THE CAMP

BENEFITS & LAYOUT

  • B.O.H. SHADE

    The back of house shade provides an essential shelter for campmates using tents and ShiftPods.

    Constructed from durable, sun-blocking fabric, it ensures a comfortable environment protected from the desert rays.

    In 2024, we are enhancing this area to ensure that all sections are equally shaded, improving the overall comfort and livability for everyone. This space is vital for personal downtime and rest, supporting the well-being of our campmates.

  • THE STAR TENT

    The Star Tent is our living room or central hub of our community. This main living space is where we gather for communal activities, meals, and relaxation, featuring cozy seating areas with cushions and ambient lighting.

    Decorated with eclectic furniture, it embodies the creative spirit of Burning Man. The Star Tent is a vibrant space fostering a deep sense of community and connection among all campmates.

  • KITCHEN

    Our communal kitchen is fully equipped to meet the needs of both individual campers and our kitchen team. It features a main gas cooking station and a griddle, along with a wash station for easy cleanup, and lots of prep area.

    All necessary cooking utensils are at the campmates’ disposal to prepare meals comfortably. There are also designated areas for waste, separated recycling, and compost. This setup allows campmates to either cook on their own or collaborate on communal meals, making it a central part of daily life at the camp.

  • OUR BAR, THE FOLD

    Our stocked bar includes two incredibly tasty craft cocktails daily, beers (micheladas are a camp favorite), non-alcoholic seltzers, pickle backs, and a truly reviving wellness tonic.

    The bar crew ensure the bar is clean and fully loaded and works with the ice team ensure ice is always available.

    The FOLD is open at all times and it’s the ideal place to meet other burners.

  • SHOWER

    The shower is available at all times with the ability to heat the water if desired. We allocate enough water so that each camp member can take sustainable shower every other day.

  • RV & TRAILER AREA

    Each RV or trailer camper is responsible for managing their own water tanks, including the supply, cleaning, and servicing of clean, grey, and black water systems.

    Drinking water is provided by the camp.

    RVs and trailers must ensure they have their own power source. If needed, they should bring their own generator and fuel.

    Note: Bring a silent generator.

  • WATER

    At Paper Cranes, our water station is an essential resource, providing clean, drinkable water for all camp members, and eliminating the need for campmates to bring their own water to the burn. Centrally located within our camp and accessible 24/7, this station is meticulously maintained by a dedicated team, ensuring cleanliness and safety at all times.

  • POWER

    We use a combination of propane and gas powered generators. Every camp member is required to learn how to start the generator which power a portion of our lights, our music, and a table dedicated for people to be able to charge small devices like phones or recharable batteries.

    If you have an E-bike, AC, or other high powered device please consult the Power Lead to ensure we can find a solution between a donation for more fuel to bringing a personal generator.

Our camp's usual attendance is between 40 and 45 campmates. People camp in a combination tents, ShiftPods, RVs, and trailers.

Paper Cranes camp layout 2023

COLLABORATIVE

CAMP LIFE

Decentralized Responsibility

At Paper Cranes, everyone has a part to play. We all pitch-in, choosing tasks that match our skills and passions. It's not just about sharing the load—it's about making camp life something we all own together. This way everyone gets a say and all our skills shine through in the camp we build and enjoy together.

We’re all about tapping into what each of us does best. Whether you’re a wizard at whipping up meals in our kitchen or a pro at keeping our communal spaces tidy, there’s a spot for your talents. This isn’t just about getting things done, it’s about building a community where everyone relies on each other and respect grows every day. Thanks to this community, Paper Cranes isn’t just a place we stay—it’s a place we make, together.

Sharing the load at Paper Cranes

Here at Paper Cranes, we've come up with a laid-back way to make sure no one gets overloaded, whether we're gearing up for the Burn or living it up on the playa. We use a points system to balance out the essential tasks—each task gets a certain number of points depending on how big a job it is to help people who have never taken on a certain position understand more about it. This lets everyone pick duties that fit their energy and schedule, keeping things light for everyone. It’s our easy-going method to ensure all campmates chip-in fairly and still have lots of time to enjoy the burn together.

Each role has an on-playa and off-playa rating and varies based on the estimated amount of energy needed to do the role. Very few roles are intensive and for those roles that are, WE LOVE IT. Energy= level of creativity, time, physical demand, or level of leadership.

THE TEAMS

Acculturation

  • The heart of our camp, keeping our camp’s identity vibrant, welcoming new members, and safeguarding our unique traditions and rituals. They play a crucial role in making our camp a memorable and inclusive community.

Ambiance

  • Key to making our camp feel like home. They handle the furniture layouts and lighting, ensuring our spaces are vibrant, cozy, and inviting.

Bar

  • Our Bar Team keeps the camp lively and social, not just by stocking the bar but also by whipping up daily cocktails and entertaining the Burners stopping by. They ensure the bar is always buzzing with energy and good vibes, making it the go-to spot for everyone to gather.

Build

  • These crafty folks are the muscle and brains behind every structure you see, transforming blueprints into our playa home. They make sure everything's sturdy, safe, and super functional, always syncing-up with other teams to tailor everything just right. Their skills and elbow grease mean our camp stands strong and functions like a dream throughout the event. Wanna join this crew? You'll need to be around the week before Burning Man kicks off. Plus, good news—this team gets ticket allocations from our camp, so you’re covered there! Let’s hear it for the builders making our Burning Man dreams come true!

Communication

  • Our Communications Team keeps everyone in the loop, making sure campmates are up-to-date on all the happenings, from events to important updates. They also keep our files and platforms tidy and organized, ensuring smooth communication across the camp. They're the go-to for staying connected and informed.

Interactivity

  • Our Interactivity Team crafts the fun and memorable activities that define our camp and resonate throughout the Burning Man community. They keep the energy high and the connections deep, ensuring everyone—from campmates to fellow burners—get involved in the exciting experiences we offer. They're the heart of our camp’s vibrant atmosphere, making every moment on the playa unforgettable.

Ice

  • Our Ice Team is the cool crew that keeps the drinks chilled and the vibes frosty during burn week! Led by the ice lead, who designs our slick ice run system and coordinates with the bar team, they're on a mission to snag all the ice we need to keep the bar going. They're the unsung heroes who make sure our bar never runs out of the cold stuff, ensuring our beverages are always refreshing. Cheers to the Ice Team for keeping us cool under the desert sun!

Kitchen

  • Our Kitchen Team ensures a communal cooking zone that is highly functional by being super organized. It’s the place to go if you're looking to whip up some grub or just catch up on the latest of what people have been up to. Our kitchen doubles as the info hub, keeping everyone in the loop about what’s happening, who’s doing what, and when fun stuff is going down both inside and outside the camp. So, if you ever feel lost or hungry, you know where to head!

Leadership

  • Our Leadership Team, the rock stars who keep our camp ticking! They’re the big hearts and sharp minds making sure everything runs smoothly and stays true to our camp's mission and values. From chatting up the Burning Man bigwigs to handling all the nuts and bolts with Outside Services and keeping our finances in check, they've got it all covered. These folks are serious Burners—dedicated to soaking up every moment of build week, burn week, and strike. They live for this, and their passion makes all the difference!

Music

  • Our Music Team is the heart of camp vibes, managing our main speaker system and making sure the tunes keep flowing. They handle everything from setup to maintenance, coordinate DJ and musician schedules for our events, and invite talent from other camps too. It’s all about creating a dynamic space where anyone can step up and spin or jam in their own style. Ready to groove? Join the beat with our Music Team!

Power

  • The Power Team are the superheroes keeping our camp juiced up and running smoothly! These folks make sure we've got steady and safe power for everything. They're all about safety, making sure every wire and widget is perfectly placed and up to snuff to handle the wild playa conditions. And they're not just keeping us comfortable; they're keeping us green, too, managing our power in the most eco-friendly way possible.

Sustainability

  • Meet our Sustainability Team, the eco-warriors of our camp! These champs live by the Leave No Trace motto, making sure we party without a trace and maybe even leave things a little better than we found them. They're all about cutting down our footprint with clever waste management. Want to ditch the plastic, share more stuff, or skip the Amazon orders? They've got all the eco-friendly hacks to help our Cranes lighten up on the planet. Let's keep it green and clean, team!

Water

  • Our Water Team, the champions of hydration at our camp! They're the pros making sure we all have access to clean, safe drinking water, keeping us refreshed and healthy in the challenging playa environment. They also manage our camp showers, ensuring we can wash off the day's dust in comfort. And there’s more—they handle all our grey water disposal, keeping our operations sustainable and tidy. Thanks to their expert management of both equipment and budget, we never have to worry about staying hydrated or clean.