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SHN 2025 volunteers

Sea.Hear.Now 2026

Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate.
Volunteer roles include no monetary compensation.
Volunteers must provide their own transportation to the event. Parking and shuttle service is not provided. We encourage taking public transportation, carpooling, walking, or biking.
Water is provided, but you must bring your own empty reusable water bottle and refill it from the free hydration stations at the Festival.
DO NOT EAT DURING YOUR SHIFT. It is not fair to your fellow volunteers if you leave your post. We do not provide food or snacks. Please eat before and/or after your shift.
Failure to perform duties as expected/required may result in dismissal from the Sea.Hear.Now (SHN) Festival grounds and the Volunteer Program. It will also affect future placement in the program.
A volunteer must complete the Festival volunteer assignment in a satisfactory manner (i.e. reporting on time for all shifts, staying the entire shift, wearing assigned volunteer identification during shifts, and respecting other volunteers, staff, performers, and patrons of the festival).
Use of alcohol and/or controlled substances before or while on duty is strictly prohibited. Violators will be subject to immediate dismissal from the SHN Festival grounds and the Volunteer Program.
Missing (or not completing) an assigned shift or shifts will jeopardize participation as a volunteer in the future.
All volunteers understand that they are representatives of the Surfrider Foundation and must abide by all rules and regulations outlined by the host venue while supporting us.
Volunteers are only permitted to sign up for themselves. You cannot register your friends, family members, or anyone else on their behalf. Each registered volunteer must have a Golden account tied to (at minimum) their full name and email address.
The event will happen rain or shine. If you have committed to volunteering, you will still be expected to show up for your selected shift. No-shows will be flagged and banned from volunteering in the future.
All volunteer positions focus on patron services and are "front-of-house" roles. Some roles are mobile and some are under tents. We do not have backstage, VIP, medical, or production positions for volunteers.

Perks

The biggest perk is free entry into the Festival on the day you volunteer! Before and after your volunteer shift, you are free to enjoy the event. If your shift begins in the afternoon or evening, you can check-in early to receive your credentials and enjoy the Festival.

You’ll get a limited edition volunteer t-shirt which you must wear while you’re on your shift ONLY. Once your shift is over, you will need to change your shirt, but you may keep it as a souvenir of your contribution to the Festival.

Last, but not least, you’ll be part of a team that’s putting on a one-of-a-kind event. It’s a fun way to meet people with shared interests and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you were not only a big part of making the festival happen, but also making it a clean and green one!

Dawn Patrol

Yoga and Pre-Event Setup
2 shifts: Sat & Sun, 7am - 12:30pm

The Gig: Your shift starts bright and early to assist with our morning beach yoga sessions. You will greet and check in participants as they arrive, keep the vibe zen, and ensure that everyone completely exits the festival grounds once the yoga session wraps up.

Post Show: After the yogis exit, the hustle begins! You will help set up the Rock & Recycle tent with essential supplies and meticulously organize the prize t-shirts for easy distribution to the patrons who participate in the program.

The Welcome Wave

4th & 7th Entrance / Merch Greeters
4 shifts: Sat & Sun, Shifts 1 and 2

The Gig: You will be a patron’s very first interaction with a Festival Volunteer. You will welcome crowds, answer basic questions, adapt quickly to crowd flow, and help manage heavy foot traffic areas to keep lines moving smoothly onto the sand. This is a fantastic spot to listen to live music from the Park Stage while you work!

The Merch Tent: You will direct the flow of patrons into organized lines at the merchandise tent, ensuring buyers utilize all open registers for a quick checkout.

Rock & Recycle (R&R) Hype Crew

Main Rock & Recycle Tent
6 shifts: Sat & Sun, Shifts 1, 2, & 3

The Gig: You are the main point of contact at our recycling booth. You will welcome patrons, distribute empty collection bags, and check in filled bags as people return them. You will keep the t-shirts organized by size and ensure returned bags are filled.

The Rewards: You will manage the eco-prizes and hand out the exclusive festival t-shirts to patrons who successfully complete the recycling program. You are also under the tent 90% of the time so you're slightly protected from the elements.

Rock & Recycle (R&R) Roadies

R&R Roamers
4 shifts: Sat & Sun, Shifts 1 and 2

The Gig: You will walk the festival to promote the Rock & Recycle program directly to the crowds. You will carry a lollipop sign to grab attention, hand out recycling bags, and show off the exclusive prize t-shirt. Mobile teams will also keep an eye out on the grounds to help identify areas that need attention (overflowing recycle bins, for example).

The Goal: Drive engagement by encouraging patrons to participate in keeping the festival grounds clean and earning their rewards.

Troubleshooting

If you have issues accessing your Golden Opportunities when you click the links above, it is likely because:

You have not completed the required credentials needed this year to qualify for “first dibs.’ Please check back within 24hrs when this opportunity will open to the public.
You have not claimed your Golden account. You will need a Golden volunteer account. You can create this free account using your personal email address: https://volunteer.surfrider.org/account/login
When entering your info after selecting your role and time, be sure to use your full first and last name as it appears on your Golden profile. If they don't match, you may see an error after signing the waivers.

For any other issues, please contact seahearnow@jerseyshore.surfrider.org