Hello all free spirited fun people!

[Alive]

Hello all free spirited fun people!

I’m a first timer to the BM but no stranger to camping for long periods in the high desert.
I’m coming in a van but going to camp. I use solar cells and no polluting generators.

The things I’m wondering about are;

How much gets stolen, do you have to lock your tent/car/cooler when you leave for a couple of hours?

Where can I get a map of the reserved theme camp areas (I'm planning to arrive at night so it would be helpful)?

Are there blocks that are sort of themed by themselves, ex. naked area is between x and y, stag camp between x and y? (I just picked naked and stag as examples, it can be anything)

I’m going to BM to chill, dance, and meet fun interesting people and of course enjoy the desert and art.

Long lives the freedom of all :!:

Thanks,
Alive

[ZaphodBurner]

How much gets stolen, do you have to lock your tent/car/cooler when you leave for a couple of hours?

Where can I get a map of the reserved theme camp areas (I'm planning to arrive at night so it would be helpful)?

Are there blocks that are sort of themed by themselves, ex. naked area is between x and y, stag camp between x and y? (I just picked naked and stag as examples, it can be anything)
Thanks,
Alive

Stuff gets stolen. It's not nearly as big of a problem as the real world, but the city gets bigger every year and you'll want to be particularly careful on Friday and Saturday, especially at night. One of our people had his cell-phone stolen from the bar during the burn in 2005. (I honestly have no idea why he had his cell-phone out, sitting on the bar. He was a virgin.) Better safe than pissed off that your stuff disappeared.
Personally, I don't worry about little stuff like the solar panel on the van or my cooler, but, we do lock our doors when we're away from camp, and I definitely wouldn't leave valuables in a tent.

You'll get a map when you arrive. Expect anarchy. At night, you'll park in the outer streets somewhere wide open. Go out and enjoy the city...remember how to get back to your van!!!...and figure out where you're gonna set up camp in the morning. That's what we did, and the first night actually turned out to be our favorite. It'll help to ask the people around where you -want- to camp if it's okay, because they'll probably just say yes, but, it might be flagged for something that hasn't arrived due to vehicle troubles or logistics or something. In 2005, the entire camp behind us didn't show up so there was an area behind us the size of a soccer field only a block from the Esplanade. Naturally, some jackass showed up on Friday, pitched his tent RIGHT next to our theme camp generator, then bitched about the noise and left his trash behind. Just don't be that guy.

Some of the "blocks" include large sound camps, kidsville, the walk-in camping site and registered theme camp areas but -by and large- there's no stag/nude/vegan organization in terms of where people park.


-c

[EB]

To echo ZB:

Most stealing at BM is crime of opportunity (unless there was a jewelry heist I wasn't apprised of.) Coolers, etc, aren't high ticket, easily portable items like cell phones or Honda Generators (which you aren't bringing.)

Be a free spirit but keep your van locked and your valuables tucked away. Remember, it's a city of 50k+ people. You get all types.

[gyre]

Theft is more of a problem in dark areas especially toward the edge.
Many camps make sure someone is always around.
Even before the start some theft happens.
There are people coming just to steal including high end bike thieves.
Groups have been caught roving through camps looking for anything worth taking.
I suggest good locks and chains for generators.
There are cutter proof chains.
Don't make it easy.
Hide things.
Lock them up when you can.
Traffic helps to keep down the problems.

Lock your bike.

[CLARKcon]

Have never had any problems in the past, but once again and what's been being said- with any city, there will be a certain amount of crime. I'd use the rule of thumb that if you don't ever want to see/use/disposable anything, then don't bring it Good to get to know your neighbors and do a camp/community watch?

[Ugly Dougly]

I would concentrate my vigilance on Burn Night. Lock your stuff up when you go to the Burn.
Otherwise, if you have a fair number of people in your camp, making sure that there is always someone there will do the trick.

[Marscrumbs]

Almost everygirl in our camp "had her bike stolen" once some night. Only to find it the next morning when it was light out. Borrowed or misplaced, you decide.

Then I had lost my camera carabingered to my lawn chair in the middle of my camp during a five minute potty trip. I originally thought somebody moved it cleaning up, but it never resurfaced.

Real lesson, crime or no crime, is never bring anything to BRC you would hate to lose. The elements themselves claims alot of stuff.

[Harpman]

The whole city is a giant semi circle with a big open space at the core with the man in the middle.
as shown here;
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/maps/08_maps/
The semi circular streets start at the innermost circle (The Esplanade) and then go alphabetical after that.
The cross streets are set up as if the semi circle were a giant clock. With 6:00 being the center most street with Center Camp opening onto the esplanade.
Look at the map page, it should explain all that.
As for a map with the theme camps on it. There are just too many but you will get a large map when you arrive at BRC, that at least has the villages and some major camps on it.
If you wish to figure out where things are your self find first figure out what camps you're interested in here:
http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/08 ... umber.html
THEN figure out where they are here
http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/placement08.html

Personally, I always make a spread sheet of the camps I want to go to, And list a column for Street and Clock, then I can sort it by street, print it out and have a great guide to the places I want to go.