Frequently Asked Questions

Once you register to volunteer our Volunteer Coordinator will begin to build your schedule. They will send you a confirmation that will include where and when you’ve been scheduled.

Please note, as the Energy Fair approaches, the Volunteer Coordinator will try their best to schedule all the volunteers who register, however, due to the high influx of submissions, they may have to build your schedule when you arrive at The Energy Fair. 

If you have any questions or need to change your schedule please contact us at volunteer@midwestrenew.org or by calling 715-592-6595.

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@midwestrenew.org

There are many ways to get involved as a volunteer with MREA. Your volunteer efforts will help promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living.

Some volunteer opportunities include:

Street Team who helps us promote The Energy Fair. These volunteers play an important role in spreading the word by distributing promotional materials and/or sharing The Energy Fair on social media. Please fill this form out if interested. Materials will be ready by April and can be picked up on Move Some Earth Day. 

Join us for the transformation of the grounds for The 31st Anniversary Energy Fair! Move Some Earth Day (MSED) is an annual volunteer day that happens rain or shine. MSED be held on May 9th from 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Coffee, light breakfast, and an energizing lunch will be provided. Click here to RSVP or contact 715-592-6595 or email volunteer@midwestrenew.org with your name, address, phone number, and any dietary restrictions you may have.

Check out our other volunteer opportunities to make a difference year round!

Below are the volunteer jobs you can sign up for:

• Pre-Fair Volunteer
  • Help prep before the Fair; as early as Monday the week of The Fair! Heavy & light work available
• AV Volunteer
  • Assist with AV equipment, testing equipment, and workshop AV
• Front Gate, Membership, & Will Call Volunteer
  • Greet, answer questions, sell tickets and/or memberships, and assist with will call badge pick up and sign in
• Marketplace Volunteer
  • Sell Fair tickets, extended workshop tickets, and MREA merchandise
• Food Service Volunteer
  • Prepare and/or serve food, clean up the cafe and/or dining event areas
• Bartending Volunteer
  • Work under our Lead Bartender and serve beer (must be 18 or over and sober)
• Tidy Tent Volunteer 
  • Set up and take down tents. Assist in flipping, organizing, and tidying tents for each event
• Security Volunteer
  • Monitor entrance gates, wristbands, unauthorized traffic & support security staff
• Traffic Crew Volunteer
  • Direct traffic on Deer Road and parking lots
• MREA Info Tent & Silent Auction Volunteer
  • Answer questions of fair attendees and help set up, monitor, and tear down silent auction

• Grounds Crew Volunteer
  • Empty garbage, recycling, and compost bins and educate fairgoers about waste
• Demo Derby Volunteer
  • Assist the area lead with set up, monitoring, and take down of the Demo Derby
• EV Charging Volunteer
  • Check in, schedule, and help escort cars to their scheduled charging stations
• Campground Volunteer
  • Maintain campgrounds and manage shower trailer
• Energy Pro Facilitator Volunteer
  • Introduce & assist speakers, check tickets/roster, clean-up extended workshop area, and distribute & collect evaluations
• Volunteer Tent Volunteer
  • Direct volunteers to designated areas and act as a point of contact for volunteer information

• Pedal Power Volunteer
  • Pedal bikes to power our Main Stage during events! (Very specific times)
• Promotion Volunteer
  • Take pictures of the happenings and events at the Fair
• Rainbow’s End
  • Help with workshops and monitor the free kids play area
• Take Down Crew Volunteer
  • Tear down and help clean up – Take Down starts Sunday and goes until Tuesday, June 30
• Post Fair Volunteer
  • Help with data entry, inputting survey results, and organizing

Stay after The Fair on Sunday for our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner!
There are so many ways to make an impact at The Energy Fair! It would not be possible without the 300+ volunteers who help make the fair a success. Without their help, the fair just wouldn’t happen. We hope you will join us as we pave the way to a more sustainable future!

Please note that the volunteer tent does change locations and availability and does not have a place to store personal valuables. 

When you arrive, please check-in at the Volunteer Tent 

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your first scheduled shift to:

• Sign-in at the volunteer tent
• Complete a volunteer waiver if you haven’t already done so already
• Receive your Hardcore Volunteer T-shirt if volunteering 12+ hours
• Receive your admission wristband or Hardcore Volunteer Badge
• Verify if your shift(s) still work for you or if they require adjustments
• Pick up a map/ instructions for you volunteer shift(s)
• Grab some coffee and/or water before you head out (please bring a refillable mug/bottle to help reduce waste)

When you are done for the day, please sign-out at the Volunteer Tent (on Friday and Saturday after 7:00 p.m. the sign-out sheet will be at the Front Gate).

Why do you have to sign-out? Signing out helps us know the total hours you volunteered that day and allows us to build a better volunteer program in future years!

If you could arrive 15 minutes before your first volunteer shift, that would be great! During that time we’ll have you officially sign in, fill out your volunteer waiver if you haven’t already done so, get you a wristband or badge, pick up your volunteer shirt (if you’re volunteering 12+ hours) verify your shift and adjust as necessary, and make sure you know where to go for your shift.

Yes, please! Signing out helps us to verify the hours you completed and gives us a more accurate picture of how many hours were volunteered in total over the course of the event. This helps us to plan for the next event!

MREA’s volunteer station does change locations and availability. Please take note below.

Though the volunteer station may be closed, volunteers are welcome and encouraged to work shifts before and after those hours, sometimes those are the times we need help the most! 

• Monday-Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Location: MREA Office Building
• Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  Location: Volunteer Tent
• Friday-Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  Location: Volunteer Tent
• Friday-Saturday: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  Location: Front Gate
• Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Location: Volunteer Tent
• Sunday: 5:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.
  Location: Near Beverage Tent

You may sign up to be an Energy Fair volunteer here.

Volunteer schedules will be sent out in the Spring of 2020! Our Volunteer Coordinator will try to match your availability, interests, passions, and abilities to the best of their ability.

Please note that some areas of The Energy Fair have their own high priority times or specific times when they operate. For example, our Pedal Power Ambassador position has very specific times that we require volunteers as they are powering our Main Stage for keynotes or live music.

The Volunteer Coordinator will try their best to schedule you in your chosen area(s), but sometimes positions fill faster for some areas or other areas may require more volunteers to effectively operate.

After you receive your schedule, please confirm that your volunteer schedule works for you. If it does not, then the Volunteer Coordinator (volunteer@midwestrenew.org) can work with you to reschedule your shift(s).

In previous years the volunteer waiver was in effect for one year from the signing date. Although, due to the turnover of the AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator position each September, the volunteer waivers have changed. Waivers are now effective beginning with the AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator position in September and ending with the Volunteer Coordinator’s position the following September. This will allow for better tracking and a smoother transition for the following AmeriCorps member at MREA.

Volunteers that donate 2+ hours of their time receive a day pass (in the form of a color-coded wristband) to the Energy Fair. Volunteers that donate 12+ hours of their time receive a weekend pass (in the form of a badge) to the Energy Fair. These passes are located at the Volunteer tent. Pick them up before your shift when you sign in at the Volunteer tent!