Camp for first time Burners (and the people who love them)

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:43 pm

Hi everyone! I'm new to the eplaya posting, but been to the burn a few times and got inspired to try to set up this camp. After hanging out with, and trying to help, our neighbors who were in need, and noticing the new folks really seemed to be missing a few things.

What I'm thinking is a camp geared toward first timers who may not have the means or desire to set up a fully stocked playa camp. I see a camp where you could get your legs under you and not have to camp by yourself, and have some nice camp conveniences. You know- shade, kitchen, showers, meals, chill space, camaraderie and other things a first timer may not be able to bring out alone. This is by no means a camp where you will be catered to and just lounge around, but more geared toward people who want to participate, and would like a more dialed in camp experience.

We also like to run a mini day spa in our camp and figure this will be an opportunity for new folks to learn about playa body care and gift help to the visitors we get. While the camp won't have a art theme to start, a spot for any art campers bring will be provided. And we'll see how things grow.

This is my plan in its infancy, so I'll be adding details as I go and setting up an info page if I get enough interest.

Send me a PM if you are interested and we'll make this happen!

-Sparky
"lemon drop camp" right down the street from the carcass wash 2010!

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:13 pm

I wasnt a first time burner when I came up with the idea, but "Complete Strangers Camp" was a huge success. You can steal the name if you want to! We were a camp of 4..me, one from England, one from Boston and one from Iraq. Once we were camped, a community formed around us. Its amazing how your neighbors...are really your neighbors at Burning Man! Just a thought!

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:18 pm

THIS right here is what i LOVE about burning man.

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:52 pm

Last year we (myself and one other burner that lives here local) hosted three first timers. One cowboy from Montana on a motorcycle, a chap from Scotland in a rental car and a smooth pimp who lives in hot springs around the world who got there on a rideshare. We brought the bulk of the gear and could support a camp of 10 or so with our current set up, but we will have to upgrade some things if we get much bigger than that.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:22 pm

If you're interested, you should look up Stag Camp (I think 2008 was their first year) and Orphan Camp (2010) in their respective years and get an idea about how they congealed.

mzfit · Post by **mzfit** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:34 am

Thanks Cryptofishist! I joined StagCamp in 08 - their first year was 07. This will be our 5th year on playa - we are generally between 8 and 9 - out near F or G. We've had about 100 people per year camping with us - we cap it to keep it from being too big. We don't require anyone to do anything - but we strongly encourage community! You can check out more about us on our website - [url]http://stagcamp.proboards.com/[/url]

mzfit

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:46 am

Stag camp has done a great job, I know a couple gals who camped with you guys in 08 who had a great time, and Steve came by our camp last year and we hung out a bit looking for some noodles. He had some awesome dingle ball pants I remember.

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:59 pm

Orphan camp worked out quite nice last year. We had one veteran with an amazing shade structure that formed the nucleus of the camp and communal area. There were a few second year people and the majority were newbies. We encouraged everyone to be self reliant for the most part so as to not put a huge strain on the people doing the heavy lifting for the camp. (one person wanted to find a tent to stay in since they didn't want to bother bringing one for themselves, lol)

One thing that worked out well was setting up a few basic rules so everyone was pretty much on the same page before we hit the playa, and knew how to prepare.

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:27 am

Figured I'd give a better picture of what our camp is and what we are planning for this year. We are bringing a shade structure that will seat 20 easy, a semi retired art bus(bar and lounge inside, just no longer crawls the playa), a camp kitchen, a generator we rarely use, a private shower and gray water receptacles, and a couple of loaner bikes. We brought food last year and camp mates just paid for their share. I'm not sure how this year will work, but we bring lots of food. We bring a mini day spa where our visitors can refresh from being out on the playa. Also we were serving lemon drops 24/7 from the mini bar.

If you'd like to join us, pm me and we'll talk. You will still need to bring your own gear of course, but this way you can have some people to camp with and still do your own thing if you want.

So if you want someone to save you spot and to share some shade with, we have some room.

Have fun!

-Sparky

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:24 am

Things are looking good so far! We are up to about 15 campers, and still have some room for a few more.

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:28 pm

I am definitely in! Just got the email of how the plans are coming together, and it looks great :) I had a question about the current tent I have though, it is a 9 person tent, and is probably a 15' x 10' - would this be too big for this camping site? The tent size itself isn't the huge pain, but more how long the stakes need to be drawn out to hold the behemoth down.

I am looking forward to seeing how this camp forms, and think that a fee to throw down on meals for every night sounds like one outstanding idea! I'll be eagerly awaiting the next update bro!! :D

annarosatg · Post by **annarosatg** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:13 am

Thanks for the email S9srky - Plan is coming together nicely

I will share with my friends and group meals also sound good. We have a professional chef amongst us, so he could definitely suggest ideas for meals and quantities based on final numbers in the camp. looking forward!!

thelionking · Post by **thelionking** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:42 am

Checking in. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with new friends.

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:52 am

I'm not technically a 'chef', but I have cooked in restaurants for several years, and have a pretty natural knack for making some really delicious stuff out of not many ingredients. I found a list a week ago of suggested meal plans for the festival, that was made up (I believe) from mostly non-perishable food items.

I'll see if I can get the link to that list on here, and we can have a back and fourth about what people would like to eat

Also, if you lot have a good plan to keep some perishables (fruits, veggies) good throughout the festival with ice and coolers we could try to squeeze that in the group fee as well.

IS IT AUGUST YET!?

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:03 am

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... html#large

I think one main question we should address regarding group meals is if there are any vegans / vegitarians that will need special consideration?

I could probably live off a buschel of apples, a case of hot dogs and burger patties, and a few bags of chips - but I realize perhaps everyone may not enjoy dead animals for dinner as much as I

annarosatg · Post by **annarosatg** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:15 am

Yes, i guess that's pretty important. I think in our group we are all carnivorous

and definitely no vegans. If we decide to go for group meals, we should consider any special needs people might have.....

so what are we having on Friday night for dinner?? haha

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:24 am

My only request is no weird pseudo-healthy earth tasting food like Falafel balls or something equally as bland / experimental. I plan to bring some of my own stuff in case there is a main course I'd rather not eat (seafood), but missing a group meal because it's something waaay out there in the realm of 'alternative foods' would be mildly disappointing.

Anyone else agree or disagree?

annarosatg · Post by **annarosatg** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:35 am

agreed! our pro-chef is italian, like most of my group, so we can think of some tasty options

and we got time too.....

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:09 am

annarosatg wrote:agreed! our pro-chef is italian, like most of my group, so we can think of some tasty options and we got time too.....

Oh, you said you DO have a pro-chef amongst you, that is awesome!

S9arky - Please let me know if tent size is going to be an issue, I don't believe it is this exact tent but identical in size:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... ryid=11020

When I was camping with it at Rockfest in Caddott WI, the only real issue with the tent was how long the strings stretched out to stake that mammoth down, and that is saying a lot considering how small their camping spaces are there!

thelionking · Post by **thelionking** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:18 am

c1dh3d

If you want quotes, bold or italics (etc) to show, go to "Profile" at the top center, scroll down to preferences, and enable your BBCode.

Omnivore here

Let me know what I can bring or help with some of the group meals although I am not planning on having group meals everyday.

Need some "me" time as well.

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:31 am

Thanks mate

c1dh3d · Post by **c1dh3d** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:43 am

Heya, I've been checking for updates periodically to see if anything new is happening with this Theme camp, but not seeing anything so thought I would ask - any of you guys coming up with any sort of ideas you'll be bringing to the BM?

In another thread someone suggested to me to bring a Monkey Hut to cover my tent from the relentless sun, so I am going to work on constructing one of those in the spring time

How about the rest of ye?

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:02 pm

I'm busy trying to find some deals on craigslist for shade and conduit. I came up with a camp name so look for that in an email soon with an update on some things.

Hamtonguepies · Post by **Hamtonguepies** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:01 pm

Hey guys! Your camp idea sounds really welcoming and piqued my curiosity. This will be my first year attending and I'm still figuring out the logistics of everything- I would be bringing a tent, food and as much water as I can bring while ridesharing out to BM. I was curious as to what the camp fee is? I don't know anyone heading out to BM so it would just be me heading out there.

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:11 pm

Well, we have a name! -The Dirty Goddess Day Spa - We got a good group of people coming from all over the place and hope to bring a refreshing spot to the Playa for anyone who wants to swing by.

We have some room still, so if you want some more info just email us at [email protected] or pm me here!

-Sparky

Raschelle · Post by **Raschelle** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:35 pm

[quote="c1dh3d"]http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... html#large

I think one main question we should address regarding group meals is if there are any vegans / vegitarians that will need special consideration?

I could probably live off a buschel of apples, a case of hot dogs and burger patties, and a few bags of chips - but I realize perhaps everyone may not enjoy dead animals for dinner as much as I :)[/quote]

...I am a vegetarian. But not a vegan. I dont know if I'm the only one or not but if I am, don't be worried about making meat meals. I have no problem providing my own food.

S9arky · Post by **S9arky** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:39 am

We have some camp spots open after a few cancellations. If you'd like to know more what we are bringing out and how to join us, drop me a line at [email protected] or pm me here

Camp for first time Burners (and the people who love them)

Camp for first time Burners (and the people who love them)

Re: Camp for first time Burners (and the people who love the