2026 Flint River Flotilla Fest

Flotilla 2026 Volunteer Job Descriptions

Email or call Jaime Welch at jawelch@gcparks.org or 810-618-0361

We're looking for 30-50 volunteers to help make the Flint River Flotilla 2026 a huge success!

All volunteers must be at least 18 years or older and will be provided with a free Flotilla 2026 t-shirt, water, snacks, and our undying gratitude. See descriptions below:

Week of July 27th-July 31st (time tbd)

River Clean-up - Removing obstructions and marking areas to block off. 10 volunteers

Friday, July 31st (time tbd)

River Set-Up - Assist prior to the Flotilla on the river with set-up & marking obstructions. 6 volunteers

Saturday August 1st (setup)

Set-Up at Mott Park (7am-10am) - Assist with setting up tables, signs, decorations, banners, etc. 3 at Mott Park

Set-Up at Tenacity (7am-10am) - Assist with setting up tables, signs, decorations, banners, etc. 5 volunteers at Tenacity

Set-Up at Bridges (7am-10am) - Assist with setting up tables, signs, decorations, banners, etc. 2 volunteers at Bridges

Saturday August 1st

Mott Park Parking Logistics (9:15am-1pm) - We need volunteers to pull some double duty to ensure participants have an easy time parking and loading onto the shuttle. We would like to keep the cars entering Tenacity lot to drop offs only, with a minimum of actual parking at Tenacity. Participants can drop off other participants/equipment, as long as they are only there temporarily. Please direct all other traffic to Mott Park Recreation Area. A map will be provided. Exceptions include the shuttle bus, truck and trailer, river staff and helpers. 2 volunteers

Roaming Photographer (9am-1pm) - Taking photos of all the cool things! Take lots of group photos in front of backdrops, encourage folks to post their photos to social media 1 volunteer

Roaming Photographer (12pm-4pm) - Taking photos of all the cool things! Take lots of group photos in front of backdrops, encourage folks to post their photos to social media, hand out stickers during afterparty 1 volunteer

Tenacity Parking Enforcer (9am-1pm) - Assist participants who are dropping off boats, and instruct all other vehicles on where they can park at Mott Park. 2 volunteers

Participant Safety Checks (9:15am-12pm) - Hand out liability waivers on clipboards to folks in line for registration. Ensure minors have a guardian sign for them. Ensure all participants have a life jacket or are going to purchase one. Ensure all participants know how to check their jackets for fit, and that all are fitted and fastened before entering water. 4 volunteers

Registration (9am-12pm) - Assist with registration and hand stamps. 8 volunteers

First-aid station at Tenacity (9am-12:15pm) - Assist with any minor first-aid needs, potential volunteer EMT to be present 2 volunteers

First-aid station at Mott Park (10:30am-1pm) - Assist with any minor first-aid needs, potential volunteer EMT to be present 2 volunteers

Merch sales and Equipment pickup (9am-12pm) - Assist with any equipment rentals, volunteer kayak pickups, and merch sales prior to afterparty. You will have a list of pre-registered participants that just needs to be highlighted when they pick up their equipment. You will also have a list of rentals for volunteers, again just highlight when they pick them up. All participants and volunteers need to complete a liability waiver. 2 volunteers

Merch sales and Equipment return (12pm-4pm) - Assist with any equipment rental returns, volunteer kayak drop-offs, and merch pickup and sales during the afterparty. You will have a list of pre-registered participants that just needs to be highlighted when they drop-off their equipment. You will also have a list of rentals for volunteers, again just highlight when they return their items. 2 volunteers

Kayak rentals and Inflation Technician (9:15am-12pm) - Run the air compressor to inflate rafts. 4 volunteers

Kayak Porters (9:15am-12pm) - Help carry kayaks and floats to launches if participants need assistance. 4 volunteers

MC at Tenacity (9am-12:30pm) - We need to communicate important safety information to participants, as well as do a little entertainment during registration and launching. 1 volunteers

MC at Mott Park (10:30am-12:30pm) - We need to communicate important safety and afterparty information to participants, as well as do a little entertainment during landing and loading up. 1 volunteer

MC at Tenacity (12pm-4pm) - We need to communicate important afterparty information to participants, as well as do a little entertainment during the festivities. 1 volunteer

Launch Assistants (9am-11am) - Ensure no one enters the stairs without a wrist band and life jacket that is fastened, help escort traffic down the stairs, help get crafts down to water, help participants enter river. 6 total volunteers

Launch Assistants (10am-12pm) - Ensure no one enters the stairs without a wrist band and life jacket that is fastened, help escort traffic down the stairs, help get crafts down to water, help participants enter river. 6 total volunteers

Bridge Spotters (9:30am-12:30pm) - We’re putting people on the water, so our bridge volunteers need to be on the lookout for any participants in distress. In addition, our bridge watchers have a prime location for shooting some photos! 8 volunteers

River Spotters (9am-1pm) - Experienced paddlers on the water in the front, middle and back of the pack. Look out for any participants in distress; providing help if any issues arise. 10 volunteers

River Exit Assistants at Mott Park (10:30am-12:30pm) - Help people out of floats and help lift boats up shoreline if necessary. 6 volunteers

River Exit Assistants at Mott Park (11:30am-2pm) - Help people out of floats and help lift boats up shoreline if necessary. 6 volunteers

After-Party Clean-Up (3:30pm-5:30pm) - Assist in tear-down and clean up of the after party. 6 volunteers