Habitat (2026)
In 2026 we're going to move everything we need to create camper shade and tents for up to 50 campers into one 20' container.
Goals:
- Decommission the Empire Fort, which is on its last legs and stored in the wrong part of Nevada
- Simplify build and strike by having needed for the camper shade area in a single organized container (including some things which were in the tool fort before)
We will bring together:
- EMT, tarps, and all connectors needed to build the shade
- Shiftpods
- Shiftpod furnishings like cots and fans
- Lighting and extension cords needed for shade area
- Tools, from impact wrenches to stepladders and spare parts, needed to build
In theory you could plop the Habitat container down in the middle of the playa and have everything you need to construct housing for 50 people, without reliance on any other infrastructure or tools. This also makes it very easy during strike for random campers to know how to disassemble and put away everything.
This is the spec for how we build shade (PDF).
What's Included
A detailed, comprehensive, up-to-date, canonical parts list describes exactly what the Habitat container contains!
Container
- A new 20' shipping container
Shade Structure Specs
Basically, the same shade structure we set up every year.
Dimensions:
- 8' height
- Grid with spacing 10' x 12'
- Depending on camp size, we can set up:
| Grid Size | Dimensions (without side slopes) |
Dimensions (footprint including slopes) |
Shiftpods |
| 5 x 7 | 50' x 84' | 64' x 100' | 19 |
| 5 x 8 | 50' x 96' | 64' x 112' | 22 |
| 5 x 9 | 50' x 108' | 64' x 124' | 25 |
Full Spec:
- 1"-diameter EMT system
- couplers to connect 10' + 2' EMT for 12' spans
- All corners use 5-ways for standardization
- Every footer has one climbing hanger (for ratcheting) and one 14" lag screw
- Every vertical post is ratcheted to the ground
- Two diagonal (internal cross-brace) ratchets at each corner
- Roof tarps are 10'x12', 100% shade
- Angled side tarps, 10'x12', are white mesh
- anchored to the ground with bungee + hanger + lag screw at every grommet
- No ground tarps
- See also Early Build Team Orientation for more tips on shade construction
Shiftpods
- Camp should have 26 Shiftpods
- Each Shiftpod will be screwed to the ground with 4 lag screw + washer combination at its corners to hold it down.
- Where Shiftpods are adjacent, they will share 2 of those lag screws.
- We will preinstall Shiftpod wall anchors (using 1 lag screw, supplied cord, and climbing hangers) on any walls that face the outside.
Furnishings
- 50 cots
- 25 welcome mats
- 25 fans?
- Assorted camp chairs (existing)
- 4 Hammocks
Lighting
utility lighting, extension cords
- String patio lighting throughout
- Necessary extension cords
- Camper utility outlets (Sockitboxes with multiple outlets)
Construction Tools (small)
Stored in the same container:
- 4 of the high-power Milwaukee impact wrenches
- Chargers and spare batteries
- Mounted in container for convenient access
- Mounted in container for convenient access
- Small storage drawer toolbox with:
- spare eyebolts
- tarp repair clips
- washers
- Home depot buckets for rain events
- Reusable Zip Ties (for attaching lighting etc to EMT)
Construction Tools (large)
- two short step ladders
- drywall stilts
- one folding table
Container Setup
- Through-wall power port
- Shelving perfectly sized for everything we're storing with an aisle!
- Set up lag screw + hanger + chain + carabiner architecture so that the doors can be anchored open
- Easy ratchet strap setup with e-track mounting points for anchoring things on shelves
Storage
The old storage philosophy of using extra large milk crates for everything was well-intentioned but there are are a few cases where it's not ideal.
- Tiny, heavy parts: climbing hangers, eyebolts, washers. Better to use a Milwaukee Packout style tool box
- Lag screws: don't fit in crates, slip out the holes, and are too heavy. For these I think using Harbor Freight APACHE 3800 would be ideal
- Bungees - can slip through the holes and cause tangling. Standard 27gal Home Depot totes should be better.
We would still want to use milk crates for five ways, couplers, footers, and extension cords.
We will adopt a philosophy of Extreme Overlabelling so everyone putting things away is impressed by how easy everything is to find.