Get Ready to Volunteer

Welcome aboard, volunteers! Thank you for joining us in making Tall Ships® Erie 2025 a spectacular event for our community and visitors from around the world. Your dedication and energy bring this festival to life, and we’re thrilled to have you as part of the crew. This page contains much of the information you’ll need to volunteer successfully.

Volunteer Signup Page
Festival Security Training

About This Page

This page will be updated with additional details and information as it becomes available, so please check back often. Before anything else, make sure you have signed up to volunteer through our official form so that we can contact you for scheduling and provide your credentials. Once registered, you can begin reviewing any role-specific materials available now to prepare in advance. The Mandatory Security & Emergency Training, expected to go live on Tuesday, August 12th, must be completed by all volunteers before participating in any shifts.

You can also review role-specific training requirements and supporting documents further down the page.

Volunteer Orientation Sessions

Location: Volunteer HQ – Bayfront Maritime Center, 40 Holland Street, Erie, PA 16507

Dates:

These optional sessions will help you prepare for your role, meet the team, and understand what to expect during the festival. Orientations will be broadcast via Google Meet and posted here for later viewing. Exact times will be posted soon.

General Festival Information

Festival Dates:

  • Thursday, Aug. 21: Parade of Sail (4 PM)
  • Aug. 22–24: Festival hours 10 AM–6 PM

Parking & Transportation:

There is no reserved parking for volunteers. Limited street parking is available near Holland Street and the Port Authority. Public downtown parking is available with shuttle service running well before the festival.

See our event information page

Volunteer Check-In:

  • Please check in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled shift at Volunteer HQ – Bayfront Maritime Center.
  • Pick up your t-shirt and credentials at check-in.
  • Plan travel in advance to allow extra time for walking or shuttle use.
  • Contact [email protected] with any questions or schedule changes.

Additional Role-Specific Training

Some volunteer positions require extra training or documentation in order to be ready for your assigned duties. This ensures you have the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to perform your role safely, efficiently, and in line with event requirements. You’ll find detailed step-by-step instructions, links, and supporting resources for each area further down the page:

Kids Zone Clearances

ACT 33: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

This clearance checks for any child abuse history. It is required by Pennsylvania law and free for volunteers.

How to Complete:

  1. Go to the PA Child Welfare Portal.
  2. Click “Create Individual Account” to register for a Keystone ID.
  3. Follow the email instructions to activate your account.
  4. Log in and select “Create Clearance Application.”
  5. Choose the purpose as “Volunteer having contact with children.”
  6. When prompted for the organization, enter:
    Flagship Niagara League
    EIN: 25-1422309
  7. Review your information and submit the application.
  8. Results are typically returned within 5 days.
  9. When you receive your clearance, email a copy to both addresses:
    [email protected] & [email protected]

ACT 34: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check

This check covers your criminal history within Pennsylvania. It is also free for volunteers.

How to Complete:

  1. Visit the PATCH system.
  2. Click on “New Volunteer Record Check.”
  3. Fill in the required information.
  4. When prompted for reason, select Volunteer.
  5. For organization, enter:
    Flagship Niagara League
    EIN: 25-1422309
  6. Submit the request. Your result will likely be available immediately.
  7. Click “Certification Form” to download your official document.
  8. Email this document to both: [email protected] & [email protected]
Ticketing & Retail

If you’re volunteering for ticketing or retail, you’ll be one of the first friendly faces our guests meet. Your job is to make visitors feel welcome, help them get tickets or merchandise quickly, and keep everything running smoothly. We’ve designed our tools and processes to be easy to use and secure, so you can focus on enjoying your shift.

To get you ready, you’ll have two main resources:

  • POS System Training Video – A short, recorded walkthrough showing you how to log in, process sales, handle cash or cards, print receipts, and solve common problems. It’s straightforward, and you’ll always have backup if needed.
    Credit Cart Reader Training Video
  • Cash Handling Guide – A simple, step-by-step process for handling startup change, using tamper-evident bags for deposits, signing and tagging bags, and letting supervisors handle all end-of-day counts.
    📄 Download Cash Handling Guide (PDF)

Once you’ve reviewed both resources, you’ll be ready to greet guests, manage transactions with confidence, and help make their Tall Ships® Erie experience unforgettable.

    Hydration Stations

    If you are volunteering at a Hydration Station and will be serving alcohol, Pennsylvania law requires you to be RAMP (Responsible Alcohol Management Program) certified. We’ve made it easy — you can take the course online at RAMPTraining.com using our voucher code TSE-FNL, so there’s no cost to you.

    RAMP Server/Seller certifications are valid for two years from the date of completion. If you already have a valid certificate from the past two years, you can email it to us instead of retaking the training.

    The training is straightforward and should take about one hour to complete. Once you’ve finished, email your certificate to [email protected] so we can record your completion.

    1. Go to https://www.ramptraining.com
    2. Click on the “Voucher Redemption” button.
    3. Type in the voucher code: TSE-FNL
    4. Choose RAMP Server/Seller Online Training Course from the list of available options.
    5. If you’re a new user, create an account with your name, email, and password.
      If you’ve used RAMP Training before, log in with your existing credentials.
    6. Complete the Training. Work through the modules at your own pace. The entire course usually takes about an hour.
    7. Pass the Final Quiz. You must pass the quiz at the end to receive your certification.
    8. Once completed, download your RAMP Server/Seller certificate.
    9. Email a copy of your certificate to: [email protected]