2026 Can Do Woofaroo Volunteer Sign Up

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering at our 2026 Can Do Woofaroo taking place on Saturday, September 12, at our campus in New Hope, Minnesota!

Please note that while we will do our best to place you in your preferred role, we may need to offer you other roles due to availability. It is helpful if you can select 2 or 3 roles that you are interested in.

Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start time of your shift. This will give you time to find parking, get checked in, and get to your station.

Please do not bring any additional people (including children) or dogs (unless they are your assistance dog) for your volunteer shift.

Volunteers should be 18 or older, unless the description of the role indicates differently.

This event takes place outside, so be prepared for potentially hot conditions. We also have a live band and presentation that can be loud at times.

Thank you and we can't wait to see you in September!

Before September 12

CANOPY CHECK: A couple weeks before the event, help us make sure all of our tents are in good shape and ready to be used at the Can Do Woofaroo, by working as a team to open each canopy to inspect for rips and holes. Note: This role includes intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

STAGE SETUP ON THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT: Help us move the pieces of the stage to our parking lot and assemble the stage. Note: This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously in warm weather for up to two hours. It includes intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

On Saturday, September 12

PUT ME ANYWHERE! Click below to let us know if you are open to helping with any role on September 12 and would like us to assign you to the role we need to most help covering.

VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN: Help check in volunteers as they arrive and provide the important information they need for their roles.

SIGN SETUP: Follow a map to set up directional signs in specific locations leading to the event. This position requires volunteers to be able to drive their own car and pound signs into the ground.

CANOPY SETUP: Be part of the team that helps put the tent up over our stage. Note: This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to an hour in warm weather. It includes bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

MORNING COFFEE/BAGEL RUN: In this role, you will go to Bruegger's Bagels and Caribou Coffee to pick up morning snacks for our volunteers and staff. We will pre-order and pre-pay for these items. Your job will be to pick them up at 7:15 a.m. and bring them to Can Do Canines.

VENDOR CHECK-IN TABLE: As vendors arrive, you will give them information and direct them to their assigned spots in the parking lot.

EVENT SETUP: Set up tables, chairs, merch gear, games, the water station, and the first aid tent. Put canopies up over booths and hang up signs. Note: This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 2.5 hours in warm weather. It includes bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and lifting up to 40 pounds. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

SHUTTLE VAN DRIVER: In this role, you will drive a Can Do Canines minivan back and forth between the entrance of the event and the nearby parking lots, to give guests a ride to and from the event entrance. Volunteers must be willing to share a photo of their valid driver’s license and auto insurance card with the Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers in this role must be 21 or older.

GREETER: Greet and direct guests as they arrive. Point Teams and Walkers to the registration area and other guests to other exciting spots around the event. You will also hand out poop bags to guests who have dogs with them. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for 2 hours. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

PARKING ASSISTANT: In this role, you will direct vehicles into parking lots. After guests park, let them know where the event entrance is and that they can walk there or wait for the shuttle van. You will also show them the spot where the shuttle van will pick them up. This position will require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 2.5 hours.

MERCHANDISE TENT: Complete sale transactions of Can Do Canines merchandise and food tickets. Volunteers must be comfortable with using an iPad and handling all forms of payment. This position requires volunteers to be standing for up to 3 hours.

PRIZE TABLE: Collect tickets from fundraisers, identify which prizes they have won, and give them the prizes they have earned. Volunteers in this role may be seated.

PAW PRINT STATION: Assist with the Paw Print craft activity. At this station, you will either greet guests as they arrive, explain what the craft is, and collect payment or help prepare the paint, assist with putting paint on the dogs’ paws, and help press their paws onto the artwork. For this role, you must be able to handle money and use an iPad or work with the dogs. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 2.5 hours with periodic bending or the ability to use an iPad and handle all forms of payment.

GUEST REGISTRATION: Check in guests as they arrive. For this role, you will need to be able to read a printed list of guests who have raised funds for us and cross people off as they register. You will also collect funds from participants and hand out prize vouchers. Volunteers in this role may be seated.

WATER TENT: Hand out free water to guests and collect tickets in exchange for pop. Explain the ticketing system and direct them to the Merchandise Table to buy tickets.

AGILITY ASSISTANT: Manage the line for the agility course and make sure dogs enter and exit the fenced-in course safely. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 2 hours.

FRONT DESK GREETER: This role takes place inside the building, a bit further away from the action. In this role, you will greet people as they enter the building. You will sit behind the front desk, direct people to the bathrooms and let them know about the times for the building tours. This position is mainly seated, but may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking periodically. This role is quieter than other roles. It is a good option for someone who needs to be seated, would benefit from access to air conditioning, and/or would benefit from a role away from loud noises.

BIG ROOM GREETER: This role takes place inside the building, a bit further away from the action. In this role, you will greet and direct event attendees who come into our building for tours and those who are looking for the bathroom. This role is quieter than other roles. It is a good option for someone who needs to be seated, would benefit from access to air conditioning, and/or would benefit from a role away from loud noises.

PET PAD HOST: Stand or sit near the entrance to the building and direct guests to put their dog in a crate before entering the building (please note, volunteers are not allowed to handle the dogs). Monitor the dog in the crate while guests are in the building and direct them back to their dog when they leave the building. Ensure that guests do not leave their dogs in the crate after leaving the building. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to two hours.

REGISTRATION RUNNER: Bring items from the Registration Table to the Accounting Room inside the building. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 3 hours.

PAW PUNCH GAME: Tell guests how to play the game, collect money, and hand out prizes. For this role, you must be able to handle money and use an iPad. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 4 hours.

DONATION COUNTER: Count money by hand and input the data into a spreadsheet using a keyboard. Volunteers must be able to use a 10-key calculator and be detail-oriented. This role is mainly seated and stationary.

DOG FIRST AID TENT: Provide medical assistance, when needed, for pets at the event. Volunteers in this position should have a Veterinary or Vet Tech degree and license. Animal handling and first aid administration will be required. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 2 hours. It may include intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, or lifting up to 25 pounds.

HUMAN FIRST AID TENT: Provide medical assistance, when needed, for human attendees at the event. Volunteers in this position are required to have a medical background (LPN, RN, EMT, MD, etc.). Medical handling and first aid administration will be required. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 2 hours. It may include intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, or lifting up to 25 pounds.

FLOATER: Help at booths and fill in for volunteers as they take restroom/water breaks. Walk around the grounds to check in with booths and other volunteers, filling in as necessary.

WALK ROUTE CREW: Set up cones, signs, and trash cans along the walk route and pick up all supplies after the walk. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 3 hours. It includes intermittent bending, squatting, or kneeling and lifting up to 30 pounds.

DOG KISSING BOOTH:

COSTUME CONTEST/SCAVENGER HUNT HELPER: Take the names of contestants for the Dog Costume Contest and provide them with the number which indicates their slot in line. Tell guests about the Tiny Dog Scavenger Hunt, write down their names and email addresses, and hand out baggies for them to collect the tiny dogs in. Collect and count filled baggies and hand out the prize to the winner. The volunteer in this role may be seated.

PHOTOBOOTH ASSISTANT: Help the photographer to get people, groups, and dogs posed for photos. This is the spot where people come to take photos of themselves, as a group, team, with their dogs etc. Everyone always really enjoys these photos!

ACCESSIBILITY ASSISTANT: At this year's event, we will have a fire truck on display! Your job will be to help keep the pathway clear so that people in wheelchairs and with mobility needs are able to see the fire truck.

ASL INTERPRETATION (ONE ON ONE WITH GUESTS): For this role, you will be on-call in case any guests join us who would like ASL interpretation during our fire truck presentation and building tour.

WRITE DOGS' NAMES ON THE PAW PRINT ART: Write dog names in nice handwriting on the crafts at the Paw Print Station. Volunteers must have good, clear handwriting. Calligraphy experience is a plus, but not required. This position is mainly seated and stationary.

COURSE CHEER & MONITOR TEAM: As part of this team, you will enthusiastically greet and cheer walkers on, ensure walkers stay within the designated walking course, and report any issues or concerns to the course lead in a timely manner. You will also help turn signs and barricades after the walk so they aren’t blocking the road. Volunteers in this position should be comfortable getting exuberant and excited. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking for up to 2.5 hours. It may include lifting up to 25 pounds. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

DOG COUNTER: Count the dogs who take part in the walk using a handheld tally counter. Volunteers should be able to keep track with several distractions. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 1 hour. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

PERSON COUNTER: Count people who take part in the walk using a handheld tally counter. Volunteers should be able to keep track with several distractions. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 1 hour. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

FOOD STATION TICKET COLLECTOR: Collect meal tickets from attendees when they approach the food station. Explain the ticketing system and direct guests to the Merchandise Table to buy tickets. We will ask that you wear a hat in this role.

FOOD STATION SERVER: Assist with serving the food and replenishing the food station. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing for up to 2.5 hours. We will ask that you wear a hat in this role.

EVENT CLEANUP AND STAGE TEARDOWN: Help us disassemble the stage and canopies, take down signs, and pack up other event supplies. Also help, bring the supplies back into our building. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to 2.5 hours. It includes intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, or lifting up to 50 pounds. Volunteers in this role must be 16 or older.

ON STAGE ASL INTERPRETER: Stationed near the stage, On Stage ASL Interpreters translate speeches, entertainment, and other public announcement to a large audience of event attendees. Volunteers must have an active ASL certification. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to two hours.

TOUR GUIDE: Lead two tours around the Big Room. Answer questions, give information on the spaces, and act as an ambassador for Can Do Canines. At the end of the tour, point the guests towards the training room for a Puppy Program presentation. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to four hours.

VIDEOGRAPHER: Film footage at the Can Do Woofaroo event and upload raw footage afterwards. Videography experience is required, and volunteers must submit a video sample to Marketing and Communications in order to be approved for this position. Volunteers must have access to their own video equipment for this role. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to four hours. It may include intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, or lifting of equipment.

ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER: Utilize the photo checklist to take specific photos during the event in addition to candid photos. Volunteers will need to supply their own camera and memory card and should feel comfortable approaching people and posing people for photos in order to fulfill the checklist. Photography experience required. Volunteers must provide their own DSLR camera and necessary equipment. This position may require volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to four hours.

PHOTOBOOTH PHOTOGRAPHER: Take the photos in our photo booth! We are looking for a professional or semi-professional photographer to take pictures of people in front of our logoed backdrop, with various props. Please bring your own camera to use for this. This is the spot where people come to take photos of themselves, as a group, team, with their dogs etc. Everyone always really enjoys these photos!

PARKING LOT CHALKING ON THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT: Assist with marking vendor and activity spaces on the pavement of the parking lot. This position requires volunteers to be on their feet standing and walking continuously for up to two hours. It includes long periods of bending, squatting, and kneeling.

Can Do Woofaroo Volunteer Sign-Up

Please select roles that you would be interested in performing as a volunteer.