Loppet Volunteer Opportunities

• City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival: Help make The Loppet’s iconic winter festival a success on January 31 and February 1. Register here to volunteer.
• Luminary Loppet: Help make the magic for The Loppet’s largest fundraiser of the year on February 7! Register here to volunteer.
• We are looking for Lead Volunteers! We depend on lead volunteers to coordinate specific areas of our events and help organize and train event day volunteers. Please look at the position descriptions below and emails events@loppet.org if you are interested in being a lead!
  • Lead Volunteer: Parking & Transportation
  • Lead Volunteer: Start Area
• Trail Kids: Ongoing. Be a Trail Kids coach! We are looking for coaches year round for trail running, mountain biking, and cross country skiing. Learn more here.
• Group Volunteering: Did you know that we happily host groups of volunteers? We love working with high school athletic teams, corporate teams, family reunions – you name it! There’s no group too small or too big to make an impact. If you’d like more details, feel free to email volunteer@loppet.org and we can find an opportunity that works best for your group.

Volunteer Areas

Events

Loppet Events are a great way to help the Loppet Foundation realize its mission of getting folks outdoors. All kinds of volunteer help is needed: make ice luminaries, course marshal, aid station help, set up and clean up help, and much, much more. Visit the various event sites to sign up for a volunteer shift (or several!). Email us at events@loppet.org.

Adventure Programs

Loppet Adventure Programs volunteers assist with a Junior Loppet middle school team, volunteer with the Minne-Loppet programs in the elementary schools and assist ski and run club coaches.

Trail Kids

Loppet Trail Kids provides year round outdoor active adventures club for youth ages 7 – 13 years old. Kids enjoy activities throughout the year that include mountain biking, orienteering, canoeing, adventure running, and cross country skiing. Contact trailkids@loppet.org for information on current or upcoming Trail Kids volunteer opportunities.

Trails

The Loppet Foundation is constantly undertaking trails related projects in Theodore Wirth Park and welcomes volunteers in all capacities to help support the trails. Throughout the year, we have specific volunteer event days where we recruit individuals to help with the trails, along with ongoing projects which have no set date. Please contact us at volunteer@loppet.org if you have a large group that would like to volunteer together, so we can best accommodate your request.

Volunteer Guidelines

• Volunteers must register online in advance. This is extremely helpful for planning purposes and to ensure we have emergency contact information for everyone. Thank you!
• If you need to cancel, email your task coordinator directly or volunteer@loppet.org to let us know you will no longer be joining us.
• Please arrive 15 mins before schedule time to allow time for orientation, team organization, finding locations, etc.
• The Loppet Foundation is not responsible for lost or stolen items such as backpacks or tools. Please be careful with personal gear.
• Please plan to assist for your entire assigned assignment. If you leave early, you may compromise the safety of participants or spectators. If you need to leave early in the case of an emergency, please notify your volunteer shift leader.
• Pets are not permitted.
• Age restrictions apply to certain jobs. Please do not bring your children with you unless they are registered as volunteers. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied/managed by an on-site parent/guardian or group leader. Please contact volunteer@loppet.org if you have any questions regarding children volunteering for any particular task.

Volunteer Code of Conduct

The Loppet is committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and play an important role in creating and sustaining a culture that exhibits the Loppet’s mission and values.

The following expectations apply to all volunteers at all events, programs, trips, and anywhere else a volunteer represents The Loppet in any capacity. We believe that articulating our values and accountabilities to one another reinforces inclusion and respect. We are committed to upholding and evolving this code as our organization grows.  Volunteers are expected to contribute to a collaborative, positive, and healthy environment in which we can all feel genuinely included, respected, and valued.

Volunteers are expected to:

• • Respect & Anti-Racism: Treat others with respect, fairness, equity and dignity. Always communicate respectfully and honestly and assume positive intent with all interactions.
  • Duty: Perform their volunteer role to the best of their ability in a safe and efficient way.
  • Policies: Follow the Loppet’s policies and procedures as well as any instructions or directions reasonably given to them. Direct any questions regarding the Loppet’s policies, procedures, support or supervision to the volunteer’s supervisor.
  • Dependability: Meet time and task commitments and provide sufficient notice when they will not be available so that alternative arrangements can be made.
  • Safety: Follow all safety rules, including those that help keep others safe and healthy, based on any training you’ve received. If you see anything unsafe, let a Loppet staff person know right away.
  • Conflict of Interest: Declare any interests that may conflict with their role or the work of the Loppet (e.g. business interests or employment). If any doubt arises as to what constitutes a conflict of interest, volunteers may ask appropriate Loppet staff.
  • Dress: Please wear appropriate, respectful clothing for the task you will be performing.
  • Media: If you are asked by a media member to be interviewed regarding the event or The Loppet, our policy is that you respectfully decline and refer them to a Loppet staff, depending on the nature of the interview request. While volunteers are the backbone of this event, you do not want to put yourself into a role of being a spokesperson for the event. It is of course acceptable to become involved in friendly conversations with media who may be asking for directions or local information or if they are asking about your personal experience as a volunteer. 
  • Stewardship: Treat all resources (natural, financial, equipment, etc.) with the utmost respect and care.
  • Wellbeing: Acknowledge the impact of words and actions, recognizing that intent does not negate harm caused. 
  • Inclusion & Collaboration: Be open to exploring new perspectives and approaches, even when they challenge your personal beliefs.
  • Play & Growth: Volunteering is a way to deepen your connection to the community and embrace the opportunity to learn new things! And most of all volunteering is FUN!

Volunteers are expected NOT to:

• Engage in any activity that may cause physical or mental harm or distress to another person (such as verbal abuse, belittling others, physical abuse, assault, bullying, misgendering or discrimination or harassment of any kind). Do not use language that could belittle, insult, or confuse someone, no matter their role or responsibilities.
• Be affected by alcohol, drugs, or medication which will impair their abilities to carry out their duties and responsibilities while volunteering.
• Provide a false or misleading statement, declaration, document, record or claim in respect of the Loppet, its volunteers, or staff.
• Engage in any activity that may damage property or engage in illegal activity while carrying out their role.
• Take unauthorized possession of any property that does not belong to them, including but not limited to: equipment, technology, program materials or curriculum, loppet data, contacts, files, and/or intellectual property of the Loppet.
• Improperly disclose, during or after their involvement with the Loppet ends, confidential information gained during their role with the Loppet

When a volunteer is found to be in breach of the standards outlined in this Code of Conduct or any of the Loppet’s other policies and procedures this may result in responses ranging from a conversation to termination.

Thank you for being a volunteer with the Loppet!