Volunteering FAQ

Q: Will volunteers be camping in the BLD?
A: Word Play Cafe does not have its own camp. The dome is located in the BLD Village but volunteering with Word Play Cafe does not imply or require camping in the BLD. We welcome volunteers from anywhere!

Q: Are there any dues?
A: There are no dues or fees associated with volunteering with Word Play Cafe.

Q: Will there be food provided?
A: We’ll keep volunteers refreshed with morning coffee and unlimited ice-cold water throughout the day. Hydration is key! Plus our Chief Energy Officer will provide hearty provisions for the Build and Strike teams, and snacks for our volunteers working the M-F shifts.

Q: Can I get early entry to help with the build?
A: Maybe. We’ll be reaching out to the Build volunteers directly to discuss.

Q: Does Volunteering help me get a ticket? (This year or next)
A: Based on the awesome success of Word Play Cafe last year, we were able to get access to directed sale tickets for our core team and a few folks who volunteered significantly last year. We hope that next year we will be able to get more but at this time there are no guarantees.

Q: How do I sign up to volunteer for Word Play Cafe?
A: Check out the roles here, and then sign up here

Q: Is there any pre-event training I need to do?
A: We’ll get you up to speed during the first few minutes of your shift, and we’ll also send out a brief guide for you to read a few weeks before the event.

Q: What happens if I need to change my schedule after I sign up?
A: Make your change in Sign Up Genius by August 20. After that date, please contact us at [email protected] or find one of the leads in the dome and let us know.

Q: Can I bring my child(ren) to the dome while I’m working?
A: We welcome children! Please use your judgment about whether they can safely hang out in the dome while you are on shift. Kids can help with many jobs! (Children should not come during Dome build and strike shifts.)

Q: Do I need to be good at word puzzles in order to be a game tender?
A: If you are a Playmate, you will be initiating and playing games with visitors, so it’s good to have at least an interest in word games. 🙂 Other roles don’t require any special word game skills.

Q: What are your policies around COVID19?
A: Word Play Cafe will follow the same guidelines as the official volunteer departments at Burning Man. We expect these to be as follows:

• No vaccination or testing requirement to volunteer with or to enter Word Play Cafe.
• If you feel sick, test positive, or are exposed to covid, please cancel your volunteer shift and let a project lead know.
• Masks will not be required in the dome.
• You are always empowered to wear a mask if you want.
• Hand sanitizer will be available.
• We’ll periodically sanitize the tables and materials.