Want to Inspire Kids of all ages to create? Become a VT Maker Festival Volunteer!

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The VT Maker Festival is returning to the Northern Virginia Center on October 1, 2016. Our goal is for learners young and old to embrace the idea that "science is bigger than you think." Science is a way of knowing about everything - people, trends, living things, economics, how things move, what people buy, probabilities, stars, animals, history, memory, physics, and so much more. We hope that young learners especially will see college in their future and Virginia Tech in particular as the place to come to learn how to solve the problems of the world. The event is free for all attendees.

This is a great opportunity to serve your community, receive service hour credits, and make a difference.

Volunteers will be able to work in the following facets:

Logistics Event Support - - Assists with various projects around the festival from setting-up and tearing down event areas to helping with the operational and hospitality sides of the festival site. This role can require heavy lifting.

Set-Up - This role includes a variety of set-up tasks for the entire festival site, including preparing the exhibitor areas, hanging signs and banners, putting up barricades, tents, tables, chairs, etc. Some heavy lifting is involved, as is interacting with exhibitors, event coordinators, and volunteers.

Tear Down - Duties include taking down signs and banners, assisting exhibitors with tearing down, cleaning trash from the surrounding areas. Some standing, bending, lifting 25 lbs or more, and interacting with exhibitors, event coordinators, and volunteers will be required in this position.

Volunteer Check-In Coordinator - Responsible for checking in volunteers as they arrive for their shifts and directing volunteers as needed. Will also be responsible for labeling volunteers' valuables, storing volunteers' personal items, and managing communications for festival coordinators. Assist with various exhibitor credential pick-up and check-in locations for festival exhibitors and sponsors.

Crowd Control Director - This is a physically active position that requires facilitating smooth pedestrian traffic flow throughout various lab tours, monitor attendees, and maintaining clear walkways and aisles

Volunteer Relief - Responsible for relieving various shifts and documenting volunteer transitions.

Festival Floater - Responsibilities will include being flexible and adaptable to any role that may need additional assistance. Requirements - Flexibility and a can do attitude! Also responsible for keeping various festival sites tidy and clean during each hour.

Information Booth Wiz - Provides information to festival attendees and helps maintain all of the various Point-of-Interest (POI) areas in the festival. Will also manage the main information booth, distribute festival maps, handle lost children, operate lost and found, and distribute first-aid supplies.

Table Activity Volunteer - Responsible for the table’s science activity. Each Activity Volunteer will be taught the easy tasks needed to run the table’s exercise and interact with the kids directly. Managing materials associated with the activity is required and shifts last about 4 hours long. Chairs will be provided.