Arctica: Ice Sales at Burning Man

Volunteer FAQ

Do I need a ticket to Burning Man to volunteer with Arctica?

    • YES! You must have a Burning Man ticket to volunteer with Arctica. Arctica does not provide tickets to volunteers.

Can I earn a ticket to Burning Man if I volunteer for enough shifts with Arctica?

    • Unfortunately not. Arctica does not offer tickets to volunteers (directed, staff-priced, or otherwise).

I volunteered for a Pre-Event shift. Will I receive a SAP (Setup Access Pass)?

    • Yes! All pre-event volunteers will receive 1 SAP, valid the day before their first shift.
    • For example: If your pre-event shift is on Friday, you will receive 1 SAP, valid on Thursday at 12:01 AM.
    • Sunday is considered a pre-event shift, as volunteers will require a SAP to arrive on Saturday.
    • SAPs are sent out via email in mid-August.

I have a Pre-Event shift and am traveling with others. Can they receive SAPs as well?

    • Arctica only provides SAPs to pre-event volunteers. We do not provide SAPs to anyone who is not volunteering with Arctica pre-event.
    • It is your responsibility to ensure everyone in your vehicle has a valid ticket and SAP when you arrive at Gate.

Can my travel mates also volunteer during my Pre-Event shift?

    • If there are shifts available, absolutely! Please keep in mind that Pre-Event shifts are very popular and tend to fill up quickly. It is highly recommended that you plan ahead and sign up early to avoid disappointment.
    • For info on how to sign up to volunteer with Arctica check out our Shift Sign-Up Walkthrough.

There is no availability during the Pre-Event shift I signed up for. Can you create a role so my travel mate can join me?

    • No. We are very intentional about the roles and numbers required for each volunteer shift. Adding extra people can create more work for our crew and can present safety risks if our ice houses become over-crowded.

Can I camp with Arctica?

    • Sadly no. We wish we could host our volunteers, but there are too many of you and our space is too small to make the process equitable. There are TONS of great theme camps out there, however.
    • To learn more about theme camps on playa check out: https://burningman.org/event/participate/camps/

Do Arctica Volunteers receive any SWAG?

    • YES! We offer swag to all of our volunteers (think: drink coozy, bandana, etc.). What we offer can change year over year, so the best way to find out what this year’s swag is is to sign up for a shift!

Are there any other perks for Arctica Volunteers?

    • We provide ice-cold beverages for our volunteers.
    • All volunteers are welcome to bring home 1 bag of ice (either block or crushed – your choice) at the end of each shift.
    • Sometimes participants will give a tip at the end of their transaction (we do NOT solicit for tips). Volunteers have the option to keep their tips or donate them. Donations are distributed to 2-3 local charities/non-profit organizations each year.

I have additional questions. Is there anyone I can talk to?

    • If you have a question that isn’t covered in this FAQ, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinators at ice-volunteers@burningman.org.
    • Keep in mind that our VCs are also volunteers! They may not be able to respond right away, so please be patient. It is very helpful to list *all* questions in bullet-point format in a single email.