Fire Camp Health and Culture 2025

Hello Fire Campers! This is the start of several informative emails you will be receiving from Fire Camp.  Most of these will answer your burning questions about camp and what to expect.  So stay tuned (and yes, if you have emailed me- I have received your SAP request)!  

Also! We are majorly short in some of the camp volunteer positions. Especially in Dish Washing!  Can you help?  Please go to the camp website and follow the link to sign up to volunteer: https://www.firecamp3.com

Fire Camp turns 25!

Camp 3 ESD- aka Fire Camp- is celebrating its 25 year as a camp this year- Wow! For many of us, Black Rock City is an annual pilgrimage to an experience that keeps us grounded, lets us check out from the grind, and experience play on a level not always part of our everyday life.  But really- it’s camp that brings us back every year.  Lifelong friendships have been made, community has been found, and even a few babies have been birthed as a result of this special place (I, Stefie, am included as one of these birthers).

Setting the intention: Creating a successful Fire Camp

Take a moment to consider the physical and emotional exercise that it takes to make Fire Camp a successful place for all campers.  This is a message from Diane last year, but holds true each time we meet, please read on:

“Many (if not most!) theme camps eventually implode or disband. People grow tired or burned out, the burden is unequally shared, false assumptions are made, and many other reasons abound.  Yet Camp 3 persists.

What makes our camp so special and a place where people want to return year after year? It’s the culture of mutual respect and responsibility, and a culture of contributing.  Our carefully organized kitchen, camp layout, and camp chore chart makes for a high functioning arrangement where everyone’s basic needs are taken care of thanks to high levels of participation by campers. Things get done with seeming little effort. Fabulous meals are made. There is an actual functioning shower, tended by a volunteer who loves a clean-ish shower. Campers put on ridiculously fun events, and there is always a fine cocktail waiting for you in the Undome. The breakdown day, Monday after the Temple Burn, has evolved into a high energy and lighthearted exercise in teamwork that is downright fun. Having an established framework and roles for everyone is key. Thanks to all of you for showing up. If you haven’t shown up to help, please do. It means so much to the group as a whole, and it’s a great exercise in mutual support and gratitude.

Along with the physical contributions that each makes, we also maintain the highest standards in mutual respect, common decency, and generosity of spirit.  Camp 3 is our home at Burning Man, and all should expect to feel welcome and comfortable.

One thing of note about Burning Man is that emotions are often amplified. Joy is even more joyous, and irritations can grow into something bigger and onerous.  We also tend to forget about some basic self-care that can affect our outlook: sleep, hydration, and eating enough. The heat, the altitude, and the distractions often prevent us from doing a scan of the body to see how it's doing. Look after yourself; it benefits the people around you as well. Experience tells us that uncomfortable social situations are often resolved with honest conversations. Often a false assumption can lead to discord. Conversations can uncover and correct that. Assuming the best intention from your fellow campers is a great start, but there is no shame in recruiting some help to sort out situations. It goes without saying that any situation that feels unsafe can and should be escalated to ESD management, camp organizers, or the helpful Rangers who are stationed directly across the road from the medic station. We don’t tolerate harassment of any sort, to any degree.”

New to camp policy this year: StrangerDanger Rule
If someone comes into Fire Camp looking for a camper, you have two options:

1. Have them leave a message in the bar for the person they’re looking for and send them on their way.
   
   
2. Leave them in the bar and go find the person they came to see.
   
   

Goal: Do not walk strangers up to the tent of the camper they’re trying to find. This isn’t due to any past incident—just some forward thinking to help keep creeps out of safe spaces.

This rule does not apply if the visitor is on duty for ESD and looking for an ESD chief or similar.

Health reminder: Sickness happens

Remember Covid (or any of those other contagious diseases we like to pass around)? If despite all the self care you’ve practiced (see above) you still come down with illness, please do take steps to isolate and also alert someone in camp staff to help.  Come prepared to take care of yourself, but the good news is that we have a hearty supply of medical professionals around to support.

Ask for help

Physical and mental health can take a hit in the desert. And the reality is that life keeps life-ing while we’re on playa.  If you have exercised your radical self reliance but still could use some help- ask! Not only is camp full of amazing playa-experienced people, but we also have LOTS of resources.  You got it- pinky swear?


Alright friends- we’re off to a  great start!  More emails coming your way with how-to be a camper, events, arrival and placement, etc!  Woohoo!!

Love, Stefie (with contribution by the amazing Diane)