Community Service | Beltane Southwest

Beltane does not just magically happen. It comes about with the help of its awesome volunteers and the participants’ community service. We thank each and every one of you who attends and takes your turn in one way or another to serve for the benefit of all. We have zero paid staff, so every bit of the work that is required to run the event, from checking people in at the gate to running rituals to refilling handwashing stations to transporting the Maypole to dousing the fires at night, and everything else in between, is provided by festival attendees. We are proud to say that our festival family takes service seriously – 97% of our 400+ celebrants contributed at least one shift last year, and many people took several shifts! This allows us to keep ticket prices low, and helps to build a sense of community and shared purpose among participants.

Community service shifts are two hours long and are available in the following areas:

Order of Ma’at: Staff the Gate, check people in when they arrive and help with event orientation.
Order of Seva: Help attendees with work-shift sign ups and assist Gate personnel.
Order of the Dagda: Assist Gate personnel and festival attendees with necessary odd jobs. Good slot for youth attendees! Dagda volunteers get double raffle tickets for their service.
Order of Themis: Promote and support community standards of care for one another and the sacred land upon which we celebrate.
Order of Vulcan: Fire circle safety, especially ensuring that all sacred fires are doused each night.
Order of Hygeia: Assist with site cleanup, recycling & trash pickup.
Maypole Transport: Bring the Maypole from offsite onto the ritual grounds, and remove the Maypole from the earth and return it to its resting place offsite. Upper body strength required.
Silver Moon: Act as dispatcher to call Silver Moon personnel if help is required. Promote responsible behavior and safeguard the health and safety of all. NOTE: At least one person per shift must be 18+.

Sign Up For Your Service Shift

WORK SHIFT REQUIREMENT: This event runs on volunteers who do 2 hour work shifts in any of several areas required to keep the event running smoothly. All attendees over 12 years old are expected to work a shift unless specifically exempted by the Event Coordinator. Vendors are exempt.

WAIVER AND RELEASE:I acknowledge that Beltane Southwest is an outdoor camping experience held in a remote wooded area, and entails inherent known and unknown risks which can result in injury to myself and others, or damage to property, including but not limited to uneven walking surfaces, lack of sanitation, wild animals, poisonous plants, extreme weather, exposure to fire and smoke, and lack of water. I understand that it is my responsibility to be adequately prepared for any eventuality with appropriate camping equipment, clothing, food, water, and other necessities.

I assume full responsibility for all bodily injury, death, loss of personal property, and expenses arising from the inherent risks of participating in this event, from any unknown, unanticipated, or unforeseeable risks, or from the ordinary negligence of myself or Beltane Southwest. I release and agree to hold harmless and indemnify Beltane Southwest and its associated officers, board members, volunteers, and other related parties for any and all injury, damages, or claims which are in any way connected to my participation in Beltane Southwest. Should Beltane Southwest, or anyone acting on its behalf, incur attorney’s fees and costs to enforce this waiver, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs, damages, judgments, and settlements. New Mexico law governs this waiver and any action related to it must be filed in the Second Judicial District of New Mexico. This waiver is severable: if any part is unenforceable, the remainder is in force and effect.

In the event I am injured, I give permission for volunteers to render first aid in accordance with their judgment and training, and agree to hold them harmless for any assistance rendered. I also give permission for transportation to any medical facility or hospital.

I agree to abide by the rules of the event, the regulations of the US Forest Service, and applicable state and federal laws. I will comply with decisions of Beltane Southwest coordinators and volunteers regarding questions of behavior or safety. I understand that failure to follow the rules may result in injury to myself, injury to others, ejection without refund, and a ban on future attendance at the event.

I certify that I am 18 or older and (if applicable) that I am the legal guardian and/or parent of minor children attending Beltane Southwest, with authority to sign this document on the minors’ behalf. By signing this waiver, I acknowledge that it is legally binding and I am waiving my legal rights. I have read and understand the waiver, and I agree to be bound by its terms.