Skip to content

New Site Arrival Protocol — Luther, Michigan 2026

Session: 9 Applies to: All group members, especially developer (prior site knowledge doesn't transfer) Source: EVENT-DETAILS-2026.md, EVENT-UPDATE-2026-critical-corrections.md, March 31 / April 14 Lakes Letters

Why This Memo Exists

Lakes of Fire 2026 moves to a new permanent property in Luther, Michigan (Lake County). This is not a minor relocation — it is a completely new site that nobody in the group has been to, and that the event organization itself is building out from raw land. Developer: your prior regional burn experience does not transfer to this site's layout.

What We Know About the Site (As of April 2026)

Property: 80 acres, Lake County, Michigan Terrain features: - Hardwood forests - Evergreens - Open meadows - Rolling hills - Cedar swamps - Winding creek

Active construction (as of March 31 Lakes Letter): - Parking lot being cleared via logging company - Second well being drilled - Road and trail network being mapped - Campsite brush and tree clearing underway

What will be done by July (expected): - Parking area established - Basic road/trail network roughed in - Campsite zones cleared - One or two wells operational - Porto bank placements set - ESD, Ranger, and Center Camp locations established

What will still be rough by July: - No paved surfaces - No permanent structures (not an established campground) - Site will have been cleared and roughed in, not finished - Some areas (cedars, low ground) may still be wet depending on weather

Arrival Day Protocol

Recommended arrival: Tuesday July 14 (day before gates open Wednesday noon) Why arrive Tuesday: Better campsite selection on a new site, setup before heat of the day, neighbors not yet packed in

Day 1 priorities on arrival (in order): 1. Get to site and check in 2. Select campsite (see below) 3. Shade structure UP FIRST — before anything else 4. Tent setup 5. Kitchen area designated 6. Gray water area set up 7. Developer: site walkthrough to locate ESD and Ranger HQ, porto banks, water (if available), Center Camp / Nexus

Developer owns Day 1 walkthrough — you are the group's orientation resource. Do this solo or with one other, early. Come back with: where is medical, where are Rangers, where are bathrooms, where is the center area, where is the perimeter, which way does the site layout run.

Campsite Selection at a New Site

What to avoid: - Low-lying spots near the creek or cedar swamp areas — these drain poorly and may have standing water after rain - East-facing tent openings — full morning sun, brutal heat by 8 AM - Sites under large trees — look up for dead branches (widow makers) before pitching tents - Areas where water visibly collects or ground feels soft after any rain

What to prefer: - Slight elevation or flat ground on open meadow - Wind exposure for ventilation, but not on an exposed ridge during storm risk - Proximity to porto banks for convenience (but not directly adjacent — smell and foot traffic) - Somewhere others are setting up — isolation on a new site in a remote area can mean you're in an unserviced spot

Stakes: New undeveloped land means unknown soil. Michigan woods soil is often rocky or has root systems at shallow depth. Bring a rubber mallet. Standard tent stakes pushed by hand may not work.

Terrain Realities for Michigan Woods/Fields

Mosquitoes: Cedar swamps and a winding creek on the property guarantee mosquitoes. Michigan summer + freshwater = significant insect presence. This is not optional to plan for. - Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin) for everyone - Long sleeves and pants available for evening sitting - Permethrin spray for clothing (apply before the trip, let dry) is highly effective

Ground surface: - Not soft grass campground — root systems, rocks, uneven terrain likely outside cleared areas - Closed-toe shoes with grip required for navigation around camp and at night - Watch for trip hazards at night — new site has no established lighting infrastructure

Rolling hills: - The site has elevation change — campsite may not be flat - A sleeping pad with adequate cushion matters more on uneven ground - Tent pitching: look for levelness; use rocks or wood to level gear if needed - If walking distance to any area involves inclines, plan for it at night in the dark

Creek/swamp proximity: - Do not camp in or adjacent to the cedar swamp areas - The creek may flood low areas after heavy rain - Attractive areas (creekside) may be off-limits or flood-risk zones

Weather at a Forested Site

Michigan July baseline (see WEATHER-michigan-july.md for full details): - High 82°F / Low 62°F average - 30% daily storm probability - Severe storm cells move fast with minimal warning

At a forested site, additional considerations: - Large trees = large wind load; check your canopy anchoring against nearby trees, not just open-field assumptions - After a storm: check for fallen branches near camp before resuming activity - Rain accumulates in low areas fast on undeveloped land — check campsite drainage before sleeping during heavy rain

What Developer Should Communicate Before Arrival

Share with Amber and Matt before departure:

  1. Site coordinates (provided by org closer to event — not public)
  2. Confirmation that site has been updated from the org (latest survival guide or site map)
  3. Campsite arrival and setup sequence (shade first)
  4. That arrival is Tuesday July 14, not Wednesday morning (to get good campsite selection)
  5. That this is a new undeveloped site — pack accordingly (mallet, closed-toe shoes, insect repellent)

Items to Add to Packing List (New Site Specific)

Item Reason Owner
Rubber mallet Stakes in unknown soil Matt (infrastructure)
Insect repellent Cedar swamps + creek on site Each person
Long sleeves/pants (camp layer) Evening mosquito protection Each person
Closed-toe shoes (dedicated camp shoes) Uneven terrain, night navigation Each person
Ground tarp (extra) Variable ground surface, wet/uneven Matt
Permethrin-treated clothing Michigan summer insects Each person (prep before trip)

Decision memo

  • Keep: Tuesday July 14 arrival plan — new site selection matters more than at established venues
  • Keep: Shade-first setup sequence
  • Add: Mallet, insect repellent, closed-toe shoes to packing list
  • Assign: Developer does Day 1 site walkthrough — locates ESD, Rangers, bathrooms, water, center
  • Reject: Campsite selection in low-lying, creek-adjacent, or swampy areas
  • Revisit June–July: Org site map when released — developer reviews and shares with group
  • Communicate: Developer tells Matt and Amber: new site = unknown terrain, bring mallet and bug spray