Volunteer at a WordPress Event

Function: Organize
Type: Team
Level: Beginner

Sign up to volunteer at a WordPress event like a WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They’re one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more.. You’ll help with registration, room support, or other tasks that keep the event running. Volunteering is a common first step toward becoming an event organizer.

Before you start

Complete the common setup first, then:

Read: Volunteers – Make WordPress Community
Connect: Join #community-team on SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/ and introduce yourself

Steps

Find an event that needs volunteers. Visit events.wordpress.org and look for a WordCamp or other official WordPress event near you. Check the event site for a “Volunteer,” “Call for Volunteers,” or “Get Involved” page. You can also ask in #community-team if any upcoming events need help.
Apply to volunteer. Fill out the volunteer form on the event site, or contact the organizers directly. Share your availability, note any role preferences, and mention any accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) needs. No prior experience is required.
Join the event communication channels. Once accepted, join any event-specific Slack channel, email list, or group the organizers use. Make sure you know how the team will reach you before and during the event.
Learn your role. Read any volunteer briefing or schedule you receive. Common roles include registration desk, room support, greeter, speaker support, and Contributor DayContributor Day Contributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/ https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/ support. Attend an orientation session if one is offered.
Show up ready to help. Arrive early for your shift. Help attendees with directions, check-in, and questions. If you don’t know the answer to something, ask an organizer rather than guessing. Follow the Code of Conduct and escalate any safety or conduct issues to an organizer right away.
Wrap up and stay connected. Finish your shift responsibilities and return any supplies. If the event collects feedback, share what you learned. If you want to keep contributing, volunteer at another event or explore joining the community team.

Contribution checklist

Applied to volunteer at an official WordPress event
Completed at least one volunteer shift
Stayed connected with the community after the event

What happens next

After you apply, expect to hear back from the event’s organizing team within a few weeks. Response time depends on where the event is in its planning cycle. If you don’t hear back, follow up on the event’s communication channel or ask in #community-team.

Once you’ve volunteered, you’ll have a good sense of how WordPress events work. You may even have a new badge on your profile; if not, your organizing team can help. We recommend joining the community team meetings, staying involved, and considering organizing another local event.