Eagle Cap Extreme (ECX) offers about 250 volunteer job opportunities. ECX breaks jobs down into small, manageable units to make them attractive and satisfying to a large cross-section of people.

Volunteers with a can-do attitude and ready for on-the-job training do just fine. Don't let a lack of experience stand in your way. We all learned on the job. We encourage you to take on a little bit at first and expand where your interests take you.

When volunteering for ECX it is important to answer these questions:

1. How much time can you comfortably handle?

2. Can you work during the week, weekends, or both?

3. Can you only work from your home?

4. What experience do you have that could benefit ECX and the race?

5. Do you prefer indoor only work, outdoor only work, or a combination?

6. If you can work outdoors do you have the attitude, stamina, clothing, and equipment to keep you safe and happy?

7. Could you share a job with a friend?

Jobs during the year include event planning, office assistance, fundraising, pamphlet making, media writing, equipment procurement and repair, and public relations.

Pre Race preparation includes inventory checking, cleaning, transportation, checkpoint set ups, office set ups, trail maintenance, copying, billeting, musher packets, communications, merchandize, trophies, banquet planning.

During the race combines all of these plus dog handlers, office assistants, road guards, communication aides, drivers, checkpoint crews, trail crews, start finish crews, vet crews, merchandize crews, and banquet crews.

All Around Helpers:

Willing to volunteer wherever needed. Indoors or out. Varied hours and work assignments.

Banner/Sign Placement:

Placing and picking up banners and signs in designated areas before, during, and after ECX events.

Banquet Team:

Helps banquet coordinator. Available tasks include food prep, food serving, decorating tables, set up, seating, entertainment, ticket collection, and clean up.

Brochure/Banner Distribution:

Hand delivers brochures and handouts to Sponsors, Local Merchants, and Media Outlets. Transportation is a plus.

Checkpoint Set Up/Take Down:

Assists Checkpoint Managers in hauling in and setting up remote camp equipment such as tents, stoves, latrines, wood piles, and kitchen areas. Snowmobile and snowmobile experience a plus. Winter working conditions. Good health and strong resolve are a benefit.

Communications:

Communications are the nerve system of the race. Communicators tie the race together by using a variety of communication options to ensure a smooth and safe race. Workers use ham radios, landline phones, cell phones, internet, and line-of-sight radios to communicate with the public and other workers. Communicators fill out forms and pass on information. Spots are available in the Joseph Area and the backcountry area. Amateur radio license is a plus. Able to work in a noisy, fast-paced environment.

Crowd Control/Parking:

Provides guidance to the public and participants in designated areas.

Delivery Personal:

Pick up from local merchants and suppliers food, equipment, and supplies and deliver them to designated distribution points.

Dog Handlers:

Assist mushers in team control and safely handle sled dogs at the race start. Work is outside and proper winter clothing is necessary. Works with Dog Handling Coordinator and Start Chute Boss.

Equipment Inventory:

Help inventory, track, and repair all race equipment.

Fund Raising/Sponsorship:

Helps the Sponsorship Coordinator solicit new and continuing sponsors for the ECX. Prepares sponsorship packets and presents them to prospective sponsors. Basic computer skills and fundraising experience are helpful.

Grant Writing:

Assists the ECX Board of Directors in procuring grant funds. Good phone, verbal, and written skills. Grant writing experience is a plus.

Media/Public Relations:

Helps with the content, design, and distribution of public relations information and materials. Creates press releases and media packets for news reporters.

Merchandise Sales:

Helps the Merchandise Coordinator sell ECX merchandise at Race Central, the Vet Check areas, the Start /Finish areas, and the Banquet. Can get involved with internet sales if interested.

Musher Coordinator Assistant:

Helps the musher coordinator with all things related to mushers like the musher welcome packets, the biographies, musher pictures, musher potluck, musher dog handler’s information, and housing.

Newsletter Writer:

Designs and produces a newsletter to report ongoing news to the members and sponsors. The writer needs to take the initiative to contact coordinators for newsletter content. Basic computer skills are helpful. Minimum output of four newsletters a year.

Office Support:

Works with the Race Central Coordinator during or before the race. Helps with the filing, typing, and imputing of results. Helps pass out information to the public and answers questions. Helps keep the race office organized and running smoothly.

Photographer:

Works with the Public Relations Coordinator to document the race in pictures and tries to get the illustrations needed for the public relations information given out by the race. Being experienced in creating photo opportunities and digital production is helpful.

Start Chute Area:

Workers help the Chute Boss handle the start. Workers are needed to handle dogs, use ATVs for team control, and coordinate safe and timely starts for each competitive team.

Start/Finish Team: Helps the Start/Finish Coordinators set up and take down all the fencing, gates, PA equipment, staging, and special work areas for the start/finish.

Timers/Checkers:

Works at checkpoints logging in arrival and departure times and checking safety equipment carried by the mushers.

Trail Crew:

All trail work is outside in the winter time so proper winter clothing is necessary. Owning a snowmobile is a plus. The Trail Boss directs all trail maintenance and preparation and race crews. The trail boss crew is made up of three people. This crew is responsible for marking, packing, and clearing of the race course. During the race, all trail crews always travel in pairs on snowmobiles and usually work 50-mile stretches on the race course. There are also point and sweep crews for each designated race or stage. Each designated race has a point crew pair that travels in front of the lead dog team. Each designated race also has a sweep crew that travels behind the last team at a safe and nondisturbing distance. Plan on long snowmobile runs at night with unpredictable weather and little sleep. A higher level of snowmobile experience is helpful.

Shorter trail crew work includes half-day time blocks where snowmobiles are used to transport equipment and personnel into outlying checkpoints. This usually involves meeting at Salt Creek Summit loading a tub trailer full of equipment and pulling the trailer to the designated area. This happens before and after the race.

Trail Sign Construction:

Construct trail markers and signs with supplied materials and instructions.

Vet Check:

Help the Vet Check Coordinator set up and supply the vet check areas. Requires some recording form filing, and handing out of information. Also hands out drop bags to the mushers.

Veterinarians/Vet Techs:

Works under the Head Vet. Requires pre-approval by the Head Vet and all duties are assigned by the head vet.