Open Positions

Firefly Gathering’s Board of Directors is recruiting new board members for 2026! Serving on the Firefly Board of Directors is an amazing way to delve into the inner workings of the organization and have an influence on the direction we are going, as well as the steps we take to get there. We are especially excited to have folks with experience in grant writing and fundraising, communications and marketing, social justice advocacy, or nonprofit management experience!

You can find more information and apply on our Board of Directors Application form.

General Description

The Firefly Gathering is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing educational and cultural programming to the Asheville area since 2007. The Firefly Gathering envisions a world where everybody is empowered with multi-generational perspectives, wisdom and earthskills, handcrafting a beautiful and harmonious reality in which all beings thrive. Our mission is to inspire and empower the people of the Southeast by offering opportunities to connect with self, community and the natural world through year-round earthskills workshops and gatherings.

The Tarps Crew Coordinators’ responsibility is to manage the setting up of temporary shelter at the Firefly Gathering. The person is required to know the location of where tarps are to be set up following a map provided by the Executive Director (ED) and Site Coordinators. Problem-solving is often required based on changes to the map, challenges and difficulties associated with the actual site, materials provided, etc.

Expectations  & Compensation 

  • This is a part-time, seasonal, independent contractor position that begins on July 4, 2026 and ends on July 14, 2026
  • Attending one staff meeting and one site walk is not required but strongly advised.  Location is generally in-person in Barnardsville (staff meeting) or Green Mountain (site walk), NC.
  • Compensation is dependent on experience and starts at $100 plus all meals, parking, and entry into the event ($660 value). 

Perks

  • One free Annual Gathering pass and meals, including setup and breakdown meals
  • 50% off one guest pass
  • Free T-shirt & sticker at the summer gathering 🙂

Firefly compensates for certain mileage accrued while carrying out the expectations of this position. Reimbursement for expenses must be authorized in advance and will require the original purchase receipt. All receipts and mileage reimbursement requests must be submitted to the Administrative Director ([email protected]) by July 31, 2026 for reimbursement. Unapproved expenses, expenses without a receipt, and expenses submitted after the July 31, 2026 deadline will not be reimbursed.

Job Duties

  • The person is required to know the location of where tarps are to be set up following a site map that will be provided at the Gathering. Troubleshooting is a big part of this job!
  • Knowing how to set up a tarp well, including understanding how to:
    • Manage ropes and rope systems, including ratchets
    • Tie the necessary knots 
    • Create a steep enough pitch to shed water quickly
    • Ensure tarps are taut, as wind is always a thing. 
  • Managing the tarps crew
  • Ensuring safety for the tarps crew, including the use of necessary PPE
  • Communicates with Site Coordinator to translate material needs for upcoming Firefly season. 
  • Lead lay-out and organization of materials on day one of set up. 
  • Oversees breakdown of all tarp materials, labeling where necessary, and organizing their storage for easy dispatch the following year. 
  • Keeps inventory updated

Required Experience / Qualities

  • Passionate about Firefly’s Mission
  • Dedication to personally and professionally pursue JEDI work (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion)
  • Clear and kind communicator
  • Open to giving and receiving feedback
  • Must already be good with tarps – this is not a position for someone wanting to learn tarps. 
  • Good spatial awareness
  • Good record-keeping and organizing

Preferred Experience / Qualities

  • Professional and tactful interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a variety of personalities
  • Has attended a Firefly program or event

We look forward to hearing from the following applicants

  • Applicants with diverse life and work experience
  • Applicants wanting to improve themselves, their workplace, their communities, and the planet

To Apply

Send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with a subject line “Application for Tarps Crew Coordinator – [your name]”. In the letter, please explain your interest in the position and why you think you would do well.

Responsibility Timeline:

  • Day 1 of set-up-arrival day (Saturday):
    • Crews will not officially be working this day, but you will (after setting up your own camp and getting settled in) work with Materials Coordinator to start unpacking tarps from container and preparing them for drops
    • Go over map again with Site Coordinators and ED to get updated on any potential changes and more specific orientations of tarps
  • Day 2 of set-up (Sunday);
    • 8am-breakfast that rolls into work trade meeting
    • Split crews into 2 groups of four
      • Brief full crew orientation: names, tarp knowledge; knot and layout review
      • Crew 1: rolls with you to drop all tarps and poles in designated locations
      • Crew 2: begins setting up tarps
      • One pole for youth village, registration, and one pole for screen printing should be set-up today
  • Day 3 of set-up (Monday): 
    • Today is the day that the bulk of the flys will go up
    • Peter- with red sky shelters will need help from tarps crew setting up the large firefly central tent and any one-poles
  • Day 4 of set-up/G.A. arrival day (Tuesday)
    • All or most of flys should be set-up by today. Complete setting up any remaining flys in the morning
    • Have crews work with materials manager/truck and trailer driver to get all excess materials around the site back to storage.
    • Have crews check all tarps to make sure rebar is capped, lines are flagged, and knots are tidy
    • Release crews until we reconvene for breakdown
  • Day 9- first day of breakdown and departure day (Sunday):
    • Begin take-down of flys after classes end
    • Orient crews on how all ropes, pcord, tarps, and stakes are to be bundled and stored
  • Day 10 (Monday): 
    • Take down the bulk of the flys and begin moving all materials to storage
    • Work with Materials Coordinator to create  organized storage systems of all things tarps crew
  • Day 11 – last day of breakdown and departure day (Tuesday):
    • Help store all materials away 
    • Sweep fields for rebar stakes left behind
    • You did a great job, now get on with your bad self and go take a nap