Core Co-Leaders: Quandary, Selkie
Email: rangers@fireflyartscollective.org
Firefly Rangers are friendly, radio-equipped volunteers who work with participants and other volunteers to help Firefly run smoothly.
Rangers are friendly Fireflies working with other festival participants over the course of the event. As a Ranger, your main responsibility is to be helpful and easy to find. You should expect to actively walk* around and participate in the event!
Rangers connect participants with resources in the community. We encourage self-reliance, individual accountability, and shared responsibility among Fireflies. Rangers keep an eye out on safety, guide the lost, and help where they can. Rangers balance addressing fellow Fireflies’ concerns with not getting in the way of participants’ experiences. Being a Ranger is a commitment to aid and facilitate the community, and it is a very enjoyable one.
Rangers are encouraged to actively participate in Firefly even when on shift. They do it while remaining sober, friendly, and keeping track of their radio. You need to have a straight head and be willing to listen to people. You can, and should, watch, enjoy, and involve yourself in the goings-on. You are the eyes and ears of the event and you help hold it all together. You may head off a problem before it gets serious. Communication is a powerful tool.
This is a great way to volunteer if you like people and enjoy helping them out on a personal level. You do this while contributing to the safety and smooth flow of the event. It mostly involves walking* around the event, looking at cool stuff, and paying attention to your surroundings.
Anyone with decent people skills can become an excellent Ranger. That said, this is a great volunteer opportunity for participants who have been to Firefly before or have served as Rangers at other Burner events.
* Low-mobility Accommodations
Rangers are committed to the community’s efforts to make Firefly as accessible as possible. To that end, we are encouraging those with limited mobility to volunteer as Rangers. We will arrange low-mobility training (alpha) shifts on a case-by-case basis, and Echelon is a stationary role at Ranger HQ open to anyone who has done at least one previous shift (including that low-mobility alpha shift).
Even for Dirt Ranger shifts, if you are having a hard time walking around the event, let your partner and Khaki know and they will be accommodating. That said, if you plan to do a Dirt shift, it usually will involve some walking.
Volunteer Requirements
Rangering is a great volunteer opportunity for Firefly participants. To qualify to be a Ranger at Firefly we highly suggest you have been to at least one Firefly or served as a Ranger at another burner event.
Training Courses
Whether you hope to ranger for the first time this year, or if you’ve been a Ranger for a decade plus, rangers train every year. Gotta grow our skill base! We work well together as a team and a core because we train together for it.
Firefly Ranger trainings are offered on several dates in June (see below).
Black Rock Ranger training also qualifies you having been trained that year for the Firefly Rangers, but we ask that you also attend at least the first part of a Firefly Ranger training for Firefly-specific information.
2025 Ranger Training Dates
We want to make sure you can attend the right training for you at a convenient time for you, so this year’s schedule boasts more trainings than we’ve ever offered (it goes to eleven, including those at Safety Third!).
- Ranger Training Alphas & Vets (virtual via Zoom)
- Thu., June 12, 7-9pm
- Sat., June 14, 2-4pm
- Mon., June 16, 7-9pm
- Thu., June 19, 2-4pm
- Wed., June 25, 7-9pm
- Khaki Training
- Wed., June 18, 7-9pm
- Sun., June 22, 7-9pm
- On-site Ranger & Khaki Training (if you missed the virtual trainings)
- Wed., July 2 morning, time TBD. Meet in-person by the Stage.
The Zoom room will open ½ hour before your training begins. Please arrive online before the start time. You will be expected to be ready to go *before* training begins promptly on the stroke of the hour—no time to waste! Please do not attempt to log in at 7:03pm—you will be late & you will disrupt the start of the training for everyone else who was on time (i.e. early).
About 2025 Training
Full training is about 2 hours. We are asking ALL Rangers to attend training this year. If you are an experienced Ranger, plan to attend at least the first 30-45 minutes for some important Firefly-specific updates (and if you can, please stick around to share your experience and insight for newer Rangers).
To sign up for training, please fill out this form:
If you need to change or cancel your training, **please email** rangers@fireflyartscollective.org.
To Volunteer for a Ranger Shift
Shift sign-up is through the Firefly Volunteer System. Sign-up for Ranger shifts is live. Sign-ups require filling out the Ranger Volunteer Form for the current year. Please allow at least 48 hours after filling out the form for us to unlock volunteer shifts for your account.
Alpha Shift
New, prospective Rangers must also complete a successful Alpha (training) Shift at the event to become a full-fledged Ranger.
Ranger Teams
Rangers who have completed at least one year of Rangering are also encouraged to volunteer on Ranger Teams. Ranger Teams organize and facilitate the operations of the Firefly Ranger Organization. These are the Rangers that run Ranger Trainings, run Ranger Socials, keep Ranger documents up-to-date, set up and tear down the Firefly Ranger Headquarters, and so much more.
If you are interested in any of the Ranger Teams: Social, Personnel, Training & Education, Logistics, Khaki Coordination, or Communications, please email rangers@fireflyartscollective.org.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about the Rangers, Trainings, or Teams, please email rangers@fireflyartscollective.org.
For more information you can also view the most current Ranger Manual [updated for 2025].
See you in the woods!
– The 2025 Ranger Council
Quandary & Selkie, 2025 Ranger Co-leads