Volunteer Requirements

Who volunteers for a Red Feather build?
Red Feather volunteers come from all walks of life. Some are contractors with decades of experience. Some have rarely picked up hammers. Some are college students. Some are tribal members. Some are retirees. Some are working professionals who take time off from work to assist us with our efforts. Red Feather does not discriminate and embraces volunteers regardless of age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

What are desired qualities for volunteers?
While there is no recipe for the perfect volunteer, there are many qualities that are essential. These include, but are not limited to: the ability to work well with a diverse group of individuals, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, resiliency, and a positive attitude.

I am Hopi or Northern Cheyenne. Do I need to apply to volunteer within my own community?
No. The success of our organization is dependent upon the participation of volunteers within their own communities. If you would like to volunteer for an extended period of time and are interested in paid training, check out the Indigenous Builders Exchange.

I am an American Indian, but I am not Hopi nor Northern Cheyenne. How can I participate in the project?
Red Feather waives the volunteer fee for any registered tribal members (or equivalent) who wish to volunteer on a project. We ask that volunteers from other American Indian Nations fill out a volunteer application.

Work Responsibilities

What is a work day like on a Red Feather project?
Typically, we work from 8am until 5pm with a one-hour lunch break and two shorter breaks in the morning and afternoon. Depending upon the demands of the project, volunteers may be asked to work beyond 5pm on certain days.

What types of responsibilities might a volunteer have?
A volunteer's role is highly dependent upon the individual. Volunteers with limited construction experience may work directly with a team leader to accomplish certain tasks, while more experienced volunteers may be asked to lead small groups of volunteers under the direction of our Construction Program Associate. Volunteers will never be asked to do jobs outside of their comfort or skill level.

Travel

Does Red Feather provide airport pickup for volunteers?
No. Our focus is on the construction of homes for tribal members. As a result, it is each volunteer's responsibility to arrange for transportation to the build site.

Is there a way that volunteers can connect for carpools or to share a rental car?
Yes! Our website has a rideshare board where volunteers can network with one another to minimize the amount of energy needed to attend our projects.

Do volunteers need to have a vehicle while attending the project?
It depends. Much of a volunteer's time is spent at the project site, where we work, eat, and sleep. If a volunteer needs to do laundry or run errands away from the site, there are typically other volunteers that are willing to give that individual a ride. Due to limited parking space at some builds, Red Feather prefers that those volunteers with the ability to arrive at the site without a vehicle do so.

Accommodations

Where do volunteers sleep during Red feather projects?
Volunteers are expected to bring their own tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads for camping during our projects. On most projects, the camping area is directly adjacent to the build site.

Is it possible to attend the project with a recreational vehicle or camper?
Depending upon the project, there may be room to accommodate RVs or campers. Sewer or water hookups are not available.

Are there bathrooms available for volunteers?
Typically, the only bathroom facilities are port-a-potties and an outdoor hand washing station.

What facilities are available for showering?
Each volunteer is expected to bring a solar shower bag to the project. The shower bags are used inside of our shower tent, which consists of partitioned shower stalls to provide privacy.

Can volunteers stay in hotels?
For a number of reasons, we highly encourage volunteers to stay in the camping area. A large part of the volunteer experience is being part of a community of diverse individuals working together to accomplish a meaningful task. Also, there are limited public accommodations in the areas we typically serve; staying in a hotel may require a 30 mile or more drive.

Can volunteers bring their pets?
We discourage volunteers from bringing their pets to the project. There are many dogs on the reservation, and some can be aggressive. A small French poodle might not fair too well on the project. Any pets that attend must be treated with tick repellent medication.

Food

How are volunteers fed during the builds?
Each day, several volunteers are assigned to kitchen duty and are responsible for preparing and serving food for the rest of the volunteer community. The kitchen volunteers provide volunteers with three meals and two snacks per day. Food is stored, prepared, and served under the shelter of our kitchen tent and kitchen trailer.

How does Red Feather accommodate volunteers with special dietary needs or restrictions?
We make every effort to allow for dietary needs, but volunteers should not expect gourmet meals. The camp kitchen has soymilk available, and we include vegetarian options at all meals. If you have special dietary needs that require you to bring or purchase foods outside of what Red Feather provides, do not assume or expect that any specialty items will be available locally.
Due to very limited kitchen and refrigeration space, volunteers are not able to store personal food in the camp refrigerators. We recommend that they bring their own cooler.

Will I be responsible for cooking while on the build?
Every volunteer should be prepared to serve on the kitchen crew for at least one day per week.

Is it possible to volunteer solely to work in the kitchen?
Yes! Volunteers that support our efforts by working exclusively on kitchen duty should be comfortable with preparing meals for groups of up to 30 people, including vegetarians.

What do volunteers need to bring for utensils, dishware, etc.?
Red Feather provides utensils and dishware for volunteers. Volunteers should bring their own personal water bottle with their name clearly marked on the side. Red Feather will provide cold water dispensers for all volunteers, and we can avoid the mess of paper cups if all volunteers bring their own plastic water bottle.

Recreation

What happens when we're not working?
Much of our down time is spent socializing with other volunteers and community members. At times, there are evening programs initiated by Red Feather staff, volunteers, or tribal members. Depending upon the locale, there may be the opportunity to swim, hang out by a campfire, visit local cultural sites, or take a short hike. While we like to provide as many opportunities for leisure and education as we can, completing the construction project on schedule is our first priority.

What types of cultural opportunities are available?
Typically, there are a number of cultural opportunities available for Red Feather volunteers. Availability generally depends upon the time of year in which we are building, and the level of involvement by the local community. Potential opportunities include: presentations by local artisans, access to meals cooked by tribal members, working with tribal members, and seasonal festivals.

Do volunteers get days off?
We try to allow for volunteers to have one day off per week, depending upon the construction schedule.

How much money should I bring to the project?
It depends. Most expenses (food, camping space) are included in the volunteer fee. Volunteers may want to bring money for laundry; buying items from local vendors, stores, or artisans; or to pay for entrance fees to local parks, cultural centers, etc.

If you have further questions, feel free to e-mail us at info@redfeather.org.