CouchSurfing Camp

Hey ho,
So how is everyone getting on? I'll take it your all doing amazingly well. Anyway, I seen somewhere that there is a cs camp fee. Any idea how much it is, how we go about paying it, that kinda thing.


Robbie

I saw the message up on the group mail to this page http://couchsurfingcamp.com/donationpage.html. I was expecting it of course, but the mail was still very shady on details. Considering it's the first year that people are to pay, could someone give us an idea of what the $50 is going to? (Some of us are already paying a lot just to get there and still have to buy a tent, costume etc.) I don't know how many are going, but if it cost the organizors "hundreds of dollars" and there are going to be 50-100 of us there the Math doesn't really work out on 50 each (don't worry, I'm definitely paying, but I'd just like to know what I'm paying for that's all)... Since we bring our own food and cooking materials what's in the "kitchen"? Is the "darth shader" large enough to give shade to everyone in the camp? (Excellent drawings BTW Roamer!!!)
To be honest I really have no idea what the Couchsurfing Camp actually does apart from party and have a "mutant couch" in the middle Sorry for all the questions, but any information really is appreciated!!

I have similar questions (and similar willingness to pay), esp. since there was not fee (on purpose) last year.

From what I remember, we all brought stuff to make the camp viable (results? -- I'm no judge), and the real "problem" if any was when things broke down (who's fault?, who's in charge?) sofaking, toast or other nice people got stuck with fxup.

The $50 will not fix that second problem, of course.

One question - -is there a cap on members? Is there a rebate if $50 turns out to be too much (I *do* recall that was a good idea, given the problems with flakey payers...)

Thanks for info!

D

I can see that the donations page has already been updated with more donation options and hints as to where the money is going. Whatever coding is used on that page makes the url invisible; are they all for the same fund? Apart from ice and bikes, it would be great if someone in-the-know could give us a short list of what we aren't thinking of that needs to be paid for.
The bike thing is definitely something I want to pay up front, I just don't like the word donation there lol. I'd pay $40 or whatever (on top of whatever other expenses there may be) and know there is a bike waiting for me rather than contribute to a general "free-for-all" where you might or might not get it. My altruism always excludes bikes; it's a vehicle of sorts and I have to assert my manly possession of it
I can see anyone organising this may be quite busy, so rather than keep asking the questions, I will gladly offer any help I may give. If my clients send me enough work this and next week I'll definitely chip in more than the average Couchsurfer might (once slightly better informed remember us burning virgins are generally in the dark for what the hell is going to happen at BM, so any and all clues are appreciated!)

I'll pipe in here until Lambo tells all, as it seems to be a hot topic. Remember though, I'm not a member of CSC: I just help out with the online organisation of a handful of camps, besides my own, so I'm not speaking on behalf of the CSC organisers.

First off, no theme camp is ever operated at a profit. They are usually a money-eating beast that is never, ever satisfied. They are usually started by a few Burner friends that decide they are completely addicted to BM, come up with an idea for a camp, and say "Fuck it! Let's do it". For the first year or two they fund it completely themselves and usually sink a few thousand dollars into the initial startup. They quickly learn how much it costs in money, blood, sweat, tears and time. It takes an awful lot of time organising a week long camping trip to the desert for so many people. But they love doing it and love the fact that they are contributing to the city that they call Home, besides seeing all the smiling faces of their camp mates and knowing they played a role in making these smiles. Most medium/large theme camps only last between four and eight years until the organisers burn out and go back to enjoying a simpler BM experience.

The average theme camp fee is about $175, some with communal meals and some without. The largest fees are about $400 for some of the sound camps and $50 is about the minimum camp fee for a no frills camp.

So what's so special about being part of a theme camp and what are the advantages? I've always camped with a theme camp at Burning Man and I doubt I would ever change this habit. In my opinion it's the only way to experience BM if you are travelling to BRC from a great distance, especially from overseas, and a virgin. You'll hear it mentioned so many times that you can never fully appreciate just how harsh the conditions of the playa can be until you experience it for yourself. And this is so very true. You'll probably realise this after your first day and if not, then you'll definitely know what I'm talking about on the third day when you are collapsed in an over-stimulated heap, laying in the shade and so thankful of the camp mate that is making sure you have an ice cold drink while they fix your tent.

So I'm saying the number one advantage of being part of a theme camp is the support of your fellow camp mates. Not only the day-to-day little things that you do for each other but the major logistics and money saved from sharing resources. You'd spend an awful lot more than $50 if you were camping with a few friends out in the suburbs on J street. People initially come to BM attracted by the art and the chance to attend the biggest party on the planet, but they return year after year because of the amazing friendships that this place facilitates. It really does feel like returning home for Christmas and seeing family members once a year. I'm now starting to sound like some neo-hippy or a member of a cult - perhaps I am?

My top ten reasons for joining a theme camp are:

1. The support of a small group of friends and the special (often lifelong) Burner relationships made. When problems develop, battery problems, sickness, bicycle breakdowns, it's nice to have helpful camp mates
2. Considerable logistical help - coolers, cooking equipment, propane, shade structures, transporting gear.
3. Plenty of 1-on-1 advice from veteran Burners and their network of Burner contacts - especially useful for arranging ride shares.
4. You can start to get a feel for what BM is all about on this here camp forum pre-Burn.
5. You're camped closer to the Esplanade and folks actively head for theme camps, so much of BM will come to you - you're in the thick of the action unless you retreat to your tent.
6. The weather is harsh, conversations can be deep and intense, and activities are diverse and sometimes stretching. It's nice to have a shoulder to cry on, and others to laugh with.
7. It's good to have a built in group to talk with about experiences and things to try. When you lose your friends at 2 o'clock (at 3:00am) you know that you can head back to camp and meet familiar faces to head out with again.
8. Being part of a theme camp is a convenient way of making a contribution to BRC.
9. You have many people to help out with a camp project - consider your camp a blank canvas for your imagination and your camp mates willing assistants.
10. Possible early entry to BRC before everyone else.

Burning Man is all about participation. Like so many aspects of life, the more you contribute, the more you get out of it. Everyone buys a ticket, some people are just tourists/spectators, others build a piece of artwork, some participate by joining a theme camp, while a crazy and much respected few spend weeks on the playa building the city or scouring the playa for MOOP afterwards. At other festivals you pay your money and expect to enjoy the attractions of the festival. At Burning Man you are responsible for making the attractions of the festival - you make the art and music, you host the events, you make and distribute the souvenirs. Burning man is the ultimate blank canvas and the theme camps are the broad brush strokes. You must find the right balance between participant and spectator that feels comfortable. If you're a virgin then I would strongly recommend not taking on too much responsibility until you are more experienced. Just participate on an ad hoc basis as opportunities arise and if you are coping physically and enjoying yourself, then contribute a little more. Often the greatest contribution that virgins can make is spreading the energy and excitement to veterans that wish they could relive that first amazing year when everything was so awesome.

As a virgin you can always contribute before you arrive at BRC. Consider the skills that you possess in the default world and how you could apply them to making this year's Burning Man a reality. First offer your skills within CSC and if they are not needed then ask other theme camps if there is anything you can do.

Any participation or contribution, besides it's own reward, is rewarded a hundred-fold in an infinite number of ways

Some of the things that your $50 MAY go towards. I stress again this is only a guess from a non camp member:

• Storage costs for camp infrastructure - I don't know how much space SofaKing, Toast et al. have.
• Gas money for transporting CSC to the playa.
• Propane and basic cooking utensils.
• Generator maintenance and gas.
• Sofas - cheap but many needed.
• Alcohol, snacks and ice for a camp event.
• Communal bikes.
• Replacement/repair of storm damaged camp infrastructure.
• Improvements/upgrades of camp decor.
• PayPal fees

In the unlikely event that there are some funds remaining after the event, I imagine they will be used next year, rather then refunding everyone individually.

I also expect the bike pool to be communal. If you want to buy your own bike for your exclusive use then that's fine. After the event you can either donate it to CSC and reuse it if you return or donate it to one of the BM charitable organisations that repair them for the following year. From my experience bike pools are a nightmare and rapidly turn into a pile of broken parts and is often left to a couple of people to repair after the event. Kiwanis is a tried and tested option for cheap playa bikes.

Looks like this turned out to be yet another of my epic posts!

Thanks Roamer!! The fact that you took the time to give us all that info is truly appreciated. That's certainly answered a lot of my questions!! From what I see the reasons for joining a camp are similar to reasons to travel with Couchsurfing in general OK I'm sold!

fyi:
Donations to the Camp Account can be made here:

http://couchsurfingcamp.com/PayPal.html

where you will also find links to the Camp Layouts
and the Camp Budget ( http://couchsurfingcamp.com/budget.html )

Oh Roamer, thank you so much for that post. It pretty much says it all. Sofaking James & I (and many others!) have put so much time, effort and cash into making CSCamp happen. It takes months of preparation to pull this together and CSC is not the only project/job/obligation we have in our lives. We do it because we want to and it's nice to have support.

Poor james put so much of his own $ into CS camp.....and i personally put in about 1K....not to forget the countless gathering of donated stuff from the CS community in SF. would have been nice to have some of that covered by camp fees....ugh. thus, i totally am happy to pay the camp fee...because it sucks when a handful of thankless people do everything for everyone else and are expected to keep doing it for free year after year....

just trust us guys:) pay the freaking fee;)

xo

ditto, over a K last year... pay the fee