Camp Storage
We store our gear in four shipping containers and two trailers, which live in Reno, Nevada and come to playa with us every year.
| ID and Name | What is it? | What's it for? | Where is it stored? (*) *Location Details |
| FT1 - the bike fort |
20' Shipping Container (Deck on top) |
Camp bikes | A |
| FT2 - the tool fort |
20' Shipping Container (Deck on top) |
Tools and supplies | A |
| FT3 - the canteen | 20' Shipping Container |
New for 2026 - Public and private camp furnishings
On playa: snacks and meal grab-and-go |
A |
| FT4 - Habitat | 20' Shipping Container | New for 2026 - Tents and shade structures | A |
| GTM - the pillow fort | 24' Bumper Pull Trailer |
Public camp furnishings
On playa: air conditioned nap & sex space |
A |
| The food fort | 24' Bumper Pull Trailer | Commercial kitchen | B |
Bike Fort
The Bike Fort stores about 50 camp bikes on two levels. The deck between the levels is made of wood planks which can be slid out and used to construct utility tables behind the bar using four sawhorses, also stored in the Bike Fort.
For simplicity, literally everything bike related is stored here: tools, spare parts, camper bikes that we are storing for them, and a bike trailer for getting ice.
The Bike Fort and Tool Fort have plywood decking on top to create an observation deck. The observation deck uses special 1-3/8" pipes (different size than the rest of our shade) to create a frame with steel wire guardrails. There is a 53' wide shade that goes between the observation decks providing shade for the Turtle Café, and two ladders for getting up and down. These are all stored in the bike fort.
Always be careful not to mix the observation deck pipes and fittings with the camp habitat pipes and fittings; they are different thicknesses!
Also stored in the bike fort in 2026:
- An antenna mast which might be used for a turtle sign (tbd)
- The 2025 DJ booth, which has been disassembled and would take some work to reassemble and use
Once the bikes have been removed from the Bike Fort on playa, it will have room to store things like empty totes that won't be needed during the event.
Tool Fort
Our famous tool fort stores everything that we need access to grab and use on playa. It has hundreds of items on shelves on the left and in drawers on the right. Here are the major categories of items you'll find there:
- First aid kits, narcan, and defibrillator
- A huge selection of tools of every type
- Chargers for all the power tools
- Plumbing equipment
- Lights
- Our village electrical distribution system consisting of 24 spider boxes and tons of 50 amp cables to connect them
- Supplies (consumables)
- Camper comfort items if someone forgot something crucial
The tool fort is actively used throughout build week, event week, and strike. It should be plugged into 120V for lighting and tool chargers.
Keep the aisle of the tool fort free and clear at all times, so it is easy to access anything.
Canteen
New for 2026!
During event week, the canteen will be set up as a place for campers to pick up grab-and-go meals and snacks, and cook their own more elaborate snacks. There will be a glass-front refrigerator, metro shelving with snacks, and tables set up for meal prep with a microwave oven.
The canteen has a double thick shower curtain that can be hung in front allowing easy entrance without too much dust getting in, so that the big container doors do not have be opened and closed all the time. We will install an air conditioner to keep it cooler so that the fridge doesn't struggle.
Outside of event week, the canteen stores a lot of gear that is set up around camp.
This gear includes:includes things like:
- Turtle café tables and chairs
- Turtle café bar and minibar
- The new shower
- Camper cubbies
- Folding tables and benches
Only store gear in the canteen that is completely taken out during event week, so that we can free space for food and snack prep.
The canteen also contains ten crates full of extension cords (for no logical reason, they just fit).
Future Turtles camp gear is stored in six trucks:
| Name |
Description |
Contents |
Location* |
| Bike Fort FT1 | 20' Shipping Container (deck on top) |
Camp Bicycles Bike tools and spare parts Sawhorses Deck framing posts, wire guardrails, and Turtle Café shade Sawhorses * Old DJ booth, disassembled |
A |
| Tool Fort FT2 | 20' Shipping Container (deck on top) |
First Aid Tools All plumbing and water gear |
A |
| Canteen FT3 | 20' Shipping Container |
New for 2026! Stores equipment that is pulled out into the Turtle Café and the Turtle private high peak tent. Once that gear has been pulled out, the container will be 75% empty and can be used as a kitchenette / snack supply center. There is a curtain which can be hung at the entrance so that people can enter and leave during the event without opening and closing the heavy container doors.
Pulled out: Cafe tables, chairs, and lights Shower Whiteboard Folding tables and benches Burn barrels Camper cubbies Neon turtle sign Whips Bars (steel and mini) Grill Remains inside for canteen: Metro shelving Microwave Espresso machine Glass fridge Some tables can be set up for meal prep
Towards the back, a million extension cords.
Everything behind the extension cords is gear that we are keeping but not planning to use at Burning Man this year, which we might use in future years. |
A |
| Habitat FT4 | 20' Shipping Container |
New for 2026! Everything needed to build the private tent area for campers
EMT and all EMT parts for shade Tarps Electrical power strips + extension cords for camper power High-peak tent Shiftpods Cots, hammocks, and camp furniture Fans |
A |
| Pillow Fort |
24' Bumper-pull Trailer |
Everything is either pulled out and used in the interactive part of camp, or stays inside to create the pillow fort.
Rugs Wicker Chairs |
A |
| Food Fort |
24' Bumper-pull Trailer with commercial kitchen |
Cooking equipment |
B |
| Empire Fort |
25' Pup Trailer (high deck, like a mini-semi trailer) |
Retired for 2026 Contains some old, abandoned tarps |
C |
| Gayflower |
53' semi trailer |
Retired for 2026 Water Grey Water, and Black Water tanks Showers and bathrooms Plumbing tools, supplies, and equipment |
C |
Where is it?
The detailed Where Is It? spreadsheet helps you track down exact locations down to shelf and bin, especially of specific tools and items in the Tool Fort.
Camp Supplies
What we call "supplies" are anything consumable that we stock up on before each burn to have on hand: things like batteries, towels, cleaning supplies, and so forth. This does not include anything used by the food team.
- Google Sheets: Camp Supplies