1. We have never registered our camp with Placement before. Why should we bother?
2. How should I start to plan my theme camp?
3. I’m forming a theme camp for the first time. Does Placement treat first-time theme camps differently from returning camps?
4. Are there size limitations for camps?
5. I want to start a village. What should I think about as I start planning?
6. Where can I get support or advice to help organize a theme camp?

1. We have never registered our camp with Placement before. Why should we bother?

You don’t need to! Groups are welcome to find space in open camping and set up without the need for placement. Placement does come with paperwork and we know that forms and paperwork are not for everyone, so theme camps are welcome to skip the bureaucracy and set up in open camping. 

People apply for Placement because it comes with a few benefits:

1. Dedicated reserved camping space that's pre-mapped
2. Early entry into Black Rock City for your set-up crew to claim your reserved space and build your camp
3. Listed events for the WhatWhereWhen guide and promoting your camp in the Camp Listings Archive and for the current year (optional if a support camp)
4. Access to tickets to Black Rock City outside of the public main sale
5. Loads of information and resources we send out in the Placement Newsletters and access to the Placement team for support.

A note about open camping: There is plenty of space left unreserved in open camping where you can set up shop–just be sure to do it outside our blue Placement flags. If you choose to set up a camp in open camping, we ask that you only take as much space as you need for the amount of people actually present and refrain from “land grabbing.” Land grabbing is claiming as much space as possible for all your friends who are not arriving until much later. Claiming land with caution tape, cones, stakes, random pieces of equipment, setting up trailers in a large perimeter, etc. is not okay! Trailers should not be dropped and abandoned before their inhabitants arrive.

2. How should I start to plan my theme camp?

The Camp Resource Guide is chock full of information on planning and executing a theme camp at Burning Man.

You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the Placement Process and can read through our Placed Camp Handbook.

3. I’m forming a theme camp for the first time. Does Placement treat first-time theme camps differently from returning camps?

Yes

• Size limit: All new theme camps that have never been placed in Black Rock City before are capped at 100’ x 100’ or 10,000 square feet which generally holds up to 25 people. 
  • If your theme camp has a successful first year with placement and is in good standing, you will be able to double your size. 
  • If your second year is successful and you are in good standing, you can grow organically in later years but will still need to ensure that your interactivity and offerings are proportional to your growth.
• We recommend a CAMP advisor in your first year and you can request one by filling out this form. More information about the Camp Advisory and Mentorship Program can be found here.
   

4. Are there size limitations for camps?

• Art Support: Number of people receiving SAPs from the Art Department plus one friend/support person for each SAP holder.
• Work Support: Number of people volunteering or working for a Burning Man Department and receiving a SAP plus one friend/support person for each SAP.
• Mutant Vehicle Support: Please see the chart listed here for camp size caps.
• Civic Support: Capacity is on a case by case basis depending on what department the camp is sponsored by and the level of participation by camp members.

5. I want to start a village. What should I think about as I start planning?

Placement has now ended the village designation as a placed camp category.

Groups of people/camps can still call themselves a “village” in name. Many camps have a collection of sub-camps/pods within them that feel like a village. For the purposes of placement, that collection will still be considered a single theme camp even if it represents a large number of people.

Placement has created a designation for multiple camps interested in sharing resources and who wish to be physically placed by one another in a “hub”. Please review our HUBS (Humans Uniting for Better Sustainability) page for more information.

6. Where can I get support or advice to help organize a theme camp? 

There are several resources available that we recommend:

1. The Camp Advisory and Mentorship Program can pair you up with a veteran Burning Man camp organizer to build a relationship with throughout the year for ongoing support. Request and advisor here: CAMP Advisor Request Form
2. If you have just a question or two, you can the Camp Support Team’s help desk email campsupport@burningman.org 
3. The Camp Resource Guide covers many topics including leadership, budgeting, and many facets of logistics - with quick tips and links to additional resources.
4. The Placed Camp Handbook provides you all the information you need to know how to take part in the Black Rock City Placement process.
5. There are multiple online communities and groups focused on discussing Burning Man, and one of the best ones we recommend is the Burning Man Theme Camp Organizers group on Facebook.