Monthly Archives

April 2023

Apr 17
0

How To Maximise Your Burn: Volunteer

By | Nest 2023, Volunteering | No Comments

With our 2023 event inching ever closer, we’re stoked to share the last in our four part series on How To Maximise Your Burning Nest Experience (Or Any Burn, For That Matter!)

We’re firm believers that you get out what you put in, and there are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved.

  1. Bring a Theme Camp

  2. Make Art

  3. Offer An Event

  4. Volunteer

Now comes (arguably) the best and most foolproof way to make sure your Nest is awesome:

4. Volunteer!

Volunteering is sensibly divided into two categories: year-round (pre-burn) roles, or on-site roles. Here are some examples:

  1. If you’re an admin whiz, you might lend your brain pre-event to help with the organisational or legal side of event planning. This would be a pre-burn role.

  2. If you’re pinched for time, you might find the best way to contribute is during the event – by helping out your fellow Nestlings as a Ranger, Welfaerie, running the Perimeter during a burn, etc. These are our on-site volunteers 🙂

Every Burner gets involved in one way or another. There’s a reason Participation is one of our 11 Principles, and there are roles to suit everyone!

THE BEST BITS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING PRE-BURN

If you’ve never held a pre-burn role, it’s easy to imagine that year-round or longer term roles can be intimidating. Sure – if you let them! Pre-burn roles are amazing (even as a first time burner) for building a deeper understanding of how Burn Magic comes together.

Here’s some of the perks:

  • Get to know people outside of The Glade – including how they work, what they’re into, and maybe even what other cool burn events they know about!

  • Build a whole new appreciation of what makes a burn possible

  • Spread your contributions out over time

  • Utilise skills that might not come into play on-site – spreadsheets, anyone?

  • Free up your on-site time to play, feeling good about your contributions to the event

  • Feel awesome in the knowledge that the burn couldn’t happen without you!

Read more about longer-term roles on the organising page. Most roles are filled for Nest 2023 but if you like what other folks have done this year, consider joining the team for next year! And in the meantime…

 

WHAT ABOUT VOLUNTEERING ON SITE?

There are so many on-site roles required to make a burn what it is – we literally couldn’t do it without everyone pitching in! So here are some of the best bits about flexing your Participation muscles on-site:

  • Heaps of cool roles that you can do with very little prior training

  • Training is often provided – build up your skills

  • Increase the number of familiar faces by bonding with your shift-mates over a few hours

  • Concentrate your participation into one epic week in The Glade – great if work or life commitments get in the way of year-round roles, and often lower total time commitments

  • Great way to serve and meet other Nestlings – not just the shift-mates you befriend, but for example, all the people you might greet while working Gate, or help in Welfare, or encounter on a Ranger shift

  • Volunteers on shift are entitled to a meal at the Event Kitchen! 1 shift = 1 meal. Pop in and get something to eat when you are tired from your volunteering or just sit and have a brew and some snacks.

  • Feel awesome in the knowledge that the burn couldn’t happen without you!

 

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

We bet you thought we couldn’t get any sexier. You were wrong.

Because this year, we’ve rolled all of our best kept secrets about how to volunteer into one tasty tasty spreadsheet.

You’ll find positions in the kitchen, with the Fire Wardens, at the Gate, in Welfare, as a Ranger, and more. If every burner signs up for one or two shifts, we could easily cover them all in no time!

Find out how to sign up for each team in the sexy mega-sheet.

Please bear in mind the less desirable time slots… are you brave and generous and chivalrous enough to take on tougher shifts? Your peers will be EXTRA grateful! 

…oh, you’re still here? Well, this is awkward. Go on, sign up! We’ll love ya for it.

SEE ALL SHIFTS

Apr 03
1

Incluedo

By | Community, Nest 2023 | No Comments

Hello!

Colonel Mustard here!

I’m coordinating a project called “InCluedo” to help groups of Nestlings make their needs known to a broad audience, to avoid having conversations often (or worse, not having needs met). Our priorities include people with access needs resulting from mobility issues, Neurodiversity and medical issues. We also want to feature other groups who could benefit from a platform (eg parents), as well as groups underrepresented at Nest (eg older Burners). Burning Nest is for everyone; help us make you feel welcome and inCluedo-ed!

 

Mobility

Colonel Mustard: Hi “Bob,” thanks for joining us. Could you tell us a bit about your access needs?
Bob: Thanks! I’m basically fine, but walking is difficult for me. After about 5 minutes, I want to be sitting down. I enjoy Nest a lot, though!
CM: Sorry to hear, but glad you’re making the most of it. Has Nest been generally accommodating?
Bob: Yes, for example they did a good job of providing transport to the Effigy and Temple Burn areas, since I couldn’t walk that far, and they had disabled toilets (I had a radar key and you could get one from Welfare).
CM: Are there any things Nest or camp leads can do differently?
Bob: One thing camp leads can do is consider having an inclusion lead, in the same way they have LNT leads, just so someone is thinking about how to make the space accessible for everyone. Another, and I know this is a big ask, is for more raised seating around camps. That would really make it easier for people like me.
CM: Cool! Thanks for your suggestions, really appreciate your time!
Bob: Cheers

Note:  Centrally located Accessible Camping is available to anybody who needs it! Ask where it is at Gate when you arrive.

 

Neurodiversity

Colonel Mustard: James, thanks for joining us. I’m keen to hear what would help neurodivergent people! Could you give us some of your needs?
James: Explaining things clearly is great! Say you run a breathwork session. I’d love to know before joining whether it’s beginner-friendly or targeted to experienced people.
CM: The What Where When Guide will say if there are any specific requirements for an event, or experience needed. If it doesn’t say, you can safely assume that in the spirit of Radical Inclusion, Immediacy and Participation that you can just turn up as you are! What else would help you?
James: At events, you often get people loitering and chatting. I have trouble focusing if there’s sound nearby from people chatting or from music at nearby camps. Would love it if event spaces are quiet.
CM: Got it. What else can people do?
James: I struggle to understand body language and social cues. Neurotypical people should know not everyone understands situations implicitly. If you clearly explain the rules, maybe by writing them down ahead of time, it will be much easier for me and other people to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Also, in my ideal world sessions would start on time.
CM: I hear you! I agree re: explaining rules clearly, I’ll try to do that in my events. Anything else?
James: I’m also sensory prone to the point where even strong cologne can cause me real discomfort. I know it’s hard, but if we could get quiet in the camping areas, I’d be much happier!
CM: thanks, James! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

Note: Although Freecamping a relatively quiet zone as it is predominantly a camping area, this year we have introduced a ‘Quieter Zone’ in Free Camping for those who want peace and quiet. Ask about it at Gate!

 

Families

Colonel Mustard: Sarah, thanks for joining us! You’ve taken children to Burns before?
Sarah: yes, we’ve done a lot of Burns, including four with our two year old!
Colonel Mustard: I’m impressed! Is Nest a good place for families?
Sarah: Definitely! Our 8 and 9 year old had a lot of fun. The Nest Olympics was a great family friendly event. So was the pub quiz. And we loved the circus crew.
Colonel Mustard: Any suggestions for Families coming to Nest?
Sarah: Let’s have an area in Free Camping designated family-friendly. It’ll be nice to be together.
Colonel Mustard: Any suggestions for theme camps?
Sarah: More soft drinks! People are doing a lovely thing if they set up a bar with alcohol. If it also has soft drinks or juice, it’s even nicer for us.
CM: Cool, thank you! Anything else?
Sarah: Yes, I’m the Family Lead in the Community circle this year. If you have questions about children at Nest, feel free to reach out! sarah@thesparks.family

 

Thanks for reading! This post will grow and grow as more Burners share their stories with me. Please get in touch with me, Colonel Mustard, at BurningInclusion@proton.me to be featured (anonymously if you like) in this post!