Confused....To Camp or Not to Camp?

[Cristi183]

Hey All...Would really appreciate some advice for experienced Burners out there!
This year will be my first burn so I am preparing myself for the trip. I am very confused about the theme camps? I was thinking I would join up with one so that I would know where I was staying, but after reading different forums I am confused about what they provide...If I join do they have a place for me to stay(shelter) or am I still on my own in that department? Alot of posts make it seem like you just show up and say hey can I join and where can I help? Is this true or do I need sign up before?
Last question...I have spent hours trying to find a themecamp and cant seem to track one down, is there a list of camps anywhere?
Would love some feedback,
Thanks a million!

[pinemom]

Hi Cristi,
With most Theme Camps, its a sign up prior to the burn for help with infastructure as well as most have a Camp tax ( to help pay for what your gifting/or infastructure) to the burningman comunity.
In some Theme camps, it will be required for you to work a couple shifts if its a entertaining Camp.Ours is Bartending.
Example this year we are running the B(O)(O)BY BAR Theme camp, last year it was Eplaya Bar Camp run by MozY Bonz.
We had apprx 32 campers, everyone brings a certain amount of alcohol and takes turns bartending, everyone is responsible for MOOP patrol.
(Moop= matter out of place, ie...trash)

With Theme camps, there is alot of work required.
So your idea of how you want to experience Burningman for the first time is up to you. Some camp in out streets(back-undesignated camping spots) and travel into center of city to play.
Others go for Theme camps which typically are closer to esplande, where the action is 24/7. But are more work.

[Killbuck]

Yes, a set of interesting questions.

Answers include

yes
sometimes
no
maybe
and it depends

Ok, confused enough?

Pine Mom has you off to a real good start. Ultimately it's up to you whether a theme camp is a good way to go. At my first burn, I wondered that too- and decided to go solo in order to get the lay of the land. It was two years later, that a few of us decided it would be more
fun to create our own camp environment, and thus created APOKILIPTIKA... which is now working with other camps to create a sort of quasi-village theme camp alliance.... Terminal City.

It's all very intuitive, and YOU will have to rely on your intuition and your own Radical Self Reliance to show you the way to go. Whether as part of a theme camp or on your own-- it's self reliance.

[MikeVDS]

Theme camps are just people like you who got a few or more people together to have a "theme" camp. The theme can be "Chris and Friends" so there is basically nothing special about theme camps except they have a predetermined location on the playa. What you're talking about is more organized, larger camps that are also typically theme camps.

Alot of posts make it seem like you just show up and say hey can I join and where can I help? Is this true or do I need sign up before?

Those posts are somewhat accurate. You could probably do that if you have a strong back or a strong charisma. I know if people show up at our camp looking for work we'd gladly let them find a place to sleep in our area. Most camps do not provide everything for their camp mates, usually the camp mates bring their own stuff or share among a small group of people. So if you're looking for stuff you're usually just talking to the owner of the big tent rather than approaching the "camp". If you have a strong sense of adventure you might go unprepared and hope you can make good enough friends before you're about to pass out and need a place to crash.

A better plan would be to bring everything you need and then just see who you meet. If you're well prepared then other people are going to be more willing to help you out and less likely to look at you as someone who can't take care of themselves. Most of the larger camps which would have the essentials for you to use put a whole lot of work and money into the event, so generally if you want to use their resources you need to provide that camp with resources or be a good friend of someone who does.

If you're looking for a theme camp that might invite you in you may want to start a new post here. Say that you're looking for a camp you'd get along with, post what types of activities you enjoy, what your skills are, what you are going to provide for the camp and community, what you'd like to have from the camp and anything else relevant. You just might find some people you'll get along with even before you arrive.

[dragonfly Jafe]

...ask not what your theme camp can do for you, but what you can do for your theme camp...

[Dr. Pyro]

And my two cents. There are also village considerations. By that I mean, let's say you droped by Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro and wanted to join our camp. We could certainly say yes, but if you were a drama queen, bozo, or just an asshat in general, the other members of Wheeeee!Ville may wonder why the hell we would allow someone like that into our camp/village. Then we run the very real risk of alienating or worse, being ostricized next year from our village. That is a risk I would be unwilling to take (which is why we don't take in stray cats). The solution to that problem is to try and meet members of the camp you have an interest in prior to reaching the playa. You can go on the Theme Camp listings on the main BM website and check out where their "hometown" is. Mine is Newcastle, CA; we are interested (for the most part) in having our members come from the Sacramento/Auburn area, though we have one member from Arizona and a handful of Bay Area types. I don't know if this helps, but's a start.

[MikeVDS]

if you were a drama queen, bozo, or just an asshat in general

Or you could just move them and everything of theirs out of the camp and not let them back. Those bozos and asshats are welcome in our camp, we just reject the drama queens, jerks, and overly aggressive. Asshats do have the specific obligation to tip their hat to the ladies though.

[Killbuck]

Are we seeing the birth of ASS HAT VILLAGE?

[actiongrl]

Theme camps are just people like you who got a few or more people together to have a "theme" camp. The theme can be "Chris and Friends" so there is basically nothing special about theme camps except they have a predetermined location on the playa.

Mm....sort of. Theme camps that are mapped are actually those that have some level of public interactivity. If you're just a guy named Chris and you want to camp with your friends but you're not offering any interactivity, you do NOT belong on the theme camp list nor are you truly eligible for theme camp placement. The reserved spaces and mapping process are for those that set up true "theme camps" where the public is invited to come in and participate in something they've created.

[Killbuck]

Theme camps are also one of the best ways to become highly participatory. It provides a thematic framework for the members identify with, to add to, embellish and perform through. If the vision of the thing grabs people, they run with it, become very creative and this motivates thier initiative. Very cool!

Granted, many theme camps have a name and the theme does not extend very much beyond that.... others really take the theme and make it something that extends to dress, decor, events, even language and slang all to their own.

I have always enjoyed the idea of creating an environment, and leading a theme camp for me, is just ideal.

But one need not be a part of any camp but your own... it's just not a theme camp that's all. BUT... even be thee alone-- ye must participate!!The advice I give most often is don't worry about it-- read and follow the survival guide, leave your expectations and inhibitions at home and just go... you'll figure it out.

[CapSmashy]

Are we seeing the birth of ASS HAT VILLAGE?

If there is to be an Asshat Village, it must have a Clownboat art car...

[CapSmashy]

I had initially planned to go solo for my first time out and then I found myself in awed adulation of the kind of people dear old mom warned me to stay away from. So, tossing all caution and mom's advice to the wind, I decided I must weasel my way into their good graces. After months of prostrated pleadings, cajoling and hefty bribes, I was finally allowed into the secret realm.

In retrospect, it was probably just to shut me up while they secretly plan on BBQing me on Monday for the "We're here!" celebration feast and divvying up my stuff. They are a pack of feral DOOM Merchants after all.

[trilobyte]

If you're interested in joining a camp, I recommend finding one in advance of the event. A list of theme camps will be posted on the site in the next month or so (usually starts to fill in after the registration deadline passes).

But check the boards here and on tribe as well. There are lots of camps (with or without a theme) that aren't registered as well. Your options are very nearly limitless.

Good luck!

~Trilo~

[EspressoDude]

THEME CAMP LIST

being updated as registrations are processed

http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/07_camp_vill_a.html

[gyre]

I wouldn't worry too much about it your first year unless you just run across a group that you seem to get along with.
There are very different paces too.
A theme camp is anything you might want to do to involve the public.
They can range from last year's 'Shade, drinks and conversation with naked gay guys' (I don't know if it had a proper name), to big ones that have a huge infra-structure or a 24 hour schedule.
Instead of going about they let the event come by and say hello and enjoy the rest.
Tuna guys put huge effort into what they do.
Some of the small undecorated camps do the most amazing things.
It's all about the experience you have.

That is one lesson to take back.


If you join enthion they flash freeze all members at night to halt aging.
I imagine it takes the edge off the heat too.

[Box Burner]

Hi Cristi,
With most Theme Camps, its a sign up prior to the burn for help with infastructure as well as most have a Camp tax ( to help pay for what your gifting/or infastructure) to the burningman comunity.
In some Theme camps, it will be required for you to work a couple shifts if its a entertaining Camp.Ours is Bartending.
Example this year we are running the B(O)(O)BY BAR Theme camp, last year it was Eplaya Bar Camp run by MozY Bonz.
We had apprx 32 campers, everyone brings a certain amount of alcohol and takes turns bartending, everyone is responsible for MOOP patrol.
(Moop= matter out of place, ie...trash)

With Theme camps, there is alot of work required.
So your idea of how you want to experience Burningman for the first time is up to you. Some camp in out streets(back-undesignated camping spots) and travel into center of city to play.
Others go for Theme camps which typically are closer to esplande, where the action is 24/7. But are more work.

Work? work!

You mean any time spent behind the bar was work? Damn. I didn't even get paid. You know... If I don't get paid at the B(o)(o)by Bar I am gonna report you to the Apkaliptika Peoples Socialist Workers Union. Why... why I'll even report you to Kernul Killbuck himself. Sheesh. Nobody even told me I was working.

[pinemom]

tis not work poor soldier...tis refreshing the peoples!

[thisisthatwhichis]

Are we seeing the birth of ASS HAT VILLAGE?

If there is to be an Asshat Village, it must have a Clownboat art car...

Something, I know you could bring to Life....... But wait until after this year!.....