Decision Memo — DM-001 — Session 1 Framework
Session: 1 Date: 2026-04-20 Topic: Principles translation and role-prep framework established
What was completed this session
Principles translation memos written: - Radical Self-Reliance — operationally most important; water and shade as primary logistics items - Decommodification — biggest mindset shift from music festivals; "nothing to buy on-site" frame - Leave No Trace — operationally enforced, not philosophical; gray water and MOOP as specific action areas - Gifting — social, not transactional; not a supply system
Role-specific prep memos written: - Amber — activity coordinator / social worker / smaller-festival background; most likely to be surprised - Matt — DJ / music producer / strong festival and camp infrastructure background; logistics lead - Developer — experienced at two regionals; translation and protocol role
Key findings
Principles with highest confusion risk for this group: 1. Radical Self-Reliance — Amber's professional context has authority chains; Matt's festival context has on-site supply infrastructure. Both models fail here. 2. Decommodification — Both Amber and Matt have festival experience where commerce is standard. Nothing to buy on-site is a first-day shock risk if not internalized in advance. 3. Leave No Trace — Enforced operationally (MOOP maps, camp accountability). Not discretionary.
Principles with lower immediate confusion risk: - Radical Inclusion, Radical Self-Expression, Participation, Immediacy — these are easier to receive once in the event - Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility — may need translation but lower first-day urgency
Role fit summary: - Matt: infrastructure and logistics lead — supply list, camp build, strike coordination, MOOP coordination - Amber: group social coordinator (informal) — wellbeing checks, group cohesion - Developer: event culture and protocol translation — "first-time" conversation, gray water design, playbook maintenance
Decisions
Keep: - Principle-by-principle translation format (works well — compact, role-relevant, practical) - Role-specific blind spots frame (most useful part of role prep memos) - "What the event provides vs. does not provide" framing in every operational memo - Gray water as required infrastructure, not optional - Strike-day sweep as mandatory departure protocol
Standardize: - Every supply memo explicitly states: "nothing available for purchase on-site" - Every principle memo ends with decision block - Role memos assign ownership, not just describe
Reject: - Relying on gifting culture as a supply supplement - Generic camping advice or festival advice not tied to Lakes of Fire - Developer defaulting to solo logistics ownership
Test: - Whether a shared group gifting item is worth planning (low priority, revisit closer to event)
Revisit: - Developer's prior experience: is it Lakes of Fire specifically or another regional? Affects knowledge transfer validity - Lakes of Fire 2026 specific rules once event guide is available: site layout, gray water policy, sound rules, campsite sizes - Lakes of Fire 2026 dates and weather range
What still needs work
Principles not yet translated: - Radical Inclusion - Radical Self-Expression - Communal Effort - Civic Responsibility - Participation - Immediacy
Operational memos not yet written: - Minimum viable camp operating model - Infrastructure checklist (shade, water, power, sleep, kitchen, waste) - Packing framework and vehicle plan - Social and psychological prep notes - Failure modes memo
Questions requiring external research: - Lakes of Fire 2026 dates - Site layout (does the event have on-site water for purchase or only BYOW?) - Amplified sound rules for small camps - Campsite size limits
Next session priority
- Write remaining high-confusion principles: Radical Inclusion, Radical Self-Expression, Participation
- Write minimum viable camp operating model memo
- Begin infrastructure checklist
- Identify and run the "developer prior experience" verification question — if prior regionals are not Lakes of Fire, note the gap