Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 6 — and get ready for CityCamp NYC!
CityCamp NYC is just around the corner—and we need your help to bring it to life.
BetaNYC is looking for volunteers to support this year’s CityCamp NYC, a one-day unconference that brings together New York City’s civic tech, data, and design communities. The event is powered by open participation and spontaneous collaboration, with sessions shaped by attendees around the issues and ideas that matter most.
This is more than just a conference—it’s a space to connect, explore solutions, and envision a better city. Volunteers are essential to making it all happen, from welcoming attendees to helping run sessions and keeping the day running smoothly.
If you’re looking for a way to contribute your time and energy to something meaningful, we invite you to join us!
Apply today — we can’t wait to meet you!
Volunteer Details
Application Link: https://betanyc.forms.fm/citycampnyc-2025-volunteer-application/forms/10032
Application Deadline: We’re accepting volunteers on a rolling basis. Please complete your application by Thursday, August 7, at 11:59 PM.
Application Details: Applicants will be notified by Friday, August 22, 2025. Please note that applying does not guarantee admission to the event. If not selected, you’ll be offered an opportunity to purchase a ticket at an early bird rate.
Where: All activities will take place at the unconference venue:
CUNY School of Law, 2 Court Square W, Long Island City, NY
Who should apply?
We’re looking for friendly, curious, and community-minded people who enjoy collaborating, taking initiative, and helping others. Whether you’re passionate about civic tech, local government, or just want to meet new people while supporting a meaningful event, you’re welcome here. Bring your skills — or come ready to learn!
When do we need volunteers?
We need support on:
- Friday, September 5 (set-up and prep day)
- Saturday, September 6 (the main event!)
Most volunteer shifts are approximately four hours. You’ll still have time to participate in sessions and enjoy the event.
What’s in it for volunteers?
- Complimentary breakfast, lunch, snacks, and refreshments
- Free access to unconference sessions outside of your shift
- On-site childcare (first-come, first-served; registration required. Vaccinated children from Infants to age 12 accepted)
- Meaningful connections, new skills, and a fun, collaborative environment!
Volunteer Roles
Registration
You are the first point of contact at CityCamp! You are responsible for welcoming and checking in guests at the registration tables. If you’re hospitable, a team player, and detail-oriented, we want you! You should be comfortable sitting at a table for the duration of your shift and using an iPad or tablet to check in guests (we’ll show you how!).
Space Navigator
You help ensure guests are well-fed! As a volunteer on the culinary crew, you will keep an eye on food and beverage stations, ensuring they’re set up nicely, well stocked, and accessible by attendees throughout the day. If you love bringing people together around food and thrive in a production environment, this role is for you!
Info Desk & Merch
You are responsible for answering questions from conference attendees at our Information Desk and selling swag. If you are a courteous and professional communicator, enjoy helping people, and are comfortable sitting at a desk for the duration of a shift, this role is for you! This role requires minimal physical activity.
Culinary Crew
You help ensure guests are well-fed! As a volunteer on the culinary crew, you will oversee the food and beverage stations, ensuring they’re set up nicely, well-stocked, and accessible to attendees throughout the day. If you love bringing people together around food and thrive in a production environment, this role is for you!
Main Stage Tech
You are responsible for helping ensure all sessions on the Main Stage run smoothly. This is an all-day role for someone with technical knowledge and skills (experience in AV is a plus!) who likes to problem-solve and is generally unflappable.
Session Scribe
You are responsible for supporting unconference breakout sessions, including kickoff and notetaking. We’re looking for people who are sociable and supportive, punctual (able to keep sessions running on time, even if it means interjecting yourself), and comfortable with Google Docs and notetaking. Bonus if you know how to operate Zoom on a desktop computer. This role requires minimal physical activity.
Photographer
You are responsible for capturing conference moments! As a photographer, you will take photographs of guests, presenters, conference talks and workshops, special guests, staff, and volunteers. After the conference, you will send your photos to us in a timely manner. If event photography is your jam, you are comfortable with a camera, and know how to be boldly inconspicuous, this role is for you!
Pinch-hitter
You are responsible for filling in where needed! Often, this entails delivering a message and being a point of contact for vendors (such as childcare staff, caterers, audio/visual personnel) and speakers. If you’re professional, communicative, reliable, and comfortable making small trips around the venue, this role is for you! You will be on your feet in this role, potentially using an escalator or elevator to guide special guests to a designated room.
Captain
Captains are responsible for leading a small team of volunteers to success on their shift! Captains ensure that their team knows where to be and what to do at all times. They serve as a point of contact and are comfortable providing direction, resolving conflicts, and being in a leadership role. Captains will need to spend a small amount of time preparing for their shift before the conference. This involves reviewing a run of show and checking in with BetaNYC staff to clarify any questions and understand expectations about the assignment. This is a great position (and resume builder!) for someone interested in harnessing their leadership skills.
Ready to sign up?
Apply now to be a part of CityCamp NYC 2025 as a volunteer:
If you have questions, please reach out to us at citycamp@beta.nyc
Let’s build something amazing — together.