Volunteer at Wabash Riverfest July 8, 2023
Join the dedicated team of volunteers who make Wabash Riverfest a reality. This event wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable support of our volunteers.
Volunteers make Riverfest possible
In addition to enjoying our festival as a participant, we have lots of different opportunities to experience Wabash Riverfest as a volunteer. Volunteer slots are typically close to two hours. There’s something for everyone at various experience levels and different levels of physical ability. Volunteers should be at least 16 years old, and those under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Try-a-canoe
Experienced paddlers are needed to take both kids and adults out on the Wabash for a fun and safe first experience in a canoe. Teach basic paddling and take a short trip away from the Purdue Crew boat dock and back. Paddling experience necessary.
Face Painting and Coloring Station
Hang out near the center of the action at Wabash Riverfest and paint festival goers faces or help kids color nature pictures. No experience needed! We provide paints, templates, crayons, and coloring pages. No heavy lifting required, and picnic tables provided.
Volunteer booth and Info Booth
We need volunteers to help festival participants and volunteers find the bathroom or the various festival activities. Volunteer booth volunteers will check in volunteers, provide them with a t-shirt, and direct them to their station. Info booth will give basic festival information to festival goers. Chairs provided!
Bike Rodeo
Bike rodeo volunteers will fit children with free helmets, direct them through a bike course, and teach them on-the-road safety practices like signaling and right-of-way. Volunteers will be on their feet, but not lifting heavy items.
Clean up Rafts
Float trip participants will pull their boats out of the water near the Brown Street Overlook. Raft clean up volunteers will help haul rafts up and carry them to the clean up area, spray rafts off, and wipe them down. Heavy lifting and walking is involved!
Set up and tear down
Setting up the festival and tearing it down is a big job! Volunteers will set up tents, place signage, pick up trash, pack up supplies, and place chairs and tables. Heavy lifting and lots of walking are involved!
Volunteer Perks and Benefits
When you commit to volunteering for 4 or more hours, you’ll receive your choice of one reward. Plus, every volunteer can snag a free t-shirt, if they’d like one.
- Free Rain Barrel
- Contribute to water conservation with a complimentary rain barrel for your home.
- Native Tree or Shrub Voucher
- Enhance your garden with a free native tree or shrub that supports local biodiversity. Voucher codes can be used in the Tippecanoe Soil and Water Conservation District fall tree and shrub sale.
- Book: Nature's Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy
- A grassroots approach to conservation, this book shows how homeowners can turn their yards in to conservation corridors.
- Book: Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West
- A practical guide that describes how to incorporate and layer plants into plant communities to create an environment that is reflective of natural systems and thrives within our built world.
- Book: Rain Gardens by Lynn M. Steiner
- Learn about city grants, calculating runoff, rain barrels, attracting wildlife, gray water recycling, and much more in this guide on planning, building, planting, and maintaining your rain garden.
- Book: Prairie Up by Benjamin Vogt
- A guide aimed at gardeners and homeowners to utilize design principals and plant ecology to rethink traditional planting and maintenance.
