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THEME CAMP & VILLAGE RESOURCE GUIDE

This page contains everything you ever wanted to know about creating a theme camp or village (but were afraid to ask). If we failed to satisfy your thirst for knowledge, feel free to contact us at placement (at) burningman (dot) com for more information.

Bikes
In Black Rock City, a bike is a must for getting around. But what kind of bike is best? Will it get stolen or lost in a crowd? Find out more by clicking here!

Open Fire within Theme Camp areas

Everyone enjoys a campfire around which to gather, or the light of a tiki torch to guide them back to camp at night, but open fire presents a unique set of challenges on the playa. Wind is an ever-present aspect of the Black Rock desert and must be taken into consideration. Winds can blow sparks and embers out of fire barrels and blow them across the open playa great distances until they settle against something (tents, shade structures, camping gear, art works, etc.). Wind is also a factor with tiki torches and taller flame effects. Precautions should be taken to prevent the wind from knocking them over, and a sufficient perimeter around them kept clear from flammables. To help you prepare for and use open flame or flame effects in your camp we have created these guidelines to help keep your camp safe and to protect the safety of participants. Please read them thoroughly.

Guidelines for open fires, burn barrels, tiki torches etc within theme camps:

  1. No fire barrels or open fires shall be left unattended. At least one camp member will be designated fire tender and be within visual distance at all times. If found unattended while lit, open fires or burn barrels may be extinguished and/or confiscated if there is sufficient hazard.
  2. If winds pick up, all open fires must be put out immediately and burn barrels must be extinguished if they begin to throw sparks.
  3. Open fire above 10 feet tall shall be secured from the wind and the safety perimeter increased appropriately.
  4. Open fire or burn barrels must be extinguished at the request of any Ranger or Emergency Services personnel.
  5. A 20-foot Zone around the fire must be free of any flammable materials, such as but not limited to: cloth, paper, tents, plastic, etc.
  6. All liquid fuels must be kept at least 50 feet away from any open flame. Please check out the guidelines for the storage of fuels at Burning Man.
  7. A supply of at least 5 gallons of water must be kept on hand to extinguish the fire in case of high winds (wind can blow embers and sparks a long distance on the playa!) or other hazards.
  8. Burn barrels shall be secured and constructed in a way that the burning surface is at least 6 inches from the playa to prevent baking or scarring of the playa surface.
  9. Note: please remember that gasoline is a dangerous fuel to use to start fires. Explosive vapors can instantly build up as it is applied and as the fire is lit it can flash and burn you!

Guidelines for flame effects within theme camps:

  1. No large scale flame effects using 40 or more gallons of fuel. Burning of large art installations, those which produce a tremendous amount of heat when fully engulfed in flames, require a Burn Shield Platform.
  2. No pressurized liquid fuels are to be used within the camping area.
  3. Flame effects shall be secured and constructed in a way that the burning surface is at least 6 inches from the playa to prevent baking or scaring of the playa surface.
  4. If winds pick up, all flame effects must be put out.
  5. Flame effects above 10 feet tall shall be secured from the wind and the safety perimeter increased appropriately.
  6. Flame effects must be extinguished at the request of any Ranger or Emergency Services personnel.
  7. If found unattended while lit, flame effects may be extinguished and/or confiscated if there is sufficient hazard.
  8. A 20 foot zone around the flame effect must be free of any flammable materials, such as but not limited to: cloth, paper, tents, plastic, etc.
  9. An appropriate safe perimeter will be maintained at all times to prevent injury to participants.
  10. No flame effect shall be left unattended. At least one camp member will be designated fire effect operator and be within visual distance at all times.

Cleanup
Please read the Protecting the Environment and Recycle Camp sections of this website very carefully. The Church of Mez also has some excellent tips for making cleanup efforts easier.

We have found that the amount of debris deposited on the playa is directly proportional to length of stay. Densely settled areas such a villages can leave a greater trace. Debris includes many smaller items, such as nut shells, bottle caps, cigarette butts, plastic ties -- the list goes on and on. It is easy to ignore such items on so small a scale, but ALL of these things must be cleaned up.

We recommend that all theme camps, and especially villages, imitate our large-scale cleanup effort and employ a systematic grid to police their area for trash. Walk this grid before departing with your fellow villagers and pick up EVERYTHING in your path. A second and more basic rule to follow is don't let things hit the ground in the first place! This will save you time and effort at the end of the event.

For more information check out what the Earth Guardians are up to!

Dogs
Dog are NOT allowed at Burning Man. Do not show up to the gate and expect to be allowed inside the event with your dog. Please contact dogs (at) burningman (dot) com for more information.

Generators
Are you bringing a generator to Burning Man? Get helpful hints about how to keep them and your neighbors happy by clicking here!

Kids Camp
The number of children attending Burning Man is continuing to grow. Participants planning this district see it as an opportunity for parents to pool resources. The district will be located in a quiet area with a central location. We encourage families to exchange ideas and information and create this district. If you want to get more involved, contact kids (at) burningman (dot) com.

If you are bringing children to Burning Man, please check out Kids at Burning Man. Also, please be sure to check out the Theme Camps & Villages section of the e-playa Bulletin Board.

Recycling
Bring aluminum cans, not bottles, to Burning Man. Recycle Camp will take only aluminum cans and is located in Center Camp.

Find out what the best canned beers are. Get smart packing tips and learn how to keep your smelly garbage to a minimum. Make garbage into art. Learn more about what Burning Man Recycling has to offer!

Safety
The following information has been provided to theme camps and villages by the Black Rock Rangers and by Black Rock City Emergency Services:

Dear theme camp or village organizer,

The Rangers and the Emergency Services Department assist the Burning Man community in keeping the event safe, but you can make your camp more safe, secure, and self-reliant if you choose to. Here are some recommendations if you want to help yourself.

- MEDICAL: Keep a well-stocked first aid kit in camp, and remember that there are medical stations located at both the 3:00 and the 9:00 plazas, and a medical station located in center camp should you require medical attention. If possible, have at least one member of your camp or village certified in first aid and CPR.

- FIRE: Keep a 5-pound, ABC type fire extinguisher in camp should a fire start or go out of control.

- SAFETY: Consider getting a few of the camp or village members to be trained as Village Rangers. As their primary area of responsibility is their camp or village, they require only brief training. Having someone who is a part of the camp or village who is a Ranger is obviously beneficial in the event of a problem in your camp.

Also, please be sure to read through the Burning Man FAQ and Survival Guide sections of this website.

If you have any questions, feel free to email the Ranger Staff at rangers (at) burningman (dot) com or Emergency Services at 911 (at) burningman (dot) com.

Sound
The playa is a natural amplifier and it doesn't take much to produce a large amount of sound. Bass travels multi-directionally and cannot be effectively contained with any structures. This gives "sound" as an art form an unfair advantage over other art forms. Burning Man is dedicated to radical self-expression, but it is also dedicated to creating community. This means we all must find a way to get along with our neighbors. Our past history has led us to this point where we MUST give guidelines on amplification and limit space for this sort of art. Sound Policy:

The following four rules make up our basic sound policy:

  1. Neighbors should talk to one another when sound becomes problem and try to resolve the issue through direct communication.
  2. Large-scale sound installations MUST be located along the ends of our city. They may express themselves unless community complaints persist.
  3. A maximum power amplification of 300 watts is permitted behind this Large Scale Sound Art Zone in greater Black Rock City.
  4. Any complaints about excessive sound will become the concern of the Black Rock Rangers. Concerns about excessive sound can result in:

    a) volume check and mediation between camps,
    b) volume check and a final warning on complaints,
    c) the disabling of equipment.

Loud vs. Quiet
Again this year we will have no "loud" and "quiet" sides of the city. These are relative terms, and they set up expectations that may be impossible to meet. These terms create infinite gray areas regarding what is perceived to be "loud" or "quiet," and this results in difficult negotiations between neighbors.

Large Scale Sound Art
All large-scale sound systems will be located in the Large-Scale Sound Art Zone. Like all theme camps, these camps will be encouraged to be as creative and interactive as possible. The primary rule is that all speakers MUST be turned away from greater Black Rock City toward the open playa at all times. The deadline for large-sound art installations is first-come, first-served, so when these spots are filled, no more sound systems will be permitted within Black Rock City.

Sound Complaints
If you believe your neighbor's sound is too loud and you are not able to effectively negotiate a solution, you may report this to a Black Rock Ranger station or directly to a Black Rock Ranger. (Please do not mistake a BLM Ranger for our own). Black Rock Ranger Stations are located at both Outposts and in Center Camp. A complaint should contain:

  • The exact SOURCE of the sound. (Vague reports will result in no action or ineffective action.)
  • The exact TIME of the disturbance. (Vague reports will result in no action or ineffective action). Please report problems when they happen, although reports filed the next day can be useful with persistent problem camps. We will not take action on issues of taste.

As a community, we need to work together to keep sound at desirable levels. This means that everyone involved is personally responsible for how they affect everyone else's experience. If your neighbor believes your sound is too loud, you must work with them to find an acceptable volume. You will need to check in with those that you are camped near to find out what other events are planned and work with them to create a schedule. With these actions you should be able to handle all of your own sound issues. If everyone works together there will be no need for Black Rock Rangers to monitor sound. Please pass this information around to other participants in your theme camp or village and to those that are not planning on being listed on the map. A community effort is need to pull this off.

Stages
Burning Man has no main stage, but there will be places for people and music groups to perform. You can also discuss your camp, art or event on the Eplaya in the Camps, Art and Activities forum.

Structures
Large structures need to be secured properly. All designs are strongly advised to include safety provisions. For more on this, please check out Securing your Structure.

If you would like to discuss your structural plans, please email us at structures (at) burningman (dot) com

For more Burning Man Shade Structure web sites please visit:

Theme Camp and Village Reservations
If you are planning to build a Theme Camp and don't fill out the Theme Camp/Viillage Questionnaire, you are still welcome to do a camp. However, it will not be mapped and pre-placed in a reserved Theme Camp area, which are indicated on the Black Rock City map you'll receive when entering the Burning Man gate.

There is a Dynamic Map Board at Playa Information for unregistered camps. If you bring a push pin indicator flag (to place on the dynamic mapping board) you can tell your campmates and friends were to look for your camp location within the city. You may also register at Playa Information Services to be a part of the Burning Man Directory.