So you’re thinking about coming to Equilumia…
Welcome to the start of our Survival Guide. This guide contains pertinent information for your trip to Equilumia.
10 Principles
We strive to embody the 10 Principles while creating our temporary community.
- Radical Inclusion
- Gifting
- Decommodification
- Radical Self Expression
- Radical Self Reliance
- Communal Effort
- Civic Responsibility
- Leave No Trace
- Participation
- Immediacy
For more information go to: https://burningman.org/about/10-principles/
Gate
The gate will be open for entry from 10am Wednesday, March 20th until 4pm Saturday March 24th at 4pm. There will be no entry after 4pm Saturday. You must vacate the property (Exodus) by Sunday March 24th at 4pm. Please see the Leave No Trace section later in the guide.
Once you come in you should not leave until Sunday unless special arrangements are made with the Gatekeepers. Come prepared to stay, bring everything you need. Reentry after leaving is not possible without written permission from the organizers.
If you are part of a theme camp or are bringing an art installation we welcome you to come early on Tuesday afternoon to set up. We would love to see the camps and installations active for as much of our time as possible. Please make arrangements with Placement via the theme camp form
You will be given a wristband identifying under/over 18 and marked with your ticket number at the gate. This band must be on your person at all times. If you lose your band, return immediately to the gate to receive a new one. Anyone without a band will be escorted from the event.
Please note: Minors must be supervised by a guardian at all times while on site.
Check in will be based on photo id and default (legal) names, please have that ID ready when arriving. Gate will have a list of all attendees.
Parking
We ask that you carpool as much as possible. Weather permitting we will allow you to drive into your site and unload before returning to the parking lot. This land is clay and it is our responsibility to avoid tearing it up by driving on it too much. If the ground is wet, we will insist on a carry-in policy and should have some form of shuttle to help.
You’ll be directed to parking after gate. You will have access to your vehicle during the event, but please lock your car. Equilumia is not responsible for any damage or theft that occurs.
Safety
Safety starts with you! Please be aware of your surroundings and body. While Equilumia 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 Equilumia
Cuts and scrapes are to be expected. Please plan ahead and bring a first aid kit with you that includes band aids, salves and other common items. If your needs exceed your personal kit, please contact a ranger
As with other burner related events, there will be fire. People will spin fire, breath fire and dance around the fire. If you plan on performing with fire, you must attend one of the daily safety meetings.
If you have an emergency, find a Ranger or contact anyone with an event radio.
Leave No Trace
This is a LEAVE NO TRACE event, come prepared to not leave anything behind. We do not have dumpster access so you must plan on removing all of your own garbage and recyclables. Bring gloves and sturdy garbage bags to take away your own trash and any MOOP (Matter Out of Place) you may find as you roam. Please try NOT to bring any glass. Bottles and other items 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 better than we found it. Let’s make sure everyone understands our commitment to protecting the land by LEAVING NO TRACE.
Do not load up the dumpsters of small businesses in the nearby community on your way out.
For more info on Leave No Trace, please visit: http://www.burningman.com/environment/resources/lnt.html
Important Camping Information
Plan on 60 degree days and 15 degree nights while on property. 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 if you need. Come prepared for March weather with layered clothing, warm hats and gloves, good sleeping bags, insulated sleeping areas.
Be prepared for rain or snow! Hopefully we’ll avoid it, but bring a tarp or three, bring rain protection, get wet, do whatever you want- just remember to think about how you are going to deal with any potential precipitation 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.
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. Water is not 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. There are no picnic tables or benches available 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!
Nights are very dark at Equilumia. You may want to bring lanterns to hang by the road or path outside your camp. Tiki torches are allowed but MUST be monitored and extinguished when the camp is empty.
How to Camp in the Cold for Maximum Comfort
.Here are some of our favorite suggestions to stay happy and comfortable in cold weather.
- Tent heaters. “Cold-touch front” propane heaters with CO2 sensors and automatic shut-off when tipped can make a tent toasty warm.
- You must insulate yourself from the ground, cardboard, wool underblankets, air mattress, yoga mats, Rubber backed playroom floor tiles can help
- Hand warmers can be used in gloves, shoes or against your body to keep you warm.
- Wool, silk, or insulated synthetic fabrics are warmer than cotton based fabrics. Be cautious of synthetic fabrics if you are near an open flame.
- Get a good cold-rated sleeping bag.
- Layers are your friend. Layers of clothes and layers of bedding to keep you comfortable in a range of temperatures.
- A hot water bottle in your sleeping bag at the end of the day can warm you and your sleeping bag
- Insulated, waterproof footwear and extra socks and gloves are always a good idea
- Non-mesh tents are ideal, but double tarping over a mesh tent can provide much needed heat trapping and insulation. The rain fly will channel away condensation
- Keep your gear dry by storing it in plastic totes or bags
- Wear a warm hat to sleep in
- Roll your clothes for the next day into the bottom of your sleeping bag to warm them up for the next morning.
This is primitive camping. 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.
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.
If you bring a loud generator, please bring a sound baffle to reduce noise for your neighbors.
RV/Car/Trailer Camping
The space for parking may be limited depending on weather. Please register your RV/Car/Trailer so we can plan enough space in case of rain. There is no electricity or dumping on the site, so make arrangements before heading out.
Car camping /Sleeping will be in a specific area, please let the parking folks know if you plan to sleep in your car.
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 Placement crew to help you locate your site. There will be a map available online before the event to help with planning.
Restrooms
Please be respectful to your fellow Participants and do your part to keep the Portos 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 anyone with a radio.
Remember, “If it doesn’t come from your body it doesn’t belong in the potty!”
Fire
Portable fire pits, bowls, barrels are permitted. They must be elevated 10 inches off the ground and supervised whenever lit. 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 are some general rules we ask you to follow:
- Leave no fire untended. If we find an untended fire, we will extinguish it. Leaving an untended fire is grounds for removal from the event. This includes candles inside tents and tiki torches.
- We are allowed to cut any fallen limbs or pull deadfall from the woods and surrounding areas
Due to Emerald Ash Borer, NO OUTSIDE FIRE WOOD IS PERMITTED.
Fire Art
Fire performers, poofers, and art pieces using flame must have their equipment inspected before use by conclave lead or Fire art team
Fire performers must each have a safety person with blanket and proper safety equipment.
Use of fireworks, explosives and non-site-licensed pressurized propane art are prohibited. To register your propane art, and arrange for inspection and Equilumia license please use the Theme camp registration link even if not part of a camp
Art
A Burn is about self expression and one most beautiful way its Participants express themselves is through art. All forms of artwork are encouraged, although the more weather resistant your piece is the better it will endure the event. Please use the Theme camp registration link to let us know about large art you might need a place to set up
Effigy
The burning of the effigy is the climax of any burn. It occurs Saturday night sometime after dark.
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 for the community to enjoy. Please respect it as such.
Most importantly, the effigy is constructed of flammable materials. Keep fire AWAY from the effigy.
Participation
The key ingredient to making Equilumia a successful event is for everyone to PARTICIPATE! Every person who joins us for the event is asked to find some way to give of themselves with the goal of making a better community for everyone. Each of us are the same- 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.
There are many ways, great and small, to Participate.
You can join one of our volunteer teams, from Rangers to LNT and give a few hours of your time to making our infrastructure run smoothly.
You can register a Theme camp and offer some sort of interactive experience. Ideas include food or beverage to share, artwork, dance, sing or hand out gifts, run a game, or create a crafting area, play curated music. The options are as limitless as your imagination.
Come prepared to be Self-Reliant. Do not expect anyone to share their supplies or take care of you. Things may happen, but you must be prepared to care for yourself. Every participant is expected to Leave No Trace! This means that there should be no evidence of your having camped at onsite. Our goal is to leave the grounds in better shape than when we arrived. 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 please work together to resolve conflicts.
If we are successful, then Equilumia will become more than a camping event, it will become a temporary city filled with community.
Art Cars, Mutant Vehicles and Bikes
Weather permitting, preregistered art cars and mutant vehicles may be permitted 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. Bikes are welcome, and work well. Get crafty and make your bike something special to share! Please be mindful of theft, and lock your 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
Sound
Our intention is to have music, events, activities, and art all day and all night for a few days. We ask that camps monitor their volumes, work with surrounding neighbor camps for shared peace, and turn it down to a dull roar at 2am.
Consent
Equilumia 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, but Indiana law requires we keep minors from viewing in any way. There will be a “designated area” for nudity, and sex acts are prohibited in the civic space of Equilumia and in unrestricted public environments.
Pets and Service Animals
Pets are not allowed. Service animals must be registered with an email to equilumia@gmail.com at least 3 weeks before the event
Per https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/ you will be asked
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Please note: Emotional support or comfort dogs, are not allowed per ADA rules, because providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person’s disability.
Illegal Activity Prohibited
Equilumia 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. Equilumia will be much more enjoyable if you are in control, be yourself and be responsible.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 own 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.
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 likely result in a permanent ban from future Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky Burner events.
Ranger Involvement
Rangers are not security, they are not in charge, and cannot compel anyone to do anything. They are volunteer participants acting as non-confrontational mediators, and helpers throughout the grounds and its perimeters to ensure the collective survival of this emerging 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 intentionally vandalizing art that is not your own or physical violence against others,
Rangers have no power, but they can speak to the organizers. Violation of basic rules, or violent or anti-social behavior, can result in revocation of your ticket and ejection from the event without refund by event organizers.