Survival Guide
Scorched Nuts 2010 Survival Guide
Held at Reclaim (Rutland, Ohio)
On June 17-20, 2010
Scorched Nuts 2010 is a gathering of a collaborative, creative community, largely based out of the tri-state region of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. It is built and run by its participants and volunteers.
The event embraces the 10 Principles of Burning Man and will be an interactive experience that is both everything and nothing you will expect.
There were some major changes to the event in 2009, so please thoroughly read this survival guide and come prepared.
10 Principles
Radical Inclusion-Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.
Gifting-Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
Decommodification-In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.
Radical Self-reliance-Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
Radical Self-expression-Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.
Communal Effort-Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.
Civic Responsibility-We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
Leaving No Trace-Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.
Participation-Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.
Immediacy-Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.
Let the Journey Begin
Tickets:
This is an 18 and up event. No one will be allowed in without a valid ID. Online ticket sales end June 13th , 2010 however the price will rise to $40 as of June 1st. We will offer Gate Sales. Please remember your ticket is revocable for violations set forth in this Survival Guide or by the 10 principles.
Ticket Prices
PreSale- 2/1/10- 5/31/10: $25
Gate Price -6/1/10-6/19/10: $40
All tickets are will call Laminates this year. You will receive your Laminate when you check in at the Gate. Please bring your Paypal or emailed receipt and a picture ID for proof of purchase.
You will be given a wristband identifying under/over 21 and marked with your ticket number at the gate. If your wristband falls off, return immediately to the gate to receive a new one. Anyone without a wristband or Laminate will be asked to purchase a ticket or show proof of purchase, if you cannot do so you will be escorted from the event. We cannot tolerate any gate jumping.
Arrival:
Please make every effort to arrive during Gate hours! After hour arrivals are strongly discouraged!
The gate will be open:
Thursday, June 17th from 2pm to 10pm
Friday, June 18th from 10am to 10pm
Saturday, June 19th from 10am to 2pm. There will be no entry after 2pm.
If you arrive when gates are closed, please park in the Late Arrival Area. You may walk in, but your car will be marked when the gate opens. You will need to purchase or process your ticket by returning when the gate is open to receive a wristband. Avoid late arrivals if at all possible!
The driveway into the land is one-way so once you come in you cannot leave until Sunday or Monday morning unless special arrangements are made with the Gatekeepers. Come prepared to stay, bring everything you need. If you find that you need something, find another Participant to barter with. Chances are someone has what you need and will help you out. If you want to come and participate, come in the daylight (easier to set up camp) and come prepared to stay.
If you are part of a theme camp or are bringing an art installation we welcome you to come early on Wednesday night to set up. We would love to see the camps and installations active for as much of our time as possible. If the gate is not active when you arrive you can find your designated area to begin set up and we will process your ticket on Thursday morning.
Parking:
We prefer that you carpool as much as possible. There a very long drive, so expect a delay when entering Reclaim. Weather permitting we will allow you drive into your site and park. However, if at all possible we prefer you to walk in to your site. This land is in a healing process and it is our responsibility to avoid doing any damage by driving on it too much. If the ground is wet, we will insist on a carry in policy and should have a shuttle to help.
The main parking will be off the side of the drive near the gate. Please let the Gatekeeper helping you park know if you plan to leave earlier than Sunday night so we can avoid complications. You will have access to your vehicles during the event, but please lock you car. Scorched Nuts is not responsible for any damage or theft that occurs.
You Have Arrived!
The Venue
Reclaim is a former strip mine that has been "reclaimed" to be a breathtaking clearing of land. Joe and Wendy purchased it for personal and public use, with the Reclaim Music Festival as its headliner. They have graciously allowed us to use this space as a home for Scorched Nuts. Although the main clearings are very open and flat, Reclaim is actually the top of a large hill. If you take a few steps into the woods you will see steep slopes and sudden drop offs. Please be very aware of your surroundings during the day and night, and try to stick to the clearings. Reclaim is centered in a larger preserve owned by United Plant Saver's. This group uses the land to grow medicinal and endangered plants. You are expected to respect the grounds at all times. Please do not wander too far out of our main "city".
Safety
Safety starts with you! Please be aware of your surrounding and body. While Scorched Nuts is built on community and cooperation, that doesn't mean citizens are protected from the actions of those with bad intentions. Maintain awareness of your personal safety at the event. Secure your valuables when away from camp. Introduce yourself to neighbors and your local Rangers. Work together to keep our city secure.
Make new friends, but be alert to the actions of those you meet. Be cautious about accepting drinks in open containers from strangers. Most importantly, use and trust your best instincts. Please keep in mind that you are responsible for yourself at all times, in every regard, as you approach, once you enter, and as you leave Scorched Nuts.
Medical Safety
Cuts, nicks and dings are to be expected. Please plan ahead and bring a first aid kit with you that includes band aids, salves and other common items.
As with other burner related events, there will be fire. People will spin fire, breath fire and even dance around the fire. If you plan on performing with fire, please have a safety plan in place. If you are burned please care for your injuries immediately or seek a Ranger or Medic to assist you.
The Medic station is located at the stage and will have at least one volunteer available at all times via the radio. These medics are our first responders and will attempt to handle the minor incidents on site. Though cell phone service is spotty, our Lead Medic has reception at the Medic station and will be able to call out for help if necessary. If you have an emergency, find a Ranger and/or get to the stage immediately. The Medic will handle all situations that he/she feels properly trained to handle. If they feel the situation is dangerous or beyond their scope of training they will refer you to leave for proper medical care or call for Emergency Services. Please know our Lead Medic has emergency medical and evacuation plans in place.
Important Camping Information
Camping at Reclaim may remind veteran Burners of the playa. It will be sunny, hot and windy. There are plenty of trees around the clearings, but they may not offer much shade during the day, so bring something to make shade such as a tent, tarps, rope, stakes, umbrellas, and poles. Come prepared for the sun with enough sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, water, etc. Bring shade structures, and be careful about securing them correctly.
Be prepared for rain!!! Hopefully the most we will get is brief rain shower! Bring a tarp or three, duck in your tent, bring rain protection, get wet, do whatever you want just remember to think about how you are going to deal with any potential rain BEFORE you go. Bottom line: prepare for rain, better safe than sorry, it as easy as a tarp or two, some rope, and some ingenuity.
Bring insect repellent; the insects will be bad. There is a still pond on the grounds so there are many mosquitoes in season. Also there are a variety of spiders in the area so please plan to keep your tent sealed up and shake out any bedding. Raccoons and other critters will stay away during the noisy hours, but please be mindful of where you leave trash and waste water as they will invade if they get a chance!
Bring Ice and Water. There will be no ice sales nor water available on site. Please plan ahead and bring enough water to drink, shower and clean up around camp. A good rule of thumb is 2 gallons per person per day.
Bring tables and chairs. This is not a standard campground. There are no picnic tables or benches on the property.
Bring at least two sources of light, there is no light at the site and having a light source is more than a convenience. Please avoid using disposable, wasteful glow sticks. Reusable products are the best! Bring EL wire art and blinkies if you’ve got them. Headlamps work great when you need both hands or a trip to the portos.
This year we will be using Lanterns to light our paths. You can help by purchasing or creating several lanterns to hang on the road or path outside your camp. It is very dark at Reclaim and oil lanterns provide better light than candles. Tiki torches are allowed but MUST be well monitored and extinguished when the camp is empty. The Lamplighters will install and remove lantern holders on the roads and paths before and after the event. The Lamplighters will also ceremonially light every lantern each evening. It is our goal that if you the participants and theme camps supply your own lanterns, they will reflect your theme or personality and add to the beauty of the night.
This is primitive camping at its best. Be prepared to meet the challenges of surviving without power or facilities. Enjoy the simplicity of going without, or find creative ways to meet your needs. Research the Leave No Trace land ethic, or go to the Burning Man website for more tips and advice on how to make your experience pleasant and eco-friendly.
Leave No Trace
This is a LEAVE NO TRACE event, come prepared to not leave anything behind. We will not have dumpster access this year so you must plan on removing all of your own garbage and recyclables. Bring gloves and sturdy garbage bags and be prepared to take away your own trash and any other trash left behind you can grab. Everyone who attends is expected to collect and transport away all their own trash plus any found garbage they can dump. Please try NOT to bring any glass bottles, they make a mess when broken and are harder to carry away than crushed cans. It is up to all of us to leave the site clean, and the state of the site when we leave will be a main factor in the decision whether to rent the land to us again. Let's make sure everyone understands our commitment to protecting the land by LEAVING NO TRACE. Fully participate by not leaving something for someone else to take care of.
For more info on Leave No Trace Camping, please visit: www.lnt.org
Setting up Camp
Tent Camping
Definitely plan on laying down tarps under your tent to help reduce mud and protect the ground. Due to wind and rain potential, please make sure your tent is securely staked. If you are not camping with a registered theme camp you will be directed to the walk in camping areas.
RV Camping
RV'S are allowed, however the space for parking may be limited depending on weather. Please contact themecamps@scorchednuts.org to register your RV. There is no electricity to plug into and there is no dumping at the site, so make arrangements before heading out.
Theme Camps
Theme camps are an integral part of the Burn experience. Registered Theme Camps will have a reserved space for them based on their needs and requests. If you have registered before the event, check with the Theme Camp Coordinator to help you locate your site. If you want to choose your site, please try to arrive on Wednesday night and you can scout what is available. There will be pictures and a map available online before the event so you will be able to get an idea of what your area will look like.
A Theme Camp can be as complicated or as simple as you like. Some of our reoccurring Theme Camps are The Smokin Knob which is a full service hookah lounge, Camp Pornyata has adult themes piñatas, the Pink Flamingo Bar serves homemade wines, and Summer Camp has games and activities for people of all ages. There are so many options; we would love to see what you bring to share!
Restrooms
We will be ordering at least 5 regular porta-potties and 1 handicap one. These will be distributed throughout the grounds to help reduce overuse. If necessary, we will have a cleaning done on Friday. Please be respectful to your fellow Participants and do your part to keep the potties clean and in working order. If you notice a problem with the potties or a Participant abusing them, please report it to a Ranger or a volunteer at HQ.
Remember, “If it doesn’t come from your body it doesn’t belong in the potty!!!”
Fire
DO NOT CREATE ANY UNAUTHORIZED FIREPITS. Use of an unauthorized firepit may be grounds for ejection from the event. We strongly encourage the use of burn barrels or portable firepits. The owners of the land are gracious enough to allow us to burn here, but they do not want to see burn scars left on the land. There is a bonfire pit near the stage that will have a public fire each night. This is a lovely place for drum circles and dancing and we hope you enjoy its use. Also all art cars and mutant vehicles must avoid the fire circles for safety and consideration.
There are some general rules we ask you to follow:
1. Leave no fire untended. If we find an untended fire, we will extinguish it. Leaving an untended fire is grounds for removal from the festival. This includes candles inside tents and tiki torches.
2. Build fires only in established fire circles. Fires not in established fire circles must be contained and suspended so they leave no burn scar on the ground.
3. Firewood bundles will be available near the fire circles. The wood is for communal use. If you plan to build a fire to cook on, you must tend the fire or put it out when you are finished.
4. DO NOT cut or collect dead fall from the woods and surrounding areas.
5. Frequently drums will be playing around a fire, and people will also be dancing around the fire. When this is happening, please do not stand still next to the fire. Step back so the dancers have a clear path.
Due to Emerald Ash Borer, NO OUTSIDE FIRE WOOD IS PERMITTED.
Participate!
The key ingredient to making Scorched Nuts a successful event is for everyone to PARTICIPATE! Every person who joins us for the event is expected to find someway to give of themselves with the goal of making a better community for everyone. Each individual pays their way here, there is no compensation for performance, volunteer work or artwork. Everyone is here as an equal, and as such we all have part to play. However discounted tickets are available to registered VIP's (Very Involved Participants).
There are many ways, great and small, to Participate.
You can volunteer with one of our volunteer teams, from Medics to Earth Guardians, and give a few hours of your time to making our infrastructure run smoothly. For more information or to sign up, check the Participation section on the website.
You can register as a theme camp and offer some sort of interactive experience. You could make a special food or beverage to share with the other Participants. You can dance, sing or hand out gifts to show your joy with being part of the community. The options are as limitless as your imagination.
However there are several ways you are expected to Participate at the event. For one, please come prepared to be Self-Reliant. Do not expect anyone to cut your firewood, share their supplies or take care of you. These things may happen, but you must be prepared to care for yourself. Also, every participant is expected to Leave No Trace! This means that there should be no evidence of your having camped and partied at Reclaim. Our goal is to leave the grounds in better shape than when we arrived, and to do that everyone is expected to Pack in their supplies and Pack out their trash! Finally, everyone is expected to respect their fellow Participants. Your neighbor’s way of expressing themselves may not be your preference, but you must respect their right to do so and avoid all conflicts possible.
If we are successful, then Scorched Nuts will become more than a 4 day camping event, it will become a temporary city filled with joy and community. Please look through this site and find the best way for you to Participate during the event. If you have any questions please contact participate@scorchednuts.com.
Art
A Burn is a self expression gathering, but the most beautiful way its Participants express themselves is through art. Large scale sculpture and interactive installations provide the most memorable and breathtaking sites at many of the regional burns. We would love to see more of our Participants bring their work and share their talents this year. All forms of artwork are encouraged, although the more weather resistant your piece is the better it will wear the event. The key word we are interested in is interactive: make the Participants part of the work somehow, physically or emotionally. Specifically we are looking for at least 5 new installations to go in the main clearing surrounding the effigy.
If you are interested in receiving funding for your project, you can apply for an art grant! Fill out the application and return it to artgrants@scorchednuts.com.
Effigy
The burning of the effigy is the climax of any burn. It occurs Saturday night sometime after dark. While the effigy at Burning Man in Black Rock City, NV is always “the man,” regional burns have taken artistic liberties with their effigies and we are no exception.
The effigy will be out for public viewing and interaction throughout the weekend. Feel free to take pictures, touch it and even add small personal bits to be burned in the fire. Please do limit the amount of synthetic materials.
Also, please don’t poke, prod, lift, push or otherwise molest the effigy. It is a complex work of art lovingly created by the effigy team over weeks and weeks for the community to enjoy. Please respect it as such.
Most importantly, the effigy is constructed of flammable materials. Keep fire and lit cigarettes AWAY from the effigy.
Art Cars, Mutant Vehicles and Bikes
Weather permitting art cars and mutant vehicles may be permitting to drive the grounds. If the grounds are wet, we will ask for you to park the vehicle in a public space to share your creation with our Participants. Bikes are welcome, and may work well since the grounds are so flat. Get crafty and make your bike something special to share! Please be mindful of theft, and lock you bike if you are leaving it alone.
Video and Photography
Video and pictures may be taken for personal use only. Commercial use is not permitted. Please gain permission before recording or taking images of someone or their art.
Sound
Our intention with this interactive arts festival is to have music, events, activities, and art all day and all night for 4 days. There will be a Quiet Area for those wishing to camp away from the main noise and activity. There is also the option to set up your theme camp in open area, but have your tent and personal belongings in the Quiet Area. Due to this option there are no restrictions on noise or large scale sound systems. However if we receive any noise complaints from the local community in Rutland we will act accordingly and turn down the volume.
The Laws of City
Illegal Activity Prohibited
Scorched Nuts, as an organization, respects local, state and federal laws. Underage drinking is strictly forbidden. Underage participants can be identified by a uniquely colored wristband. The organization does not condone the sale, use, or promotion of illegal drugs. Scorched Nuts 2010 will be so much more enjoyable if you are sober and in control, be yourself and be responsible and you will find that you will have the best experience. The same laws that apply on Main Street, USA also apply to public areas of our events. The same laws that apply at your house behind a closed door also apply to your zipped up tent. Everybody bears responsibility for their actions and the expectation is that we will all work together to ensure group safety.
Participants found contributing to minors, problem drug users and dealers that are brought to our attention will be escorted out of the event.
No Means No
Scorched Nuts can be an erotically charged environment. We want to help prevent sexual harassment and assault while ensuring that sex-positive free expression thrives! It is imperative to know and express your own sexual boundaries and to ask about and respect your partners' boundaries. As the Bureau of Erotic Discourse (B.E.D.) reminds us: Silence is not consent. Communication is the best lubricant!
Nudity is a personal choice and will be respected at the event, however, sex acts are prohibited in the civic space of Scorched Nuts and in unrestricted public environments
Pets
The owner of Reclaim has now allowed us to bring dogs with us to the property. However due to the nature of the land, we must ask that you follow these simple rules and take these things into consideration before you bring your furry companions. The 3 strikes policy applies to animals and their owners and these policies will be enforced by the Rangers as necessary. These rules are for the protection of your animal, other Participants and the owners of the property. The grass on site is very harsh and can irritate the paws of dogs if they wander too often. The land surrounded the site drops off quickly once you get into the tree line and has dangerous pits. The land surrounding Reclaim is a nature preserve for protected and endangered plant species so entering the woods off trail is strictly prohibited for animals and Participants.
1. Leash laws: All dogs must wear a leash outside of their personal camp area. Dogs may be on voice command within camp, but if the animal becomes loose or cannot be controlled they will have to remain leashed at all times.
2. Dog Tags: Your dog will receive and have to wear a small ID tag with your ticket number, name and camp location. This way if the animal becomes loose we can find you quickly.
3. Leave No Trace: This principle applies to dogs as well! You MUST pick up and remove feces from the site! Dogs are not part of the natural habitat of this land and we must enforce this policy. Besides, if your neighbor steps in your dog poo they will most likely seek retribution. Please clean up after you animal at all times.
Firework Prohibited
Use of fireworks or explosives at the event site is prohibited. Fireworks could not only injure and burn people, but it can cause a fire and destroy property. Anyone caught lighting fireworks may be escorted out of the event.
Firearms Prohibited
Firearms are explicitly BANNED, no guns are allowed inside the event site. Those discovered with firearms at the event will be told to take them off the event site permanently or they will be escorted out of the event. Failure to comply will result in a permanent ban from future Ohio Burner events.
Ranger Involvement
Rangers are participants in the role of non-confrontational mediators, and work throughout the grounds and its perimeters to ensure the collective survival of the community. Rangers are the mediators of public safety and providers of information. By encouraging and facilitating communication, the Rangers promote awareness of potential hazards. They address situations within our community that would otherwise require outside intervention. There are a few safety hazards for which outside intervention may become necessary, such as burning art that is not your own or physical violence against others, to name a couple. Rangers are emphatically not the police or a paramilitary organization.
Violation of these rules, or violent or anti-social behavior, can result in revocation of your ticket and ejection from the event without refund.