Fire Camp, Culture Edition 2024

Hey buds, 

Here's our annual Camp Culture Email.  Please read up- it's important stuff!  Let us know if you have any questions.

Camp 3 ESD is a very special place. It’s been around since 2001, and is unique in that it has survived so many years. 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 seemingly 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. 

And finally, a note about preparedness.  Those of us who witnessed the unexpected rain event last year got to enjoy continued comforts of our special camp, with extra unplanned chef-prepared meals, a shelter from the rain, and semi-private portos.  We got through it beautifully, but still, we each need to ensure we individually have the extras in case of other unplanned events beyond our control. Bring extra supplies of all kinds, and maybe even your own inexpensive home-made porto. Be prepared to share, too. 

In a few short days we will be meeting in the dust for another epic year. If you haven’t seen previous correspondences about a range of topics pertinent to Camp 3, go find them and read them. It will make entry onto the Playa smooth. It’s gonna be great!

Much love, 

Camp Cor (This one's from Diane! )
ps- Look for the next 2 emails Events later this week and Placement around August 15!