Volunteering with Bass Coast is an invitation to collaborate with us and share in our creation of something very special.

Reading this handbook all the way through will ensure your volunteering experience is a smooth and memorable one.

Bass Coast Festival is held in the city of Merritt in the Nicola Valley. Merritt is 270 km northeast of Vancouver. For more information about Merritt, check our website here.

You can download the full directions to our Staff Gate and A Gate, where you will check in when you arrive on site, on our website here.

Please take a moment to learn about the area. Bass Coast is held on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux and Syilx people.

We Are Nlaka'pamux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESGaLTsxBU

MANDATORY VIEWING:  BASS COAST TRAINING VIDEOS

Bass Coast has produced 6 short training videos for all Bass Coast team members, artists and in-house participants. These videos will cover cultural appropriation

consent, harassment and bystander Intervention, local cultural knowledge, and harm reduction. Please watch all 6 videos and complete the quiz before you arrive onsite.

https://basscoast.ca/bass-coast-team-education-series - Site password: AVANTGARDEN

LINK TO QUIZ

Orientation Meeting

Please arrive to the volunteer orientation meeting that will take place on July 6th at 1:30 PM at the Volunteer Center.

Arrival Dates

If your volunteer shifts are between: June 26 - July 6 please arrive the day before your shift.

For all shifts between (July 7th - July 14th), you may arrive on Thursday, July 6th at noon. 

IMPORTANT 

Anyone who is not volunteering will be turned away pre show. They can enter the site when gates open to the public with the appropriate ticket. 

Which Gate Do I Go To?

For arrival between June 25-July 4, check in is at the Staff Gate.

For arrival between July 5-8, check in is at the A Gate.

For arrival between July 9-14, check in is at the Staff Gate.

• Please bring 2 forms of Gov't ID.  

• After you receive credentials, drive to the designated Volunteer Camping in Ventura.

There is a $20 re-entry fee per vehicle if you need to leave Bass Coast site for supplies during show days. 

Site Map

Ticketing

You will receive an email with the header Bass Coast 2023 Volunteer Schedule. Please accept your shifts by following the link. In June you will be sent a QR code for access to the gate.

Staff Gate Hours:

• June 25th to July 1st: 8am - 6pm
• July 2nd to July 4th: 8am - 12am
• July 5th to July 6th: 9am - 12am
• July 7th: 9am - 1am
• July 8th : 9am - 10pm
• July 9th: 9am - 4pm
• July 10th: CLOSED

A Gate Hours:

• July 5th: 12pm - 10pm
• July 6th to 7th: 9am - 10pm
• July 8th: 9am - 6pm
• July 9th: CLOSED

Camping Locations

Volunteer camping is now in the designated area in Ventura Campground see map. Ventura Campsite opens on June 26th to volunteers and staff who will be working onsite at that time. 

Campsites A, B, C and Ventura are closed until Wednesday at noon when open to the public. Volunteers and Team may join the gate line up to move sites at 1pm Wed - not before. Please do not move your camp while on shift as it could take multiple hours to move through the line and set up camp. There is no 'skip the line’ for IN HOUSE Volunteers & Team on Wednesday - even with a wristband.

On Wednesday at 1:30 pm, Volunteers & Team (in-house) can move to GA and skip the line if they have a wristband and have no other GA ticket holders in their vehicle.

Leaving Bass Coast

The festival is over at 9am on Monday July 10th. Please plan ahead to be rested and ready to leave by 5pm if you are not scheduled to work during the post-show period. Plan a designated driver if needed. We encourage you to take the time you need to rest, pack your campsite and belongings thoroughly and feel ready for the journey ahead.

Before leaving your campsite, walk a grid and ensure that you have LEFT NO TRACE. That means no glitter, no feathers, no bobby pins, no orange peels, no trace. Please bring all recycling, garbage and compost to the dedicated stations set up. Help us take care of the land.

When volunteering at Bass Coast, you are committing to be part of an exciting and creative transformation.  We depend on you to help make magic happen! Together, we work to ensure all patrons, guests and artists attending Bass Coast are well taken care of. We ask that you show courtesy and consideration to the festival guests as well as to your colleagues. While you’re on shift, you are a representative of Bass Coast, and we ask that you are friendly, upbeat and engaged when interacting with all involved! 

PLEASE DON’T 

• Use profanity 

• Play on your phone 

• Come late or leave early 

• Chat too long with friends while on shift 

For more info check out our Code of Conduct and read our FAQ to familiarize yourself with the many questions you may be asked during your time volunteering. 

SUPPLIES 

You may not have time to return to your campsite during your volunteer shift. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen, clothes for a change in weather, a hat, and anything else you think you might need for your day. 

SIGNING IN AND OUT 

Please report to your volunteer manager at the volunteer centre or at the location you have been directed by your manager, 15 minutes prior to your start time and check out with them before you leave shift. If you do not do so, we will assume you have missed your shift. There are certain teams with exceptions to this. These volunteers will be communicated with directly.

MISSED SHIFTS AND LATE POLICY 

Every volunteer is required to be on time, present and SOBER for their shifts. If a shift is missed, you risk forfeiting your entire deposit. Please check in at the Volunteer Center to speak about replacing a missed shift. This INCLUDES transportation issues and travel plan changes. If you miss one of your shifts due to an emergency, please inform us. If you are more than 15  minutes late for your shift, you will be replaced. If you are not sober, you are in Violation of the Code of Conduct. The decision to reschedule or forfeit your deposit is up to the discretion of your manager.

HYGIENE

Hygiene is very important. Bass Coast will have hand sanitizer on-site, but it is recommended you come with a personal supply. Your manager will inform you of any additional special hygiene or cleaning precautions relevant to your team. There is not a mask policy on-site, but you may see people wearing masks. You may also notice some people being less comfortable with hugs or touch. This is a personal choice based on a person's individual comfort, job, and assessment of risk. We ask that you help us uphold consent culture and not interrogate or harass people for their choices around this.

Festival safety is everyone’s responsibility, no matter what team you are on. Everyone on site plays a role in harm reduction, as we are all the eyes and ears of the festival. As you participate, please take care of yourself and each other. Remind people to take breaks, drink water and come pop by the Harm Reduction space for a break as needed. Check in with anyone looking confused, lost or unwell and remind them where Harm Reduction is located.  We will be offering support, harm reduction supplies and information all weekend.

Harm Reduction services are open to patrons and everyone involved in the festival. There is zero judgement if you come in needing supplies or to ground yourself in the Harm Reduction area. If someone is having non-medical distress such as anxiety, looking lost or upset, please walk them to Harm Reduction which is on the path to Slay Bay as you enter the forest (it’s a large space, you can’t miss it). 

Consent Culture

We are all responsible for promoting consent culture. Checking in on someone who looks uncomfortable is as easy as: “Hey! My name is Sam, and it’s my job to make sure everyone is feeling good all weekend. Are both of you alright? Can I help you with anything?” Don’t hesitate to involve security in helping address any creep vibes onsite.

Naloxone / Narcan FAQ

There are many team members and volunteers trained in administering Naloxone. We will not have formal training for additional teams onsite. There will be naloxone placed in strategic locations around the festival site that First Aid can administer if appropriate. Naloxone (Narcan) is for use with opioid overdoses only; fentanyl, heroin or codeine. In case of an overdose, First Aid will be on the scene within minutes. The best action to take is to open the patient's airway and assist them with rescue breathing if necessary. Getting rescue breaths into an opioid overdosing patient is the primary action to be taken. (See details below).

FIRST AID 101

If you see someone in need of medical attention, find someone with a radio immediately and have them call First Aid. Team members with radios are located at Camp A, B, C and Ventura outposts, harm reduction lifeguard chairs at the back of every dance floor, General Store, Volunteer Centre, bar managers or any of the festival gates. All security members have radios. First Aid teams will move quickly to help.

How to Call for First Aid and Manage Medical Distress

Ensure you provide First Aid with the three most important pieces of information they need: 

• Who you are 
• Where you are
• What is happening (keep it simple i.e. “I am with an unconscious patient”)

The First Aid l team will move quickly to help you, once you call for their assistance. The following are some basic steps that can help you while First Aid arrives at your location.

BASIC FIRST AID

ASSESS: Try to get a handle on the patient's condition. Breathing? Pulse? Somewhat responsive or unresponsive to pain stimulus (do not hesitate to apply a STRONG pain stimulus to an unconscious patient)? 

REPORT: Report the incident to First Aid: Who are you? Where are you? What has/is happening?

Open the AIRWAY.

Administer CPR if needed until medics arrive. Please do not administer any medications of any kind to the patient without notifying First Aid. If the patient is conscious and can instruct you to help them take life saving medications (eg. EpiPen) please do so and notify First Aid.

Fire Safety

If you see a fire:

1. Inform Security, First Aid or any team member with a radio.
2. Give Dispatch as much info as possible on location and what is burning.
3. FIGHT the fire ONLY if it is small and you are able to.
4. Evacuate all guests and patrons in immediate danger to a safe location. (200 ft away)
5. Help people requiring assistance
6. Proceed to a safe area and wait for the fire response team.

Bass Coast has a recovery and evacuation plan in place. Should the area require evacuation, our trained team members will give you instructions as to what to do should an event of this nature occur. 

Bass Coast takes place in a very dry climate and we need your help to prevent fires. Please dispose of any cigarettes in designated bins and encourage your community to do the same. Pocket ashtrays are available at the General Store. 

Lost and Found

Bass Coast Lost and Found is located next to the General Store. The Lost and Found station is for both team members and guests to inquire about any lost items, or to drop off any found items. The Lost and Found station will be manned during the day only from 10:00am - 5:30pm. The Lost and Found team cannot retain or store any large lost or found items.

Q: What if I’m arriving with someone that has a GA ticket?

If you are sharing a car with a GA Ticket Holder and need to enter the site before 12pm on Thursday, July 6th , here are your options:

IF YOU ARE NOT DRIVING

It's best to get your driver to drop you off at the Staff Gate, grab your items and enter through the Staff Gate.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING

You will be able to enter through the Staff Gate or A Gate. General Admission ticket holders will need to enter at the Main Gate or A Gate on the day for which their ticket is valid.  

VEHICLE PASS

Volunteers do not require a purchased vehicle pass.  They will be given the required vehicle pass upon check in.

Q: Why do I need to pay for a volunteer deposit?

We ask all first time volunteers to pay a deposit to secure their position at the festival. This is to ensure that volunteers attend the festival and complete all their shifts and duties. In order to ensure individuals adhere to the volunteer terms and conditions, we do require everyone to pay a deposit. 

Returning volunteers who are scheduled to work after July 6th will be required to provide a credit card for a pre-authorization at check in. This hold will be removed after shifts have been completed.

Q: When do I get my volunteer deposit refunded?

DEPOSITS

Your volunteer deposit (less $49.23 processing fee and service charges) will be refunded once completion of assigned shifts have been confirmed by team leaders (within 30 days of the festival ending).

REFUNDS

Bass Coast ticketing company will process the refund on the same credit card used to purchase your deposit. Refunds will be processed by July 31st. We are unable to process refunds on site.

NO PARTIAL REFUNDS

You will only receive a refund if you have completed all of your scheduled shifts. We do not provide partial refunds.

Q: If I have a GA ticket, can I transfer it to a Volunteer Deposit?

The volunteer deposit is separate from the Bass Coast General Admission (GA) ticket and they are not interchangeable. GA tickets are non-refundable, so if you have already purchased a GA ticket, and are wanting to volunteer, you will need to sell your GA ticket yourself. Please look here for more information Buy/Sell Tickets.

Q: Are meals provided to volunteers?

You will receive dinner on each day that you are volunteering. Please bring a glass free reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery for coffee, water and food. We will not have dishware available and plastic water bottles will not be sold on site. Thank you for helping us reduce waste. Please make sure to have your Meal QR code when arriving for your meal. The QR code will be emailed to you by late June.

Q: How do I know what my shifts are?

You will receive an email from the volunteer coordinator. In some cases, your department head will reach out to you individually to set schedules.

Q: I’m hoping to catch a ride with someone. Can you tell me how?

Please check out this page: Ride Share. is also the Bass Coast Shuttle bus that leaves from Vancouver on the Friday morning and from the festival on Monday mid-day. However, that might not give you enough time to fulfill your volunteer hours.

Q: What should I pack and bring to the festival?

We encourage you to prepare for all weather. It can be very cold at night and hot during the day. The temperature and weather conditions can change dramatically. Bring rain gear, warm layers, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, hiking shoes, water shoes, a water bottle, cooler, snacks and anything else you will need to be comfortable throughout the weekend.

Bass Coast is a camping festival. Secure all tents with rebar as it gets extremely windy in the afternoons. All your equipment will have to be able to withstand the elements and provide you with the comfort you need to stay at Bass Coast. Installing a shade structure can significantly lower the temperature of your campsite, providing a cool and comfortable environment.

Find helpful information in Bass Coast First Timer's Guide.

Bass Coast Emergency Line: 1-672-699-6606

Festival FAQS

Online Schedule

Site Maps

Harm Reduction

Sustainability

Towards Equity

Bass Coast Harassment and Assault Policy

Bass Coast App