A Place for teens

[Bad Daddy]

Is anyone interested in creating a place for teens this year? There are dozens of teens every year looking for someplace to be and it would be great if someone would set up a chill space and a stage for them to feel at home.

[BoxaRox]

ya know, I kind a disagree. If teens can't run with the big kids, they maybe shouldn't go till they can. In any event, you don't want to isolate/segregate them -- or let them isolate/segregate themselves. They need to be learning how to live in the whole world, not just some fantasy sub-set.

When I was a teen, I knew EVERYTHING! Now, as we all do, I look back and laugh. Teens will learn far more hanging out with old/stupid people, than they will from others as "smart" as themselves.

Little kids must be segregated from some things just cause they're not ready (strong) enough to withstand/understand it. Teens should be learning to play in traffic on their own.

[headquarters]

It's a nice idea, but I tend to agree with BoxaRox. I know when I was a teen, I wouldn't be searching out a "teen hangout". I think if everyone was just easy going and nice like they should be, then a teen hangout shouldn't be necessary. Now possibly there could be just a younger person meet or something, but as far as habing a camp, I'm not so sure.

hq

[Bad Daddy]

I hate to bring up the negative stuff but this idea was brought up since a bunch of the teens that did come to the playa decided to hang out in the middle of KIDSville with nothing better to do then swear, yell and agitate anyone who asked them to stop swearing in front of their small children. These teens were kicked out of their RVs by parents who did not want to deal with them or did not want them ruining their vacation.

Since we are already segregating when we establish a zone called KIDSVILLE we thought it might be a nice idea to give the teens their own space so they could cuss their f**king heads off without offending everyone in the Kidsville radius. It has nothing to do with segregation and everything to do with them having their own place to hang out and a stage as a creative outlet. Free to come and go as they please while not offending children or pissing off adults. I guess you do not remember that part of being a teen.

It is UNREALISTIC to think that parents should not/could not/ or would not go to Burning Man just because they have children or teens. People will bring them out anyway, we are just looking for a way for everyone to have a comfortable place to chill out and meet new friends. Oh, and by the way, we never said no adults allowed. This is Burning Man, not the Fifties.

[we0ne]

I think a teen's area/camp/collective is a great idea. I didn't have any issues with teens last year in kidsville, but certainly there are many kids there who are having great experiences, but mom/dad feel they need to be supervised if touring off on the playa. Let's remember there's a big difference between 13 and 19.

Bad Daddy, are you part of kidcamp chat group? Kidsvlille is doing a perofrmance at center camp this year. Perhaps you could bring this idea to the chat group of kidsville families and some of the teens or families will consider this as a theme camp within kidsville. If the teens have a chance to prepare they may come up with some great performances/art to share with all burners, even giving them road frontage attached to kidsville.

All different life experienced have their own space: those who are "clean and sober", hushville, elders, etc etc. I don't hink there's anything wrong with having your own space and inviting others into it.

It is difficult to be old enough to understand the experices of those around you , but not be able to participate in them yourself. Teen space would give them an outlet to be independant, but safe, creative and share their experiences with each other.

All the families there give their children an opportunity to interact and play in the playa traffic, to an age appropriate extent. However I disagree that a 13 year old should be left to their own divices or those of others at BM. To say that teens shouldn't go until they can run with the big kids is a little disheartening. Bring them when they are small, leave them at home when they are at a very influential time of their life sending a message that they should hurry up and grow up fast because until your old enough to drink, consume drugs, sex and tour the playa by yourself, you can't come and enjoy all that is burning man and experience the fabulous art and kindness BM has to offer. Then they come back as adults. Sorry, bad message for teens. They get that enough from TV.

Bad Daddy, if you're not part of kidscamp yahoo group, let me know and I will make this suggestion to the group for you. We have been discussing lately what kidsville can do to give back to BM and there is a lot of creative energy within teens, so we may have something here.

Cheers!
skyneedle

[Token]

Bad Daddy, since you have first hand experience with this and know the particulars of the situation, perhaps you should set up a Teen Camp. I dunno, set up an Xbox for them, PC with a link to gigs of porn, or whatever teens do these days. Better yet, have a bunch of the teens mentioned build something cool, fun and preferably messy.

A do-ocracy this is, yes indeed.

For example:

Mon: Playa mud slip-n-slide.
Tue: Teen Thunderdome shootout
Wed: Port-a-pottie postering day.
Thu: Bungee cord / trampoline day.
Fri: Free porn, spitting contest, and wedgie day.
Sat: You are fucking grounded day. Do the dishes day.

or whatever those fucking potty mouth kids do these days...

You get the picture, right.

I can see you as the first BRC Eagle Scout

[Bad Daddy]

Thanks for your responses to my posting. With this kind of interest -Burningman style- we'll have the older kids set up with something in no time.
As for doing it myself- well this is me starting the idea - hopefully those in the appropriate age group and thier gaurdians will pick it up and make it happen.
I myself have three children on the playa, ages 4, 6, and 7 and this will be thier 5th year.
I also help out as a Black Rock Ranger and like to actually enjoy what time all of that leaves me for my own Burningman experience.
I love what we all do as individuals and am amazed at the beauty that we all bring together to make our lives as groups better all the time.

As a side note- last year these guys rolled up to the center of Kidsville in thier truck. Stopped. got out . unloaded thier truck. built the kids a fully enclosed Ball pit. got back in thier truck and left for thier camp which was not in Kidsville.--Before they left it was said that they could do it, and they wanted to give to the kids Burningman experience. At the end of the week they showed up. packed up. left no trace. tons of great memories. and a contribution that was very much enjoyed and appreciated.

While you or others you journey with may not be teens, you may have some who are near to you in life, or may simply remember being one- if so and you want to contribute, I'm sure they and others- would greatly appriciate it. Thanks for anything you can do to help even if it's just passing the idea to those who will develop it into a reality.

[jaymaree]

The ball pit thing is GREAT! Since I didn't bring my kids last year, I didn't really even go near kidsville. Not on purpose or anything, but I guess I wasn't thinking along those lines.

I have a friend who is bringing his teens tihs year and was looking for other people to help plan some teen friendly activities.

You can find him http://tribes.tribe.net/burningdads?current=tribetopics&set=y#tabs

It's still a small tribe, but that's ok. :)

[ScarlettSparkle]

I'm a teenage burner, and I know that myself and my parents would really appreciate a place for teens to go and experience Burning Man together. Good Idea! If anyones going to start putting anything like that together, you might try getting in touch with the Burning Man Teenagers tribe. http://tribes.tribe.net/burningteens

[klitswithak]

Actually I have started a teen camp well a sub camp connected with verteran burners. The Black Rock International burner hostel. If any teens are interested just give me a message on the eplaya or email me at sacthedrummer@sbcglobal.net I am trying to find a shade structure. Right now about 10 kids from Reno are going up and meeting with more out on the playa. Hope to hear from teens soon!

[we0ne]

Hey Klitswithak,

Sent you a PM about a performance with kids at the burn.

Cheers
Skyneedle

[klitswithak]

i actually did not know of teensville last year. i am now 18 and bm is in 5 days. i cant believe it, but this year i hope to run into the teensville cam or hope that teens come to the black rock int'l burner hostile in the 9 o'clock mini plaza. please come and ask for ziggy or klitswith a k (klitsy) that me