Camp Size?

[jacksoncrew]

We are trying to plan out our camp structure. We are wondering how the space is divided up and how much each camp/person gets. There are 6-10 of us and we want to build some sort of compound shade/living/art structure. The size is still TBD but we want to make sure we plan within the regulations so we won't have to downsize once we arrive.

[dragonfly Jafe]

the answer is, it depends.

There are basically two types of locations; registered theme camps, which as the name suggests are pre-registered and a reserved location is set aside for them (and I am pretty sure registration is closed now); and open camping, which as the name suggests is first come first serve.

There is a perceived value by some to being closer to the Esplanade (the inner most street which faces the man). The first few streets tend to be registered theme camps only, with basically everything else being open camping. When the map is published (another month or so), these spaces will be clearly marked. If you don't mind being "in the boonies" (the outermost streets), you can basically grab as much space as you want on monday or tuesday. Bear in mind you must fill the space or others might pressure you to give it up, especially if you are in prime real estate.

If you are requesting registered theme camp status, there is a questionaire that must be filled out by a certain date (I think that was may 31st), where you justify the amount of space you are asking for. If you are not requesting registered space, it is basically up to you to find and occupy a space. If you arrive at the city during the hours of darkness (or a windstorm), and are not part of a registered camp, you may be asked to wait until morning to find a camp.

500 square feet per person is not unreasonable, although in larger population camps this might drop to 300 sq. ft. Smaller camps (like yours) can get 1000 sq.ft or more per person, especially in the outer areas.

In any event, be nice to your neighbors and get to know them over a beverage and/or a shared meal/snack. The relationship may come in handy later in the week...

[MikeVDS]

You missed the deadline for a registered camp with a pre-placed plot of land.

Not to worry, because there are advantages to not being placed. You can now choose where to set up camp. You can place yourself near portopotties but up wind of them, you can choose to be near loud camps or near quiet ones. Sounds like the stuff you're doing is pretty typical as far as space is concerned. Lots of camps set up large shade structures and art so people aren't going to be mad about the space you use, as long as you're using it wisely. If you show up Monday at 12:01 AM you'll have a great selection of places. I'd recommend getting your major structures there early and set up to use the space wisely and to avoid the need to guard empty space from being taken. The 2:00 side tends to be quieter, the 10:00 side tends to be loud. The closer you are to the esplanade or a pavilion, the more traffic you'll get. And camps tent to be pear shaped, with the small end at the street. This is because street space if fun to set up interactive places, so try to only use what you need so that if your neighbors need more for their project, it'll be available. There is usually lots of space in the middle of the block.

[PetsUntilEaten]

My placement process pre-playa & on site:

1) Find where my friends are or other things I might want to be near.
2) Pick a 3 block area on the map & see where the sun, north / south is.
3) Get a general plan before getting to the playa that includes how much street frontage and shade according to how the sun moves. The big thing is morning shade for any sleeping tents - usually in the shadow of large vehicles. It's been nice weather the least 3 years - but a hot year will make an unshaded tent about 100 by 7am and bright as the sun.
4) Meet the nieghbors, have a beer with them & ask about major sound issues like dj set ups, generator placement, RVs that haven't showed up yet, etc. Ask exactly where they are placing this stuff - because it's better to spend an hour in the middle of the night in a dust storm finding a better spot than tolerate an old fuming genie next to my tent all week.
5) Take time to plan the set up before starting. That includes a bike path, road access driveway of vehicle parking, etc. We usually make a plan then place the biggest tent first - that way we can all crash in it if we are too tired to go any further or we wander off after the first one.


Making a plan ahead of time really helps - even though it will majorly change. You'll be tired & eager to build a nest when you get there - so try to do your thinking before you get to the playa to help yourself out. Treat yourself & your campmates like the tired destracted idiots you will be & try to dummy-proof your plan pre-playa. Even a drawing on a cocktail napkin from Reno is better than nothing.

[mdmf007]

the answer is, it depends.



500 square feet per person is not unreasonable, although in larger population camps this might drop to 300 sq. ft. Smaller camps (like yours) can get 1000 sq.ft or more per person, especially in the outer areas....

500 seems about right, I just dropped the google earth map into our GIS software and figured that there is 21,393,385.2 square feet of inhabited space in BMs, Map for 2006. or 972.5226 acres of inhabitable space.

this equals 42,786.7704 people at 500 feet each. Very close to the population at peak for BM last year.

All I did was figure area of the entire circle, subtract the center, subtract the streets, and remove a third more as there is no city from 10-2 oclock or 120 degrees of a circle.

of course a lot of that space is devoted to vehciles, Tractor trailers, etc. 500 feet sounds excessive but is a good number, some camps have much higher density - look at the camps at about 3-4 between B-and D streets, density as high as it gets in the world for single level occupancy.

so 500 feet works well.

later