Winter Count

As the gathering hosts, we are happy to provide a chance for people to attend who may not be able to afford to pay the registration price or may just wish to trade work for entry. To accommodate such needs, we have a few work exchange positions available. Applicants must be over 18 to apply.

For Winter Count 2024, worktrade applications will be available on November 1, 2023 and must be to the crew leaders by December 1, 2023 unless enough applications have come in and we close it early. Best to get the application in as soon as  possible. 

We have decided to follow suit with some other gatherings by charging a $25 non refundable application fee. There are a few reasons we are doing this and we are happy to explain it but not here.... give us a call if you are interested.
If you apply for worktrade and don't get on a crew but still want to attend WC as a participant, the $25 admin fee will be credited to your registration fee.

IMPORTANT -Please note that we typically have many returning worktraders each year which means open slots can be few. This should not stop you from applying, but keep in mind that the crews will not be notified of who is coming until  January 1.

If you do not get on a crew, a suffucient number of tickets will be held back and you will have until Jan. 7 to sign up for regular registration through the website. This is to assure that you do not miss registering while you are waiting to hear back on a work crew.

​Camp Set-up and Take-down: 
The crew arrives Wednesday night and starts work Thursday 9am through Saturday sometime during the day, before the event and cleanup Saturday the day the event ends. The job is complete when camp is secured.

We will be digging sump holes, setting up the kitchen, wall tents, flies, jelly fish, teaching areas, signs, bulletin board, firewood, main fire set up, etc. A good working knowledge of basic knots is highly recommended, i.e. trucker’s hitch with a slippery figure 8, bowline, half hitch, square knot, clove hitch and sheet bend.

During the event, there may be a few jobs you will be called upon to do: checking wrist bands, etc. Applicants should understand that the work is rigorous and entails lifting heavy objects. We may work long days!

This is a full registration trade postion.

Dinner Crew: 
Kitchen staff orientation starts at 10am Sunday morning. We will not be serving breakfast so our kitchen work trade crew will be smaller than past years. Everyone will be expected to help with kitchen breakdown after the event on Saturday morning.  

Kitchen crew will be required to lift heavy pots, chop/cut vegetables for long periods of time and follow directions!  If you have personal issues with authority...please do not apply.  You will also be required to follow health code rules when working with food.  This means close-toed shoes, tying loose hair back, wearing gloves, shirts, etc.  

The job requires that we prepare a meal for 500-600 people in a 2 hour period, which does not allow for tardiness or visiting with friends outside of the crew while working.  We all enjoy having fun and working together in the kitchen but the first priority is feeding the camp. Kitchen crew members must have a current Food Handlers Card and must show proof of having it (any state will do). They can be obtained online for about $10. AZ Food Handlers Permit

This is a full registration trade position.

Cleaner Uppers:
You will be required to help with meal clean up starting at 6:20 pm for about 1 hour at each meal. It will start with dinner on Sunday, Feb. 19 and may end with kitchen pack up on the following Saturday morning, Feb. 25. The job encompasses 6 dinners.
This position will deduct $115 from your registration fee.

Servers:
Servers will start with dinner on Sunday, Feb.19  and end with dinner, Feb. 25. It includes 6 dinners. You will be expected to be ready to serve at 5:55- 6:25 pm.The time commitment is 25-30 minutes per meal.
Servers must have a current Food Handlers Card and must show proof of having it (any state will do).  They can be obtained online for about $10. AZ Food Handlers Permit

This position will deduct $65 from your registration.

NOTE: All exchanges and trades must be worked out in advance. Do not show up at the gate and expect a work trade position. If you know you need to work, plan it in advance.  You must fill out a work agreement form in order to be eligible.