Making Snow Blocks for Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival

The 6th annual Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Competition and Festival is coming to Dubuque’s downtown Washington Park, February 9-12, 2023 and we need your help on Tuesday, February 7 for snow stomping to prepare blocks of snow for the event!! What does it mean to ‘Stomp Snow’ exactly? We need to create multiple 6'x6'x8' blocks of solid snow that sculpting teams will carve for this event. We also create several smaller blocks to be carved by the public during the community activities at the end of the week. To form these blocks of snow, large wooden panels are assembled and held together with racket straps and C-claps to make a giant box that is open on the top. Manufactured snow is dumped into the box, one skid steer bucket at a time; the skid steers are provided and driven by local construction crews or the City. After each bucket load of snow is dumped into the box, volunteers climb a ladder up and over the top of the box to get inside of it. Once in the box, volunteers use shovels and other tools to break up the snow and then using their feet, they stomp on the snow to compress and compact it. Creating a compact, consistent block of snow is essential for providing the highest quality 'canvas' for the sculptors to work from. It is physically demanding but invigorating volunteer work that is a critical effort in bringing one of Dubuque's most loved community art events to life! Other important details: - 2 shifts different snow stomping shirts are available 8:00 am-12:00 p.m. or 12:30-4:30 p.m. If you are not able for an entire shift but are still interested in volunteering, just let us know when you are available. - 10-15 volunteers are needed per shift. - ‘Groups’ of volunteers from local businesses, service agencies, etc are welcomed. - Lunch will be provided at noon. - An outdoor tent with a heater for breaks provided. - Volunteers are responsible for wearing appropriate winter clothing and footwear. Dressing in layers is recommended so you can remove or add layers to stay comfortable. - All volunteers will be asked to sign a photo release / waiver of liability form. Volunteers under 18 will need a guardian or parent to sign the form.