Quick Reference — Group Playbook Summary
Session: 5 (updated Session 6 with 2026 event details; updated Session 9 with site corrections) Priority: High — single page that combines the most important decisions; hand this to any group member who needs orientation fast
2026 Event Facts
- Dates: July 15–19, 2026 (Wednesday–Sunday). Gates open Wednesday noon. Exodus by Sunday 3 PM.
- Location: Luther, Michigan (Lake County) — NEW raw site, not Lucky Lake
- Theme: "Grand Masquerade"
- Tickets: General lottery is open NOW at volunteer.lakesoffire.org — enter immediately
- Arrival: Recommended Tuesday July 14 (not Wednesday) — better campsite selection at new raw site
- No campfires in open camping — propane cook stoves only
- No theme camp for group — application window closed March 30; Matt's sound = portable speakers only
- Power plan: Solar + battery station (resolved)
What Lakes of Fire is
A regional Burning Man event (~1,500–3,000 people) run on the 10 Principles. No vendors. No schedule. No authority structure. Everyone makes the event by being in it.
Key contrast: This is not a festival you attend. It is a community you participate in.
What the event does NOT provide
- Food or water (bring everything)
- Shade (build your own)
- Commerce (nothing for sale)
- Cleanup crews (you carry everything out)
- Professional safety staff (Rangers are peer mediators)
- A schedule to follow (self-directed participation)
What you must bring
Every person: - Water: 1.5–2 gallons/day minimum (full trip 7 days = 11–14 gallons personal; group total ~45 gallons) - Earplugs (3+ pairs) and eye mask - Headlamp with fresh batteries - Sunscreen (full supply, no restocking available) - Personal medications and first aid basics - Electrolytes (Nuun, Liquid IV, etc.) — daily in summer heat - Warm layer — nights can drop to 50°F - Rain layer - Insect repellent (DEET/picaridin) — new Luther site has cedar swamps and creek - Closed-toe shoes with grip — uneven terrain, not sandals for camp navigation - Long sleeves/pants for evening — mosquito protection + cool nights
Group (Matt + Developer own these): - Shade structure (10x10+, solid sides, heavy-duty stakes, guy lines, ratchet straps for storm anchoring) - Rubber mallet — required for stakes at new undeveloped Luther site - 9+ 5-gallon water containers (45 gallon group total) - Cooking kit (2-burner stove, 2 propane canisters, cookware) - Solar + battery station (resolved; no generator needed) - Gray water system (trough or sealed tank) - Group first aid kit - Visual camp landmark (flag + LED for night) - 10+ trash bags; dedicated MOOP bag (bright color)
Camp setup sequence
- Shade structure FIRST (before anything else)
- Water containers STAGED and accessible
- Tents pitched (consider sun angle, drainage, proximity to sound)
- Kitchen and gray water established
- Camp landmark up before dark
Role assignments
| What | Who |
|---|---|
| Camp infrastructure + setup/strike | Matt |
| Supply list + water plan | Matt |
| Event-culture translation | Developer |
| Gray water + LNT sweep | Developer |
| Pre-event group conversation | Developer |
| Group social coordination | Amber |
| Each person's sleep kit | Each person |
Daily camp maintenance (10 min total)
Morning: Fill water bottles from containers. MOOP bag check. Gray water check. Evening: Shared meal or check-in. MOOP cleared. Loose gear secured.
Group protocols
- Daily check-in: Once a day, everyone at camp together (shared meal or set time)
- "I need space": Saying "taking an hour at camp" = no emergency, no explanation needed
- Sleep: No pressure on schedule. Quiet when returning if others may be sleeping.
- Navigation: Know how to get back to camp without a phone. Backup meeting time: camp at midnight.
The 10 Principles — practical summary
| Principle | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Radical Self-Reliance | You provide for yourself. The event doesn't. |
| Decommodification | Nothing to buy on-site. Bring everything you need. |
| Leave No Trace | Every piece comes in, every piece goes out. MOOP is enforced. |
| Gifting | Give freely, receive freely, no reciprocity expected. |
| Radical Inclusion | Everyone is welcome. Expression range is wide. |
| Radical Self-Expression | Permission, not pressure. Wear/be whatever's authentic. |
| Participation | No spectators. Follow your curiosity. |
| Communal Effort | The event exists because participants make it. |
| Civic Responsibility | Community self-governs. Rangers mediate, don't manage. |
| Immediacy | No schedule. Let the event happen. Phone down, eyes up. |
The 9 failure modes to watch for
- Water underplanning — calculate before packing; don't guess
- Shade not anchored — guy lines, heavy stakes, ratchet straps; Michigan wind is real; bring rubber mallet for new site
- Sleep debt compounding — earplugs, eye mask; sleep when tired
- "I'll get it there" reflex — there is nothing to get there
- MOOP on departure — two full sweeps before loading; no exceptions
- Gray water neglected — check and manage every 12 hours
- Over-scheduling — you have anchors, not a schedule
- Camp navigation failure — know the site from memory; don't rely on cell service
- New site terrain / insect exposure — Luther site is raw; low ground floods, cedar swamps breed mosquitoes; closed-toe shoes + bug spray required
What to do when something feels wrong
- Physical emergency: find ESD (credentialed medical volunteers) or a Ranger (khaki) — locate both on Day 1 walkthrough
- Mental health / crisis: find a Ranger → they engage the CIT (licensed mental health professionals, 24/7)
- Personal overwhelm: camp is always available as a retreat; you don't have to explain
- Group conflict: direct, calm conversation first; Rangers for mediation if needed
- Lost: return to camp; agreed meeting time is midnight at camp if separated
What the developer's role is
The developer has prior regional burn experience. They are the group's event-model guide, gray water designer, LNT protocol owner, and pre-event conversation lead. When you're not sure about something event-specific, ask them. They should also say "I don't know" when they don't.
One thing to remember
The event is designed so there is no way to do it wrong. The things that feel overwhelming on Day 1 become navigable by Day 2. The most memorable moments are usually the unplanned ones.
For full details, see the complete playbook in reports/concepts/ and reports/process/