What are you up to next week?
Yeah, sure we’ll all be hanging out on the Glade… but what specifically will you be doing? Where and when?
The What Where When Guide dropped last week. Ticket-holders have received an email (subject: “Burning Nest 2023: Glitch in Reality”) with a whole bunch of info, including a link to a password-protected page where you can download a mobile-friendly version of the WWW Guide. (If you are a ticket holder and can’t find your info email, send a note to comms@burningnest.co.uk.)
There will be physical copies available on site for most participants, but not enough for everybody to have one. Anyway, in the meantime you can get ahead on your planning, and see what activities you’re into!
By no means do you need to copy down every single listing in the WWW Guide that looks remotely interesting (even the ones that coincide with workshops you yourself are running!) That would be a bit much. On the other hand, if you enjoy that because it gives you a chance to process all the amazing events on offer next week, then now is your chance to do that ahead of the Burn! And you’ll end up with a personalised WWW Guide tailored to your interests. Don’t judge me!
Also, you can just use the digital WWW Guide directly. Or you can scribble on a physical copy picked up at Gate when you arrive. You do you!
Limiting your phone use at a Burn
I acknowledge that promoting a mobile-friendly WWW guide is a little bit at odds with the most recent post advocating for no phone use at Burns. A beautiful contradiction! How wonderful! The Principles are meant to be interpreted.
I will say that if you are carrying your phone to view the WWW guide, I advise you keep it on Airplane mode and use it for functional purposes only. Don’t get pulled out into the default world, people who aren’t at the Burn or the faceless internet.
See you soon on the Glade!
I look forward to sharing my workshops with you (acro, partner dance and rope — see if you can spot some of them flagged in the above list!) and joining you at yours and other peoples’!
-Treasure
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.
-
Bring a Theme Camp
-
Make Art
-
Offer An Event
-
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:
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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.
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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:
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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!
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Build a whole new appreciation of what makes a burn possible
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Spread your contributions out over time
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Utilise skills that might not come into play on-site – spreadsheets, anyone?
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Free up your on-site time to play, feeling good about your contributions to the event
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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:
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Heaps of cool roles that you can do with very little prior training
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Training is often provided – build up your skills
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Increase the number of familiar faces by bonding with your shift-mates over a few hours
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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
So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you’re anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases… and now you’re wondering how to get involved next!
Well, lucky for you, you’ve found 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. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:
-
Bring a Theme Camp
-
Make Art
-
Offer An Event
-
Volunteer
The icing on the cake of any burn experience is workshops, parties, and events! This is an amazing way to contribute any of your skills and talents, hidden or otherwise, that don’t necessarily fit into any of the other categories. Or maybe they do, and you’ve simply got more to give! Either way, we’re here for it.
WHAT KIND OF EVENTS CAN I OFFER?
Literally… anything. As long as it’s not going to endanger other Nestlings or infringe on their right to consent, you can pull forth any form of ridiculousness you like.
Here are some events we’ve loved from previous burns:
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Workshops to build your skills – leatherwork and poi spinning, for example
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Illegal Vibrator Racing (a Kiwiburn classic)
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Sounds baths (oosh, so delicious – you literally feel like your brain has been washed)
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Dance parties (high levels of bass encouraged)
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Sparkle Pony Shaming and Support
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Breathwork and guided meditation
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Kitty kat cafe (hint: no actual cats involved)
The list goes on – but meeting up with other Nestlings who are interested in the same events as you is epic. If it wasn’t enough that you both chose Nest, you also both chose *this* crazy thing! Sounds like you’ll be great friends.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED?
Another great question – look at you go!
HOW DO I SUBMIT AN EVENT?
We’re glad you asked! There are two routes: independently or with (some) Theme Camps.
Anybody can host an event anytime at Nest. In that case, use the general submission form: https://forms.gle/8px7g176q7MdkCkt5. Note: The Point is a public space available for different kinds of events! Timings will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so get your events in soon!
If you want to run your event at a particular Theme Camp, you have to communicate with them first! Many camps have their own events sign-up process. Some camps have more formal applications:
- Camp Crumpet (Deadline April 13th)
- Psychedellyfish (Deadline April 15th)
- Panravia (Deadline April ??th)
Other camps may be open to hosting events as well. Learn more about them and contact them directly from the Theme Camps page.
Depending on the camp, either they will upload your event for you, or you will still have to use the general submission form.
WHY SHOULD I OFFER AN EVENT?
Firstly, did you read the inspirational list of shenanigans above?! Nest is a place in which “if you can dream it, you can do it” applies… but it’s also a do-ocracy. Which means if you want to see it happening in the world, congratulations – it’s up to you to make it work! Even if you’ve got an idea, and no idea how to execute it – never fear. Our Facebook group is a wonderful place to drop a shout-out and see who else might want to join you in bringing your vision to life. Don’t be shy!
SO WHERE DO I SUBMIT MY EVENT?
Once more for those in the back 😉 We’d love to see your events and be able to share your plans in our What Where When guide! The submission deadline is April 20th 2023. Press the “Submit” Button below for the application form.
Note: If you’re offering some sort of amazing immersive experience, sometimes you could even apply for an Art Grant to help bring your dream to life! Art grants are technically closed for 2023 but there may still be funding available. And definitely bear this in mind for your 2024 shenanigans!
So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you’re anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases… and now you’re wondering how to get involved next!
Well, lucky for you, you’ve found 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. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:
-
Bring a Theme Camp
-
Make Art
-
Offer An Event
-
Volunteer
WHAT EVEN IS ART?
Without getting too existential about it, Art at Nest is stuff you create. This could be an installation, music, a workshop, a sculpture, a strange happening, a colourful mural, a comedy show, an extraordinary light-up LED glowscape, or a performance of stilt-wearing dancers dressed as bumblebees. If you can make it, most likely the Nest art circle will deem it art.
For practical purposes we have two categories of art:
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Things – this is physical art. It’s the installations, sculptures, murals and extraordinary light-up LED glowscapes of this world.
- Events – art bound by time, ie the time written on the programme. Events include your music, workshops, strange happenings, comedy shows, and dancing stilt-wearing bumblebees.
The rest of part 2 talks about art Things, go to part 4 for more on Events. (Still to come)
WHAT KIND OF ART THINGS CAN I MAKE?
Whatever you’d like to, Burner festivals exist to provide a space for radical self-expression, so think about what this means for your art. As long as it’s not going to endanger other Nestlings or go against any of our principals, we want you to make it. This is a space for creatives to experiment and see what happens when we are allowed to just…see what happens.
We also have two BIG art projects each year – the Effigy and the Temple – that during the event go up in flames, apply if you want to build some big burning art.
HOW DO I BRING ART TO NEST
Submit an art application to tell us what you want to do and get access to grant money to buy the things you need to make it happen. If your project doesn’t need funding send an application anyway so we can make sure it passes health and safety and that we find a beautiful space for you to put it.
WHY SHOULD I BRING ART TO NEST
Nest is an incredible opportunity to realise the art you’ve had swimming around your head. This is your chance to share what’s inside your brain. If you have an arty itch you just need to scratch, Nest is the place.
WHY DON’T YOU PAY FOR ARTISTS’ TIME
We know that artists are often expected to work for free, it sucks and we don’t support this. One of the principals of a Burn is to operate outside of normal economic systems. It is part of the experiment that explores a society without commerce where everyone participates freely. Art is one way of participating, so if we pay artists, we’d also pay everyone else, and then we become a business instead of a bunch of humans co-creating something. Think of Nest as a giant camping trip co-created by 1000 mates, rather than a traditional festival.
WHAT ARE ART GRANTS ALL ABOUT?
Think of art grants like a giant kitty that you and your 1000 mates pooled together to help each other pull off some amazing stuff. Art grants are paid for from your ticket price, which also pays for other helpful things like toilets because at least some of your 1000 mates are responsible adults.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO GETS ART GRANTS?
We want to fund everything you want to make, and there have been years where everyone applying received a grant. When there are more applications than grant money available we prioritise based on the criteria. We also look at the feasibility of proposals, as we don’t want to use the collective funds on projects that aren’t possible. Health and safety is also a factor, as we don’t want any art injuries.
The art team doesn’t run the show, we simply run the process so that you can run the show. Anyone is welcome to get involved with the grant decision committee, tell us their thoughts on the grant process, or join the art team to help.
HOW CAN I FIND PEOPLE TO COLLABORATE WITH?
If you’ve got an idea but don’t know quite how to make it happen our Signal group is open for business, see what’s brewing, get advice, ask for help, or offer your support to others.
CAN I IGNORE THE THEME AND MOOD BOARD?
Sure. They are jumping off points, take them in whatever direction you need, or ignore them entirely.
So you’ve clinched a precious Nest ticket for 2023, or you’re anticipating one of our delicious future ticket releases… and now you’re wondering how to get involved next!
Well, consider this the first 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. Here are four excellent ways that even first time burners can get involved:
-
Bring a Theme Camp
-
Make Art
- Offer An Event
-
Volunteer
Applications for theme camps are closing on the 15th. There is still time to start your application! Just fill in what you can so far, plant your flag and open up a conversation.
WHAT IS A THEME CAMP
A Theme Camp appears when a collection of humans get together to co-create their vision of a communal space that’s on offer for all Nestlings to enjoy. Amplify your wildest ideas with like-minded humans, and make an epic space in the process!
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Theme camps are, among other things, mini venues that facilitate a lot of the goings-on at Nest. Want to host a workshop, throw a party, or play some music? You probably want a space to do that in. It’d be a pretty empty glade without Theme Camps!
WHAT OTHER CAMPS EXIST?
Take inspiration from our existing camps: https://www.burningnest.co.uk/participation/theme-camps/
Or check out offerings from other burns! Jump over to the websites for Burning Man, Afrikaburn, Nowhere or Borderlands to check out some of their previous camps. Kiwiburn alone had some 80+ camps this year, so there’s plenty of ideas to get your brain ticking.
WHY DO PEOPLE CREATE THEME CAMPS?
Be the change you want to see in the world
Ever wished there was more dancing/snug space/food offerings/gremlin cave vibes that you could experience at a burn? Lucky for you, this is a do-ocracy – which means you’re responsible for making it happen! You can have exactly the experience you want to have. Just grab some likeminded humans and get creating!
Find a friend… and another, and another, and another…
Bring together Nestlings like you with similar passions and interests. We’ve got this “missed connections” spreadsheet, Facebook, WhatsApp and Signal groups where you can recruit fellow participants – even if you’re brand new. Put the call out and see what happens.
Food, glorious food
Sharing a camp kitchen and/or meal plan is a great motivator for joining a group who plan to eat together. Plenty of people don’t like carting the kitchen sink to the burn; if you can delegate that job to only one person in your camp instead of everyone having to do it, it’s a win for Communal Effort and Leave a Better Trace.
Play that funky music
Maybe you’re a DJ, maybe you just really love a particular type of music and want to enjoy it in the Glade. This is a great way to make sure your tastes are represented, and facilitate that same option for other Nestlings.
You better WORK(shop)
Same goes here as for the music. If you think it would be amazing to have a zen garden space to host your breathwork, or a hookah lounge for your intro to shisha class, or a floor area suitable for your dance class/jiu jitsu bout/model train workshop, then you can explore what it would be like to have a purpose-built space.
Put your money where your mouth is
If you resonate with any of the above, banding together as a theme camp is a great way to split costs and spread the load on bringing your dream to life!
WHAT ARE THE PERKS OF BEING AN OFFICIAL THEME CAMP?
Placement A great placement spot according to your requirements. This may also include camping near your camp for your crew
Power Link in to the Nest grid. We can work on better, eco-friendlier power solutions together. Generators are not permitted.
Sound A direct line to our sound lead who works collaboratively with you to ensure your parties don’t get shut down or cause our event licence to be revoked (this is very important! We have very specific sound requirements on our licence and the council does visit site to check!)
Advertisement and promotion of your theme camp to participants in newsletters and on our website for recruitment of camp members, as well as your events in the What Where When guide.
Support A direct line into other event leads such as LNT, Community, and Consent who can help you with making sure your camp plays a part in protecting and safeguarding our culture and principles, and how best to fulfill any other community agreements which are important to enable us to keep putting on the event and for your theme camp to be able to come back year after year.
I’M CONVINCED. WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Get your applications started before March 15th 2023. It’s okay if not everything is finalised or you haven’t recruited all your members just yet – just get as much down as you can to let us know you’re keen, and reserve your spot on the Glade. Make sure to hit submit on the form! You can come back and edit later.
We may make it look like this event of ours runs smoothly and without any hitches whatsoever (cough), but we couldn’t do it without our various teams (we call them Circles) of devoted volunteers. They work before, during and after the event to make sure it all runs smoothly, collaborating every step of the way to share their talents as needed.
This year, we have a few vacancies we’d like to fill as soon as possible:
Arts Circle – Pretty self explanatory, but everything Arts! Including assigning of grant funding, Art placement, Site Decor, Creating the Programme, Wristband design and anything else you can think of!
Cat Wrangling/Vols – The beating heart of Nest. Volunteer Recruitment for all event team Circles. Plus Rangers, Build and Strike humans, Cooks,and anyone else that needs volunteering at short notice
Comms Circle – Nest’s official talking heads Includes compiling information from Event team Circles and Sending Nest Emails to keep the community informed and involved, Keeping an eye on our comms channels.
Community Circle – Involves organising and (sometimes) chairing community meetings, ensuring and developing engagement and communication with the wider Nest community such as theme camps, families, accessibility. Liaising with other circles.
Department of Public Works (DPW) – A cornerstone that ensures the stage is set for the event, providing all the operational infrastructure – Toilets, placement, gate, structures, power and lighting, volunteers kitchen. First on site and the last to leave (and quite a lot of planning in the lead up). DPW are a passionate bunch that like nothing more than rolling their sleeves up, getting down and dirty with the hard work and having the most fun while doing it!
Edge of Chaos (EOC) – Safety Third! If you’re passionate about taking care of your fellow nestlings then the Edge of Chaos Circle could be for you. EOC takes care of Health and Safety, Burn Management, Hiring Security and Medics, Dangerous Arts planning, Insuring our Burn. Basically making sure that all the crazy things that make a Burn a Burn can happen legally and safely.
Event Link – Organising and chairing the All Circle Links meetings, Facilitating communication between departments, Making sure we’re on track with the planning for the Burn.
Leave Better Trace (LBT) – The Leave No Trace principle with extra steps. Making sure we leave the glade in a better state than when we arrived. There’s lots of room to put your stamp on making Nest more sustainable in this department.
Tech Web and Ticketing (TWAT) – The backend of Burning Nest. Organising Ticket sales, ensuring our website is working and updated along with Comms, helping wayward volunteers turn their computer’s off and on again. That sort of thing.
Consent Link – Coordinates with other circles to support and facilitate the principle of Consent throughout the Burn.
If any of these sound interesting to you please follow this Link, fill in the google form and wait to hear back from our Cat Wrangling team.
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