannot also volunteer to be in the parade on the same day.
At least 2 sets of Smokeys and Voices are needed on Friday, August 22, for shifts every other hour from 10 AM - 4 PM on Fire Prevention Day of the fair. The first shift appears on the grounds at 10 AM, 12 noon, and 2 PM. The second shift appears at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. There is only one Smokey on all other days of the fair.
To sign up for a day, go to VolunteerSpot, an online signup tool, at http://vols.pt/hZcWz2 to find out what days are still open. Enter your email address. You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot. Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Renee Vail below.
Choose your day. Under "Comments", please provide your US mailing address so we may mail you your admission ticket to the State Fair. Also, indicate here if you'd like the 1st or 2nd shift if you want to volunteer on Friday, Aug 22, only. VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders for whatever day you choose.
Contact Renée Vail, DNR Volunteer Programs, at 651-259-5249, or email renee.vail@state.mn.us for more information on how to play Smokey or his Voice during the fair.
EAB Costume Character
Roam the DNR grounds at the State Fair, greet visitors, hand out Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) related materials (potentially fans, ID cards, or similar items), and pose for pictures with fairgoers while wearing this FUN COLORFUL COSTUME! The purpose of the EAB costume is to engage the public on invasive species issues and encourage them to visit the invasive species exhibits inside the DNR Building at the State Fair and get the fun invasive species hat!
The Emerald Ash Borer costume is a size small/medium and best fits people who are between 5 ft. up to 6 ft. in height. Shoes that go with the costume will fit up to a size 11 women's or 9 ½ men's.
Volunteers need to arrive by 11:30 AM to sign in and put on the costume. The EAB costume character will appear on the DNR grounds daily from 12 – 1 PM and again from 2 – 3 PM. Brief breaks for water and to cool down are permitted every 15 minutes or as needed while wearing the costume.
To sign up for one day (11:30 AM – 3:15 PM) during the fair, go to: https://doodle.com/tzddgs5cif7ykz6s to find out what days are still open. Please provide your phone and mailing address so we may mail you your admission ticket. For more information, contact Susan Burks, Forestry Invasive Species Program Coordinator, St Paul at 651-259-5251 or email Susan.burks@state.mn.us . Training along with written and verbal instructions will be provided prior to your shift.
Adopt-a-River Exhibit
Volunteers are needed to staff our outdoor booth/tent, and explain DNR's Adopt-a-River Program to fair-goers. The Adopt-a-River Program encourages Minnesota volunteers to adopt a section of a lake, river or pond, to ensure its long-term health through annual cleanups. Training materials will be emailed/mailed to volunteers prior to the fair followed up with a phone call from Adopt-a-River staff. Volunteers must enjoy meeting people, have some natural resource experience or education, and must be able to physically set-up and take down display materials.
Volunteers are needed all 12 days of the fair. Shifts are 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM or 1:00 - 5:30 PM. Only the 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. will be available on Sundays during the fair. Contact Paul Nordell at 651-259-5630, Analeisha Vang at 651-259-5620 or email Adoptariver.dnr@state.mn.us
Bee and Butterfly Special Events Volunteer
It is estimated that almost 90 percent of the world's 250,000 flowering plants depend on animals—mostly insects such as bees and butterflies —for pollination. More than one third of all human food comes from plants pollinated primarily by bees. But bee numbers have been dropping – rapidly! Habitat loss, pesticide use, diseases, parasites, and the spread of invasive species are the major causes of pollinator decline.
Help educate others at the State Fair by sharing information about native pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles), native plants, the Minnesota Biological Survey, and what the public can do to help them thrive. Volunteers must be able to commit to up to 3 hours per shift on Tuesday, August 26, either 9 AM – 12 Noon OR 12 noon – 3 PM.
Volunteers will transport, set up, and take down a pollinator display with handouts and interact with visitors to share information about native pollinators. Training will be provided. Volunteers will set up and oversee hands-on pollination games for kids, count the number of booth visitors, and report back.
Volunteers should have experience working with children and/or adults in an informal learning setting and experience staffing booths at special events or festivals. They should be comfortable speaking in public, sharing handouts, and learning more about Minnesota's native pollinators. The ability to carry 25 pounds and have reliable transportation is required.
For more information, contact Crystal Boyd, Native Bee Specialist, Minnesota Biological Survey, St. Paul, at 651-259-5699 or email crystal.boyd@state.mn.us