Volunteer for a Special Event

Come and join us!
Help With a Special Event

President's Park hosts a number of large events throughout the year. We often look for volunteers to provide help to visitors in many different ways during these events.

Typical events include:

• White House Garden Tours (spring and fall)
• Easter Egg Roll
• Lighting of the National Christmas Tree
• Inauguration
  

More information about current available special event volunteer opportunities may be found below. If you interested in volunteering at any of these events, please email the volunteer coordinator or call 202-208-1631.

If you would like to volunteer on a regular basis, our ongoing volunteer needs are described on the Volunteer page. All volunteers must complete the volunteer application before beginning service.

 

Upcoming Special Events

 

White House Easter Egg Roll (April 1, 2013)
Time commitment: 7 am to 11 am; 10 am to 2 pm; 1 pm to 5 pm (all positions full, 3/14/2013)

Required Orientation: March 30, 2013 9:30 am (meet at Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of E Street, NW and 15th Street, NW)

Volunteers will be needed to assist with crowd control as guests and their families make their way onto the White House grounds. Volunteers should be comfortable in dealing with large groups of people outdoors. The day will be spent outside on The Ellipse and adjacent areas, rain or shine. Paid public parking is available at the Reagan Building (entrances off 14^th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW or at 13½ Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue). The closest Metro station is Federal Triangle on the Blue and Orange lines. This volunteer opportunity would be good for groups or individuals. Volunteers should be at least 15 years old and comfortable with large crowds.

Please note: this event is scheduled to take place as planned, but is subject to cancellation due to funding uncertainty surrounding the Executive Office of the President and other federal agencies. If cancelled, the Easter Egg Roll will not be rescheduled.

White House Easter Egg Roll Setup (March 16, 2013; March 23, 2013)
Time commitment: varies, approximately 2 hours on either day (all positions full 3/16 and 3/23)
Update: March 16, 2013 volunteer opportunity canceled due to rain. Volunteers who had previously signed up to volunteer on March 16^th may come on March 23^rd.

Volunteers are needed to help with setup on the Ellipse for the Easter Egg Roll. Working outside, volunteers will help set up fencing and rope lines for visitors waiting to enter the Egg Roll to be held on April 1, 2013.

Please wear or bring:

• closed-toed shoes
• water
• comfortable clothes
• work gloves, if you have them

If you would like to sign up to volunteer for Easter Egg Roll Setup, please apply through volunteer.gov or following these links: to sign up for March 16, click here (all positions full); to sign up for March 23, click here (all positions full).

 

57^th Presidential Inauguration
Volunteers Needed January 19 and 21, 2013
Time commitment: varies, see below

Help support the inauguration and inaugural events! Join tens of thousands of guests and staff at the inauguration and associated activities to celebrate the inauguration. You can expect to spend time outdoors for several hours interacting with visitors from across the world. Meals and orientation provided. Time commitments will vary based on date and availability. Volunteers are needed to assist with two main positions: visitor services and shuttle bus drivers. Please carefully read the full position descriptions below (PDF files) before applying.

Note: If you are volunteering on January 21, 2013, you should have received information about the required orientation on January 17th at 5:30 pm.

Visitor Services (position description - PDF)

Volunteers are needed to provide general visitor services--orientation and information--at visitor contact facilities during the Presidential Inauguration. Primary duties will be to provide visitor orientation and basic information about the Inauguration, National Mall, and Washington, D.C.Volunteers will also assist park staff with crowd control.

General information about the National Park Service, the city, and the Inauguration events will be provided at a volunteer orientation. Please be prepared to stand for long periods of time in cold or inclement weather.

Please be prepared for large crowds in the hundreds of thousands. Meals and drinks will be provided.

There are no shifts currently available for this position.

Shuttle Bus Driver
(position description - PDF)

We are looking for volunteers with great driving records to drive 15-passenger staff shuttles during the Presidential Inauguration. Primary duties will be to drive staff shuttles short distances between sites along the National Mall.

General information about the park, the city, and the Inauguration events will be provided at a volunteer orientation.

Please be prepared for large crowds in the hundreds of thousands. Meals and drinks will be provided. A current valid driver's license is required as is a good driving record.

There are no shifts currently available for this position.

 

Lighting of the National Christmas Tree (December 6, 2012)
Time commitment: 11 am to 7 pm

We are currently seeking volunteers to help with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree ceremony to be held on Thursday, December 6, 2012. A longstanding tradition currently held on the Ellipse just south of the White House, the tree lighting ceremony includes nationally known performers, an address by the President, and, of course, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. Volunteers can expect to give directions to visitors attending the lighting ceremony and to act as ushers, helping them to find their seats. Volunteers will also aid in scanning tickets, keeping exits free, and assisting with crowd control.

Come join us as we begin the nation's celebration of Christmastime here, next to the White House in Washington, DC!

Approximately 10 lead volunteers will be required for this event. Please indicate on your application and tell the volunteer coordinator if you are interested in being a lead volunteer. A mandatory training session for lead volunteers will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 9:00 am.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact the volunteer coordinator or call 202-208-1631 no later than Wednesday, November 21, 2012. You will need to complete a volunteer application (PDF).

Pathway of Peace Nightly Performances (December 11 to December 23)
Time commitment: weekday evenings; weekend afternoons or evenings

Volunteers are also needed to help with the nightly musical performances that are part of the Pathway of Peace which features a tree from every state and territory adjacent to the National Christmas Tree. Each musical performance features local (and not-so-local) groups. Volunteers will meet and greet these volunteer performers.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact the volunteer coordinator or call 202-208-1631 no later than Monday, November 26, 2012.

 

Fall Garden Tours (October 13, 14, 19, & 20)

Autumn has arrived and with it comes garden tours of the South Lawn of the White House. Volunteers at this event will help visitors navigate to the South Lawn as well as helping to distribute tickets.

Thank you for your interest. At this time, volunteers are not needed for this event. Please contact us in early 2013 if you are interested in volunteering for the spring garden tours.