If you enjoy surviving, check out this important info thoroughly. Don't just skim.
New or changed information is denoted with )( in bold and italics. There is new or changed information found in Gate Hours, Ticketing & Entry, Placement, Art Installations & Art Hub, Leave No Trace, Sound Protocols, Parking, Perimeter Ninjas, and Rangers.
Lakes of Fire 2013 is a private gathering that takes place at the Lucky Lake Campground in beautiful Western Michigan, USA. The Great Lakes Region's official Burning Man regional event, Lakes of Fire is sponsored by Great Lakes Experimental Arts, Inc., and seeks to bring the artistry and energy of Black Rock City to the Great Lakes region.
To begin participating, start here: http://tinyurl.com/lofmasterform
To volunteer, start here: www.lakesoffire.org/volunteerform/
GATE HOURS – Eastern Time Zone:
Thursday – June 20th, 2013
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 Midnight – Gate closes.
Friday – June 21st, 2013
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M. – Gate closes.
Saturday – June 22nd, 2013
10:00 A.M. – 6:00 PM – Gate closes!
Participants only! No spectators please. Arrive by 6:00 PM to participate in Lakes of Fire.
Sunday – June 23rd, 2013
All participants except for organizers, DPW, and LNT must be off the property by 3:00 P.M.
You must have a valid government photo ID and ticket ready. Upon verifying both photo ID and ticket, you will be wristbanded. KEEP YOUR WRISTBAND ON THROUGHOUT LAKES OF FIRE. No ticket? No entry. No exceptions.
All vehicles are subject to search.
At Gate you must report the sound equipment you have with you, even boom–boxes.
Minors 12 years old and under are welcome to join Lakes of Fire free. Participants 13 and up must pay the full ticket price.
There will be absolutely no ticket sales at the Gate…as in zero.
There is no will–call at the Gate. Print and bring your ticket!
Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Participants at Lakes of Fire who are 21 years and up will receive a wristband identifying them as such. Check the wristband of anyone you serve to help protect your community.
Exit and re–entry, i.e., "ins and outs", are only allowed in cases of emergency. If an emergency arises that requires you to leave and come back, keep your wristband on for your return.
Once you are past the Gate, stretch your legs, get out, and hug a Greeter. They know everything!
Lakes of Fire' site, Lucky Lake Campground, is privately owned and operated by our friends and trusted partners. Comply with any reasonable request that law enforcement, your organizers, your hosts, or their employees make of you. Failure to do so is grounds for removal from Lakes of Fire, and that's way less of a good time.
Abide by all relevant local, state and federal laws. If you see law enforcement officers, be friendly. Lakes of Fire cooperates with all local, county, state and federal officials
Sorry puppies! No pets are allowed.
Lakes of Fire has primitive camping and porto–potties, and that's it. Rely on yourself for your survival.
Lucky Lake Campground also includes a freshwater, no–wake, no–gas–motor lake with over a mile of shoreline and catch and release fishing, but no lifeguards. Be well aware that you swim at your own risk.
Lucky Lake's 180–acre site is also equipped with several trails and dirt roads. Bikes are welcome, but be aware: mountain bikes will get you around more easily.
If you're not used to camping, you can find information on what you need for camping here.
Failure to bring these necessities will result in way less of a good time.
Lakes of Fire is a 100% volunteer–run event. Whether it's building the mighty effigy, organizing the parking lot, or this Survival Guide, everything is done by volunteers exactly like you. So don't just participate, volunteer–ipate! If you think you'd like to join our motley crew of do–ers, moties and super(wo)mans, please sign up here or contact at volunteers@lakesoffire.org.
Burning Man and Lakes of Fire's 10 binding principles are simple and can be found here.
The distilled version is this:
Except for the landowner's firewood and ice sales, there will be no sales or concessions of any kind at Lakes of Fire. Sorry, you can't hawk your wares, period.
Lakes of Fire is a 77–hour outdoor event. You're expected to rely on yourself for all your basic needs.
Please prepare for rain, wind and other extreme weather. Failure to do so may result in way less of a good time.
Beware of toxicodendrons–radicans (poison ivy). Leaves of three? Let it be!
West Michigan is home to a variety of wild animals. Take measures to ensure food and trash are secured and stored where raiders cannot find a meal, make a mess, or create a health hazard.
If you're severely allergic to bee stings, or bug bites, please take the appropriate precautions. A once–over check for ticks before you leave is a good idea, too
Please be aware that there are no lifeguards on duty on the beaches of Lucky Lake. Swim at your own risk, and always with a buddy.
We encourage self–reliance in all situations, but some medical precautions are in place, including a volunteer medical team and an on–call ambulance if needed.
Are you bringing a Theme Camp, Art Project, Workshop or a Mutant Vehicle this year? Registration for this year's event is now open! You are part of what makes Lakes of Fire so amazing. Thank you! As a token of our appreciation, all registered Theme Camps and Volunteers are invited to come early to the event!
The Placement Team is here to help focus your vision, integrate that vision into the landscape and mark you on the map. We have a brand new registration form for you to fill out, allowing you to make all your gifts known at once. tinyurl.com/lofmasterform
* Theme Camp or Art Project – Register by May 15th
* Fire Artists – Register by May 5th
* Sound Camps – Register by May 5th
Please help us out by registering early.
The Placement Team will contact all artists, educators, and theme camps to discuss space and aesthetic needs, so you can be placed to create a logical and magical flow within the event. It helps you to work with the Placement Team, especially if you have special needs such as sound equipment, adult material, or kid–specific activities.
If you are bringing Art to share with the community at Lakes of Fire, please fill out the Master Form before May 15th. Please submit your description for the What Where When guide by June 2nd. Don't forget to stop by the ArtHub at center camp when you get to Lakes of Fire this year – we are here to connect you with the art of Lakes of Fire!!
On–site at Lakes of Fire, ArtHub is located at the Volunteer Station near Center Camp and functions as a check–in center for artists, invited to the event by the ArtHub team and Art Grant recipients, as well as a hub for information about art. Off–site, we operate year round, kicking into high gear from February to July to make sure that artist placement applications are processed and art–i–facts are catalogued.
WHAT THE ArtHub DOES
WHAT THE ArtHub DOES NOT
Someone from your camp must be on–site by Friday, June 21st at 12:00 noon to hold your reserved theme camp spot. Please submit your plans for a theme camp here.
Deadline for registration of Theme Camps is Friday, May 15th.
Maps of the land will be published before the event. Print your own copy and bring it along, and plan your camp according to your placement. Plan on seeing the Placement team after Gate.
After you've registered your camp, please give us your entry for the What/Where/When bulletin. The deadline for the WWW is Sunday, June 2nd.
Workshops should also be listed in the What/Where/When. Go here to get them listed. What/Where/When Form. Please list your workshops by the Sunday, June 2nd deadline for inclusion in the WWW.
Sound camps – even if it's just a boom–box – should be aware of the sound restrictions at this year's event. Sound camps will be placed with consideration for other campers.
Lakes of Fire's current Sound Protocols are found here: http://www.lakesoffire.org/survivalguide/#sound
Deadline for registration of Sound Camps is May 5th
Leave No Trace is arguably our most cherished principle. This means that we must leave the site in better condition than we found it, showing absolutely no evidence of our having been there. Each participant must remove all items they brought with them – including their trash – when they leave the site.
We also ask that each participant helps clean the full site by picking up any Matter Out Of Place (M.O.O.P.) that they encounter during the event. Smokers, bring a portable ashtray so you don't have to drop your butts on the ground. Please bring trash bags and other waste receptacles to take your trash and recycling home with you. It's everyone's job to Leave No Trace.
Please remember that it's not always a long distance from a little harmless–seeming fun to a MOOP disaster – like a water balloon fight, for example! Practice negative impact, pick up ANYTHING that falls. Following the principles of Leave No Trace at Lakes of Fire is Something that makes this community great.
Lakes of Fire can always use more volunteers for Leave No Trace shifts, Land Restoration, and Clean Sweep Crew. Volunteer in advance of the event through LakesofFire.org.
Lakes of Fire respects the needs and regulations of the communities surrounding the event. Some of your music may travel beyond our perimeter and into these communities. Therefore, we must limit high–powered sounds to reasonable hours. Basic sound rules are listed below, but please note that they may be subject to change before or during the event. Excessive sound is the single most likely reason that law enforcement officers will visit Lakes of Fire.
1) Report the sound equipment you have with you at the Gate upon entry, even if it's just a boom–box.
2) The Sound Squad (Rangers, Organizers, and Sound Team Volunteers) may ask you to turn your volume down, or completely off. Honor these requests.
All sound equipment 100 watts or larger must be registered prior to the event as a Lakes of Fire theme camp. Please register here. If you are bringing lower powered sound equipment or musical instruments, please check with the Gate or Placement volunteers for information on where to set up your camp. Ask for a Placement or Sound Squad assistance in placement.
Bass travels, but not after these hours, during which sub–woofers will be turned off:
All other sound equipment must kept below 90dB at 40 feet.
The Sound Squad will be monitoring and working with sound camps throughout the event. Failure to comply with their requests will be grounds for removal. If the police arrive with noise complaints, they may be directed toward camps that violating sound policies. Please protect the safety and success of Lakes of Fire by complying with all sound restrictions when they are in effect.
Car–pooling with friends, family, camp–mates, or random strangers is highly encouraged. Lakes of Fire's site has parking available, but it is limited. Upon arrival, you may drop off your gear at your location, and then you will be asked to return your car to the parking area. If you do not return your car to the lot within the allotted time, your car may be towed at your own expense, or you may be asked to leave Lakes of Fire, resulting in less of a good time.
If you do leave for an emergency, please stop back at parking upon return.
You may not camp in your car, in the paring lot.
Car camping is permissible if you have a medical condition or will be using your car as part of a camp's infrastructure. You must request a Car Camping Permit from the Parking Depatment by June 1st.
If you receive a Car Camping Permit, decorate your car in some way, to work it in with the atmosphere of Lakes of Fire, your surrounding camp, or to your imagination's extend. You may not drive your 'car camping vehicle' out of your campsite once the event begins, nor may you block roadways or emergency exits.
Lakes of Fire's Effigy Burn is the pinnacle of the event; the Saturday night inferno around a large wooden sculpture designed and built by a hard–working crew of Effigy volunteers. As a tribute to our region's communal effort, the Effigy is based on culture surrounding the Great Lakes. Please honor this art by not smoking or using open flames nearby, intentionally damaging, or burning it. Participants may leave memories and thoughts on the Effigy (non–destructive) and/or hug an Effigy Guardian.
Lakes of Fire ends at 3:00 PM, Sunday, June 24th. Be packed up (including your trash!) and out of the gate by that time. No exceptions. If you'd like to help us leave no trace, volunteer online or at the event. Adhere to Exodus directions from the Gate/Exodus staff.and respect the local community as you depart. This means everything you pack out ends up at your own home, NOT on the side of the road or in private dumpsters!
Lakes of Fire' awesomeness inevitably draws curious thrill seekers without tickets. Gatecrashers are a direct threat to LoF's continued efforts to grow as a community and provide a safe environment for ticketed participants. In response to an increase in gatecrashing incidents, the Department of Perimeter Ninja's (PN's) have been summoned! We call passionate LoFers to service in protecting the perimeter boundaries. The liabilities surrounding this role are higher than any other we've previously encountered. PN's may have to interact with LEO's, Board Members, or unruly gatecrashers or participants. Level heads, professionalism, respect, compassion, and sobriety are necessary character traits needed to solidify our ranks. Conflict is also a possibility. Keeping emotions in check, sticking to the facts while still maintaining autonomy is of the utmost importance! Does DPN sound like the place for you? Email pninjas@lakesoffire.org, sign up, and help protect our borders!
Lakes of Fire happens, in part, through the hard work of a few bold soldiers known as the Department of Public Works. We focus on providing the infrastructure, power, and grunt necessary for the event to run smoothly.
The DPW reminds you that if it's not yours, don't mess with it. Things put in place by LoF DPW, like signage and safety barriers, are there for a reason. Please respect those things and avoid damaging or altering them, lest you be damaged or altered.
The Lakes of Fire Rangers help to preserve the safety, welfare, and quality of experience of our community while supporting participants, to embody the 10 Principles.
Rangers are first and foremost citizens of Lakes of Fire; they are burners and participants just like you – they are not “law enforcement.” Pairs of Rangers can be found circulating the event 24/7 helping out as needed. They carry radios to access additional resources such as Emergency Services (Fire & Medical) and are trained to mediate disputes. Rangers provide timely information in a variety of situations.
You can spot LoF Rangers by their all–khaki outfit with Ranger logo and Ranger hat.
Rangers do prefer that you practice radical self–reliance first, and ask for help second – but participants are encouraged to ask for assistance when they need it.
If you're interested in joining the ranks of the LoF Rangers, fill out the LoF Volunteer application and express your interest. You'll have to commit to a training session and to work a shift in a sober condition. It's a wonderful way to hold space for the event.
All Ranger Volunteers must participate in a training session. There will be 1 pre–event training in Chicago, 1 pre–event training in/near Detrioit, and 1 on–site training Friday morning. Rangers@LakesofFire.org
A volunteer Medical Team will be on hand to assist and triage any medical problems or injuries. On–duty Medical Team members can be identified by their yellow t–shirts. Rangers can also help you obtain medical assistance. The Medical Tent will be clearly marked on the Lakes of Fire map. Seek help there directly, or ask them to help you find an ambulance.
Self–reliance is one of the tenets of Burning Man. Please help us to help you by bringing a basic first–aid kit with each group and knowing how to use the contents. If you have a pre–existing medical condition that you feel may become a problem during the event, please make a campmate aware of it and inform the Medical Team. If you have any questions, feel free to approach any on–duty medical personnel.
Please do not call 911 directly yourself. Instead, route the request through a Ranger or Medical Team member so that we remain “in the loop” and can start emergency first–aid treatment immediately, and to ensure responding personnel have the right information. In the event you need to be evacuated to a hospital or wish to travel to one yourself, contact the Medical Team. They will provide information or assistance to get you to the local hospital.
Lakes of Fire is a family event that welcomes participants of all ages. People under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a 21+ parent or guardian, both at entry, and at all times during the event.
You are responsible for the welfare of minors in your care. You should know where your children are and be aware that A FEW activities are adult–specific. At the very least, non–sexual nudity will happen, and it's your responsibility to determine how much of it your minors are exposed to.
Lakes of Fire has a special kid–friendly zone for families with younger humans.
Minors 12 years old and under are welcome to join Lakes of Fire free of charge. Participants 13+ must pay the full ticket price.
For the protection of kids at Lakes of Fire, all parents and guardians are required to register each minor in their care at the Gate Station.
Failing to adequately supervise minors in your care is your fastest ticket out of Lakes of Fire, as you will be immediately ejected without exception or recourse.
For more tips on how to negotiate bringing your children to a Burning Man event, please see this informative page on BM.com.
With the specific exception of ADA Qualified assistance dogs, pets are NOT allowed at Lakes of Fire. Your pet will be turned away at the gate and you won't be admitted until you are petless.
Lakes of Fire is a private event and we expect participants to approach photography respectfully. There is no filming without express permission. You have ultimate responsibility for your image, and should ask photographers or videographers how your image will be used.
Our guidelines are found here: Photo Policy
Fire is a spectacular part of our event. Volunteers are working with local fire authorities to safely enact the best fire effects possible at Lakes of Fire.
Please use common sense with personal campfires.
Visit our Fire Conclave sign–up page to get more details, found here: http://www.lakesoffire.org/fireart/
Email conclave@lakesoffire.org for more information.
All participants are welcome to spin fire at their own risk, as long as proper safety procedures for your art are followed. More info is found here: http://www.lakesoffire.org/fireart/.
There are strict guidelines regarding all flame effects and fire art. Contact flameeffects@lakesoffire.org for more details, or go here http://www.lakesoffire.org/fireart/
Mutant vehicles are a unique type of art that is welcome to roam Lakes of Fire. If it has a motor and is not completely powered by human propulsion, it's considered a motorized vehicle and therefore must be registered as a Mutant Vehicle by its owners to be driven at LoF. Owners are responsible for the use and behavior of their vehicle during the event at all times, regardless of who drives it . All drivers agree to only drive in approved areas of the event, to yield to pedestrians, bicycles, Rangers, Staff, and Medical traffic. All drivers must operate vehicles in a safe, sane and sober manner. No one is allowed to drive over 5 mph. If you are planning to bring a Mutant Vehicle to Lakes of Fire you must pre–register with the LoF Department of Mutant Vehicles. Email dmv@lakesoffire.org with any questions you may have, or visit http://lakesoffire.org/vehicles.
Looking forward to seeing you at Lakes of Fire!