# The Future Turtles Camp

# Work Requirements to Camp With the Future Turtles

Camping for a week in the harsh Black Rock Desert is tough. We try to make it easier by collaborating to build a beautiful camp, organizing delicious shared meals together, and providing communal gifts to the Burning Man community.

The magic of Burning Man is the collaboration. Not only will you be collaborating to build something really awesome that you can be proud of, but you will test your own limits, learn many new skills, and make incredible friends for life. Burning Man is a transformative experience and the people you go through it with make all the difference.

This all takes a ton of work, both in the months leading up to the event getting everything ready, and during the week of Burning Man itself. To camp with us, you can expect to put in several days of work before you even get to the event, and several hours of shifts every day once we’re there.

## Off-Playa Contribution

Each turtle is required to contributed meaningfully to the preparation for Burning Man in one of the following ways:

1. Participate in a work weekend in Reno, NV in the spring to help prepare our gear
2. Join the [early build team](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/books/the-future-turtles-camp/page/how-building-camp-works "Building Camp"), arriving on playa a week before everyone else to build the camp
3. Join the post-strike team, staying behind on playa a day and helping put away gear in Reno after the event
4. As a part of the food and beverages team, prepare food and the food truck in Reno before the burn
5. Meaningfully contribute to a camp art project and/or bring your own form of art

## On Playa Work Teams

Every turtle will also be a part of a work team on playa. The teams may change a bit from year to year, but in 2024 we had the following work teams:

1. Food (preparing two hot meals a day)
2. Dining Room (serving meals and cleaning the dining room afterwards; maintaining snack stations)
3. Drinks (including drinks served at parties, water and electrolyte drinks available to campers, and ice)
4. LNT (cleaning the public areas of the camp)
5. Gayflower (cleaning the private shower area)
6. Infrastructure (maintaining the generator and water infrastructure)

These teams organize their own shifts throughout the event week, with a goal that each turtle contribute approximately 12 hours of work during the week as a part of their particular team.

## Other Teams

We have a variety of teams, large and small, that take care of some of the other things that keep our camp working. These teams often meet in advance of Burning Man to prepare and their work during the event may vary depending on the team. This work is all in addition to the work shifts mentioned above, and almost every turtle contributes to at least one of these teams. Your contribution may be to one of these existing projects, or you might have an idea to start your own project!

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-team-typical-pre-pla" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 25%;"></col><col style="width: 25%;"></col><col style="width: 25%;"></col><col style="width: 25%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>**Team**  
</td><td>**Typical pre-playa work**  
</td><td>**Typical on-playa work**  
</td><td>**Typical post-playa work**  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Parties**  
</td><td>Choose themes for parties, prepare decor and accessories, line up DJs and entertainment, produce publicity and submit events to Playa Events, coordinate with drinks team  
</td><td>Run the parties, make sure there are volunteers to staff parties as greeters, monitors, consent monitors, bike parking, lighting directors, DJs, and bartenders  
</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Guardians**  
</td><td>Plan for orientation activities, schedule training for new turtles and pre-playa meeting sessions  
</td><td>Deal with personal, emotional, health issues, and conflict that may come up; coach campers whose behavior puts them at risk of not getting invited back  
</td><td>Produce programming for re-integration and "decompression" from playa; make sure unresolved issues during the week are addressed  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Bikes**</td><td>Inventory bikes and order new parts  
</td><td>Check bikes out and in  
</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Turtle Truck**  
</td><td>Reserve a rental truck and pick it up; coordinate load-in and drive to playa  
</td><td>  
</td><td>Coordinate load-in, drive from playa, take camp trash to the dump, wash truck and return it  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Turtle Bus**</td><td>Coordinate the charter bus and make sure the right people are on it and it goes to the right places; communicate with riders  
</td><td>  
</td><td>Coordinate the charter bus and make sure the right people are on it and it goes to the right places; communicate with riders</td></tr><tr><td>**Camp Decor and Design** </td><td>Plan camp layout and decor  
</td><td>Set up decor and lights  
</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Art Projects** </td><td>Build art for the playa  
Work on an art car  
</td><td>Set up art, maintain art lighting, maintain art car, etc.  
</td><td>Take down art   
</td></tr><tr><td>**Pillow Fort**</td><td>Plan pillow fort layout and decor  
</td><td>Coordinate on-playa pillow fort activities  
</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Workshops and Events** </td><td>Prepare some kind of on-playa workshop or event  
</td><td>Example events: Tarot Reading, Turkish Coffee Fortunetelling, HIIT training, Yoga, workshops and small classes, etc.  
</td><td>  
</td></tr></tbody></table>

# How Building Camp Works

A typical year for the Build Team, assuming all goes well and there is no weather emergency or space alien invasion or global pandemic or plague of locusts, looks like this:

We meet in Reno, NV on Monday the week before Burning Man. In Reno, we do some last minute preparations, and get the Build Team RV ready to go. In 2024 the biggest thing was just buying food for the build team itself.

On Tuesday morning as early as possible, we drive from Reno to Black Rock City.

Once we arrive in Black Rock City, we wait for Placement to show us where our camp will be located. Once we find it, we do the first MOOP sweep and start surveying and measuring and putting little flags in the ground where things will go.

[![IMG_4761.jpg](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/scaled-1680-/Cvo8H2XnWN5HOZ4V-img-4761.jpg)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/Cvo8H2XnWN5HOZ4V-img-4761.jpg)

As soon as we have established exactly where everything goes, we call the trucking services to bring us all our stuff, the generator rental company to bring the generator, the water company to bring their tanks, etc. Then we start preparing for the first night, putting down enough shade structures for our own team to sleep in.

[![IMG_4814.jpg](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/scaled-1680-/QRhF0Kuvwdj3qTo4-img-4814.jpg)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/QRhF0Kuvwdj3qTo4-img-4814.jpg)

If all has gone well, we have managed to build six shiftpods for the first night with protective tarps above and below by the time we go to sleep on Tuesday.

Over the course of the rest of the week, we get as much built as possible. That includes all of our public and private shade structures, tents, electrical grid, water system, and as much of the camp decor as we can get done. Hopefully around Thursday night or Friday the food team rolls in and starts feeding us and setting up the kitchen and dining room. A lot of campers arrive Saturday before the gates officially open and help finish anything we didn't get done. And that's about it!

[![PXL_20240826_021415108.jpg](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/scaled-1680-/JpgSNGhhdRCQWW6k-pxl-20240826-021415108.jpg)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2024-09/JpgSNGhhdRCQWW6k-pxl-20240826-021415108.jpg)

**Build Week is one of the best parts of Burning Man**. It's amazing to arrive in a giant empty desert and transform it to a city.

Here's the Build Team Movie!

<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" height="628" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJ9KK9DkoeU" width="1120"></iframe>

# Build Calendar 2025

Here's the tentative calendar for 2025.

Some things which need to be figured out are in <span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42);">red</span>.

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-date-%2F-time-early-bu" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 26.2302%;"></col><col style="width: 40.5159%;"></col><col style="width: 33.3731%;"></col></colgroup><thead><tr><td>Date / Time</td><td>Early Build Team</td><td>Food Team</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>**Mon Aug 18**

12:00 noon

</td><td>Meet in Reno

- Pick up RV
- Shop for build team food
- Get RV ready 
    - Fill up diesel
    - Buy DEF if needed for generator
    - Overnight at GSR
    - Fill water
- Last minute shopping and prep
- <span style="color: rgb(186, 55, 42);">Obtain second vehicle</span>

</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Tue Aug 19**

6:00 am

</td><td>Entry

- Drive from Reno
- Enter playa
- Call placement
- Get placed
- Measure positions for delivered vehicles
- Call: 
    - Peik Construction
    - Empire Storage
    - Generator
    - Water
- Prepare first night shiftpods

</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Wed Aug 20**

</td><td>General Build

Team A: Shade Structure

Team B: Interactive Pavilion

Team C: Utilities (petrol, music while working, water, power)

</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Thu Aug 21**

</td><td>General Build continues

</td><td>  
</td></tr><tr><td>**Fri Aug 22**

</td><td>General Build continues

</td><td>Enter playa</td></tr><tr><td>**Sat Aug 22**

</td><td>Furnishings and decor

Turtles arrive

</td><td>  
</td></tr></tbody></table>

# Teams and Leadership - 2025

## Food

<p class="callout info">The food team is responsible for preparing healthy and delightful food for campers. We aim to provide two hot meals daily. Lunch is served at noon which is also the daily camp meeting and mandatory for everyone. Dinner is served at 6pm. This year we are going to put more emphasis on making it easy to find something healthy to heat up and eat at any hour.</p>

Lead: Christophe

Subteam: **Healthy Snacks**

## Mess Tent  


<p class="callout info">This team serves the food, maintains the snack area, cleans up after meals in the dining room and keeps that area clean and tidy.</p>

Lead: **Scott**

## Guardians

<p class="callout info">The guardians team is responsible for camper's emotional well being, camp cohesion, new camper acculturation, and other "soft skills." They are responsible for noticing campers in crisis and other difficult situations and either helping out or arranging professional help.</p>

Lead: Jihoon

## Finances

<p class="callout info">Keeps the books for the camp, collects camp dues, files camp tax returns (990s), and arranges reimbursement for campers who purchased things on behalf of the camp. Going forward, this team will also create a budget for each department.</p>

Lead: Ben W  
Team: Alejandro

## Tools, Supplies, and Procurement

<p class="callout info">Camp storage, tools, equipment, and supplies. Maintains inventory spreadsheets, figures out what we need for camp and how to get it to playa. Leads the project during Reno Work Weekend to prepare the Tool Fort for playa making sure we arrive with everything we need. Publishes the "where is it" sheet so that campers, and especially the build team, can find things quickly and figure out where to put things away.</p>

Lead: Spacemaster

## Parties and Events

<p class="callout info">Plans all the camp parties. Publishes events to [PlayaEvents](https://playaevents.burningman.org/), including any smaller events put on by campers. Publicizes all the events on- and off-playa</p>

Co-leads: Grant, Peter

## Music / Audio

<p class="callout info">Manages all audio gear and also the DJ program for our events. </p>

Lead: Ben W  
Team: Shuai

## Architecture and Layout

<p class="callout info">Designs the camp frontage and major structures to be built by the build team. Produces schematic plans and drawings required by Placement, Build, Infrastructure, and other teams.</p>

Lead: Gary

## Transport  


<p class="callout info">Organizes a truck from San Francisco to bring bulky items to and from playa. Drops off the camp MOOP at a dump. (No personal moop!)</p>

Lead: Alex Sartel

## Bikes

<p class="callout info">Manages and maintains our fleet of 50 bicycles.</p>

Lead: Alex Sartel

## Build

<p class="callout info">Arrives early on playa to build the camp.</p>

- Lead: **tbd**  
    Confirmed Builders: Beam\*, Basil\*, Joel\*, Jeremy S, Mdm Viv\*, Klajdi, Dat\*, Alex H, Ed, Gary\*  
    Possible Builders (not 100% yet) Jon, Jorge

\* = new york

## Infrastructure

<p class="callout info">Manages the electrical grid and the water system, including fresh water, grey water, and black water and the Gayflower.</p>

*Jetpack, Ben Wild, Beam, Space Master, Kyle*

## Strike

<p class="callout info">Plans the strike of camp at the end of burn week. Coordinates all campers on playa to help take everything down easily and quickly and leave it in good condition for next year.</p>

Lead: Efendi

## Volunteer Coordinator

<p class="callout info">Insures that there are volunteers lined up for every shift on playa. Prepares those big charts telling everyone where to show up for their shifts.</p>

Romain

## Drinks

<p class="callout info">Plans and purchases any drinks that we gift at our bar, whether alcoholic or not. Organizes a steady supply of ice, ice water, and electrolyte drink for campers 24/7 and coffee for campers in the morning.  
</p>

Alex Holman?

## Camp Tickets Coordinator

<p class="callout info">Helps campers secure tickets to Burning Man. Manages the Stewards Sale program that insures our camp can receive a certain number of tickets.</p>

Lead: Jeremy

## Pillow Fort

<p class="callout info">Designs and plans the pillow fort / cuddle fort areas of camp</p>

Lead: Tristan

## Recruiting &amp; Acculturation  


<p class="callout info">Finds great new Turtles and prepares them for Burning Man</p>

Lead: Jorge

## Moop Squad

<p class="callout info">Organizes LNT efforts on playa. Keeps the camp clean throughout the week, especially public areas.</p>

Lead: animus

# Camp Design and Architecture

What our camp looks like!

# 2025 Pavillion

We are considering a major redesign of the main interactive area of the camp for 2025. The concept would be to have a single, strong central pole supporting multiple shade triangles.

## Inspiration pictures

[![Screenshot 2025-02-02 at 5.45.14 PM.png](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/vU6LbJqddRZiq2Vn-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-45-14-pm.png)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/vU6LbJqddRZiq2Vn-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-45-14-pm.png)

[![Screenshot 2025-02-02 at 5.46.21 PM.png](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/Ncnp48yk2wqcUHim-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-46-21-pm.png)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/Ncnp48yk2wqcUHim-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-46-21-pm.png)

## Schematic

[![Screenshot 2025-02-02 at 5.47.21 PM.png](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/EPnbsZNmEGivmTD9-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-47-21-pm.png)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/EPnbsZNmEGivmTD9-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-47-21-pm.png)

[![Screenshot 2025-02-02 at 5.47.54 PM.png](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/xBuipsw2oePbmkup-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-47-54-pm.png)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/xBuipsw2oePbmkup-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-47-54-pm.png)

## Aesthetic (Tomorrow Today!)

The theme of our public areas, Tomorrow Today, pulls elements from:

- Atomic Art
- Jetsons Aesthetic
- Mid-century
- Googie Architecture

Reference images:

[![Screenshot 2025-02-02 at 5.52.14 PM.png](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/WVYRaOI9xx3uyhrv-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-52-14-pm.png)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/WVYRaOI9xx3uyhrv-screenshot-2025-02-02-at-5-52-14-pm.png)

[![DSC_1980.jpg](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/6EtHVp7snDvk6CPN-dsc-1980.jpg)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/6EtHVp7snDvk6CPN-dsc-1980.jpg)

[![il_800x800.5213630019_cevt.webp](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/scaled-1680-/sm6K9TtULy45G18c-il-800x800-5213630019-cevt.webp)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-02/sm6K9TtULy45G18c-il-800x800-5213630019-cevt.webp)

# Burning Man 2025 Tickets

[https://tickets.burningman.org/](https://tickets.burningman.org/)

### Important dates:

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-date-thing-details-m" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 975.196px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 17.5063%;"></col><col style="width: 26.8262%;"></col><col style="width: 55.6675%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.7969px;"><td style="height: 29.7969px;">**Date**</td><td style="height: 29.7969px;">**Thing**</td><td style="height: 29.7969px;">**Details**</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.5938px;"><td style="height: 46.5938px;"><s>**Monday 2/3/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 46.5938px;"><s>Today Sale Registration Opens</s></td><td style="height: 46.5938px;">  
</td></tr><tr style="height: 70.0391px;"><td style="height: 70.0391px;"><s>**Tuesday 2/11/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 70.0391px;"><s>Today Sale Registration Closes</s></td><td style="height: 70.0391px;">- <s>You must register for today sale in order to participate in it (this registration is not linked to your burner profile)</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 187.617px;"><td style="height: 187.617px;"><s>**Wednesday 2/12/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 187.617px;"><s>Today Sale Commences</s></td><td style="height: 187.617px;">- <s>Requires prior registration (see above)</s>
- <s>Tickets in the ‘Today Sale’ will be $550, $650, $750, $950, $1,500, and $3,000.</s>
- <s>There will be very few $550 tickets available. There may be a fair number of $650 tickets, which will likely be what you'll pay if you'd pick them up in the Stewards sale. So, if you'd like to guarantee a ticket, and one is offered to you at $650, you may want to just purchase one here.</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 103.633px;"><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>**Wednesday 2/19/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>[Ticket Aid Program ](https://tickets.burningman.org/2025-ticket-aid-program/)Opens</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;">- <s>For participants on a limited income, submit an application for $225 tickets. The earlier, the better! You cannot apply for or purchase any other ticket types with your account linked to the application</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 103.633px;"><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>**TBD**</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>Future Turtles Ticket Survey</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;">- <s>Respond to survey on your ticket needs</s>
- <s>If available and needed, Steward's sale codes will be shared with you (or another Turtle responsible for purchasing your ticket)</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 103.633px;"><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>**Wednesday 3/5/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;"><s>Stewards Sale Commences</s></td><td style="height: 103.633px;">- <s>You are guaranteed at least a $650 ticket any time in the 4-day ticket window.</s>
- <s>There may also be limited $550 tickets available, early in the sale</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 70.0391px;"><td style="height: 70.0391px;"><s>**Saturday 3/8/2025 12:00 pm PST**</s></td><td style="height: 70.0391px;"><s>Stewards Sale Closes</s></td><td style="height: 70.0391px;">- <s>If assigned to, you must have purchased a pair of tickets by then!</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 63.3906px;"><td style="height: 63.3906px;"><s>**Monday** </s>

<s>**4/21/2025 12:00 pm PDT**</s>

</td><td style="height: 63.3906px;"><s>Tomorrow Sale Registration Opens</s></td><td style="height: 63.3906px;">  
</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.7969px;"><td style="height: 63.3906px;"><s>**Tuesday** </s>

<s>**4/29/2025 12:00 pm PDT**</s>

</td><td style="height: 63.3906px;"><s>Tomorrow Sale Registration Closes</s></td><td style="height: 29.7969px;">  
</td></tr><tr><td><s>**Wednesday 4/30/2025 12:00 pm PDT**</s></td><td><s>Tomorrow Sale Commences  
</s></td><td>- <s>Requires prior registration. (No need to create a Burner Profile.)</s>
- <s>There is a payment plan option that lets you pay for your ticket in three installments over three months, interest free.</s>
- <s>Ticket prices will include $550, $650, $750, $950, $1,500, and $3,000</s>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 63.3906px;"><td style="height: 63.3906px;">**Wednesday 4/30/2025 12:00 pm PST**</td><td style="height: 63.3906px;">STEP Sale Registration Opens</td><td style="height: 63.3906px;">- Face-value, verified ticket resale

</td></tr><tr style="height: 103.633px;"><td style="height: 103.633px;">**Wednesday 7/30/2025 12:00 pm PST**</td><td style="height: 103.633px;">OMG sale Commences</td><td style="height: 103.633px;">- No registration needed (just burner profile)
- Based on availability following earlier sale(s), ticket prices may or may not include $550, $650, $750, $950, $1,500, and $3,000.

</td></tr></tbody></table>

# The Future Turtles Charter Bus

Starting in 2024, we chartered a whole bus from Burner Express Bus (BxB) to bring our campers directly to our camp on playa and home. This is a huge win for so many reasons!

Super convenient. Direct drop off and pick up right in our camp
Nobody has to drive their personal cars to playa 
Nobody has to wait in line for gate or exodus - the bus skips the line!
Ensures that its easy for our campers to stick around until the last minute of strike.


# 2025 Future Turtles Bus FAQ

[![DALL·E 2024-04-29 16.26.32 - A psychedelic and groovy panoramic image of a bus full of turtles driving through a hot, dry lake bed. The bus is vibrantly decorated in a style remin.6630028d66a](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/scaled-1680-/xSlmyV3RlPAkDqju-dalle-2024-04-29-16-26-32-a-psychedelic-and-groovy-panoramic-image-of-a-bus-full-of-turtles-driving-through-a-hot-dry-lake-bed-the-bus-is-vibrantly-decorated-in-a-style-remin-6630028d66ab35-41564712.webp)](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/xSlmyV3RlPAkDqju-dalle-2024-04-29-16-26-32-a-psychedelic-and-groovy-panoramic-image-of-a-bus-full-of-turtles-driving-through-a-ho)

Future Turtles: [**Purchase your ticket here**](https://form.jotform.com/241196310073044)  
Are you camping somewhere else? Ticket sales will open July 1

Just like the Burner Bus Express, the Future Turtles Bus skips the line to enter and exit playa -- which can save ten hours some years! It is operated by Burning Man, but it is chartered by the Future Turtles and goes directly to our camp.

<p class="callout info">Our camp placement has not yet been announced for 2025.</p>

### **WHY THE BUS IS AWESOME**

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-your-personal-car-do"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" id="bkmrk-your-personal-car-do-1" tabindex="-1">1. Your personal car does not get trashed from being on playa!
2. You don't have to rent a car and explain to the rental agency that you are absolutely not going to Burning Man and then pay a huge cleaning fee!
3. You **SKIP THE LINE** to enter and exit Black Rock City. The line can be ten hours each way!
4. You are riding with TURTLES!
5. You can SLEEP all the way home because you're going to be TIRED!

</div></div>### **ABOUT THE FUTURE TURTLES BUS** 

Our bus is similar to the Burner Bus Express, in fact, it is operated by Burning Man, but this one goes right to and from our camp on Playa, so you don't have to take the on-playa shuttle, or drag your gear for miles through the dirt!

- **Departure** Saturday, August 23, 9:00am
- at the Safeway 16th &amp; Bryant, San Francisco
- Making one stop to pick up passengers at the Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV at approximately 1:00pm

NO SAP IS NEEDED to enter Black Rock City on Saturday with the bus!

- **Return** Monday, September 1, 3:00pm
- from the Future Turtles Theme Camp
- One stop at Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV
- Then continuing to 16th &amp; Bryant, San Francisco

Due to the unpredictable nature of the road leading to Burning Man, the possibility of inclement weather or accidents causing that road to be closed, and other difficulties operating in a remote environment, it is impossible to predict when the bus might depart or arrive, so all times must be taken with a grain of salt.

RULES

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-you-must-have-a-phys"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" tabindex="-1">- You must have a **physical ticket to the Burning Man event in hand** to board the inbound bus. The bus **cannot** stop at will-call to pick up tickets--sorry! 
    - If you have a Ticket Aid ticket or some other kind of ticket that can only be picked up at will-call, you will have to go to the Burning Man Express Bus stop in San Francisco or Reno in advance of your bus ride to pick up your ticket.
- Priority will be given to Turtles but we will also open up remaining spaces to other burners in our neighborhood to help defray our costs.

</div></div>LUGGAGE

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-the-luggage-allowanc"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" tabindex="-1">- The luggage allowance is up to two (2) items, and one carry-on item. Each piece of luggage may not exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) or weigh more than 50lbs.
- We do not have room for extra luggage or bicycles. There may be room to send extra cargo or bikes with the [Turtle Truck](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/books/burning-man-infrastructure/page/turtle-truck "Turtle Truck"). This travels separately from the bus and you will need to make a reservation for that separately.

</div></div>**Your share** of the cost of operating the Future Turtles Bus depends on how soon you buy your ticket:

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-month-one-way%28sf%29-on"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" tabindex="-1"><table style="width: 327px;"><tbody><tr><td class="align-center" style="width: 85.35px;">**Month**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 112.717px;">**One Way  
(SF)**</td><td class="align-center" style="width: 128.15px;">**One Way  
(Reno)**</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 85.35px;">June</td><td style="width: 112.717px;">$180</td><td style="width: 128.15px;">$140</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 85.35px;">July</td><td style="width: 112.717px;">$190</td><td style="width: 128.15px;">$150</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 85.35px;">August</td><td style="width: 112.717px;">$200</td><td style="width: 128.15px;">$160</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div></div>[**Purchase your ticket here**](https://form.jotform.com/241196310073044)

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-the-turtle-truck-lea"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" id="bkmrk-the-turtle-truck-lea-1" tabindex="-1"></div></div>

# 2024 Future Turtles Bus FAQ  🔒

<p class="callout danger">This is archived information from 2024.</p>

Just like the Burner Bus Express, the Future Turtles Bus skips the line to enter and exit playa -- which can save 10 hours some years! It is operated by Burning Man, but it is chartered by the Future Turtles and goes directly to our camp at 7:00 &amp; F.

- **WHY THE BUS IS AWESOME**
    
    <div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-your-personal-car-do"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" id="bkmrk-your-personal-car-do-1" tabindex="-1">
    1. Your personal car does not get trashed from being on playa
    2. You don't have to rent a car and explain to the rental agency that you are absolutely not going to Burning Man and then pay a huge cleaning fee
    3. You **SKIP THE LINE** to enter and exit Black Rock City. The line can be 10 hours each way!
    4. You are riding with TURTLES!
    5. You can SLEEP all the way home because you're going to be TIRED!
    
    </div></div>

**ABOUT THE FUTURE TURTLES BUS**

Our bus is similar to the Burner Bus Express, in fact, it is operated by Burning Man, but this one goes right to and from our camp on Playa, so you don't have to take the on-playa shuttle, or drag your gear for miles through the dirt!

- **Departure** Saturday, August 24, 9:00am
- at the Safeway 16th &amp; Bryant, San Francisco
- Making one stop to pick up passengers at the Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV at approximately 1:00pm

NO SAP IS NEEDED to enter playa on Saturday with the bus!

- **Return** Monday, September 2, 11:00am
- Future Turtles Theme Camp
- One stop at Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV
- Then returning to 16th &amp; Bryant, San Francisco

RULES

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-you-must-have-a-phys"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" tabindex="-1">- You must have a **physical ticket to the Burning Man event in hand** to board the inbound bus. **No Exceptions.** The bus **cannot** stop at will-call to pick up tickets--sorry!
- Priority will be given to Turtles but we will also open up remaining spaces to other burners in our neighborhood to help defray our costs.
- Reminder that we do not have room in our camp for Future Turtles to drive in their own vehicles unless those vehicles are a part of the build team.

</div></div>**Your share** of the cost of operating the Future Turtles Bus depends on how soon you buy your ticket:

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-month-one-way-%28sf%29-o"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" tabindex="-1"><table style="width: 408.217px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 106px;">**Month**</td><td style="width: 129px;">**One Way (SF)**</td><td style="width: 149.217px;">**One Way (Reno)**</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 106px;">May - June</td><td style="width: 129px;">$160</td><td style="width: 149.217px;">$130</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 106px;">July</td><td style="width: 129px;">$170</td><td style="width: 149.217px;">$140</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 106px;">August</td><td style="width: 129px;">$180</td><td style="width: 149.217px;">$150</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div></div>We can take one large suitcase and one carry on.   
  
If you have more than a large suitcase, for example, if you are also bringing a tent or a bicycle, we can carry that for you in the Turtle Truck.

<div class="form-input-wide" data-layout="full" id="bkmrk-the-turtle-truck-lea"><div class="form-html" data-component="text" id="bkmrk-the-turtle-truck-lea-1" tabindex="-1">- The Turtle Truck leaves SF on Friday; you must bring your large items to us on Friday morning and help load.
- The Turtle Truck will meet the bus in Reno so if you are getting on in Reno just bring your large items to the Turtle Truck
- While the bus skips the line to get into playa, the truck doesn't, so your large items may arrive in our camp several hours after the bus.
- Similarly, on the way home, the truck will leave playa at the same time as the bus, but it may be delayed in Reno and SF due to exodus, stopping to dump trash, and other things.

</div></div>

# Internal Operations Notes 🔒

## Signing up for the bus

In 2024 we made a sign up form using Jotform ([link](https://form.jotform.com/241196310073044)) which lets us take reservations for the bus, and take payments using Stripe which go directly into the camp bank account.

<p class="callout info">Ask Jetpack for permission to edit the Jotform and update it for 2025.</p>

We open this up to Future Turtles first to give them priority. Then we open it to other camps in the neighborhood to try to fill the bus, because we have to pay for the whole thing.

<p class="callout info">Jetpack is on a WhatsApp group with TCOs of all the other camps in our HUB and all the queer camps in general, which he can use to promote the bus. </p>

## The mailing list

In 2024 we set up a Google Group so we could quickly email everybody who had booked a bus ticket, whether they were in the turtles or not. This turned out to be invaluable to get the word out quickly when rain messed up the schedule.

<details id="bkmrk-expand-here-to-see-t"><summary>Expand here to see the Final Information email we sent out August 8, 2024</summary>

<div>You have a reservation on the Future Turtles bus! We can't wait to see you, and hope this email will answer any questions you may have!  
</div><div>  
</div><div>**Saturday, August 24**</div><div>- 9:00 am departure from the [Safeway, 16th and Bryant, San Francisco](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGv2YCuT1tqyK41bA)
- 1:00 pm departure from the [Grand Sierra Resort, Reno](https://maps.app.goo.gl/j1tDtTGsKqoZjn2K6). May be delayed by traffic; we will email this list with ETA when we get closer.
- Late afternoon arrival on playa at the corner of 7:00 &amp; Fascinate
- To reach the Turtle Bus coordinator in an emergency on the day of travel, you can call Tristan at [407-462-3737](tel:(407)%20462-3737) or contact @aitheric on Discord.

<div>**To board our bus on Saturday, each passenger needs a physical Burning Man ticket in hand. We will not stop at the Will Call office on playa.** </div><div>- If your ticket is at Will Call, you can pick it up at the MAIN Burner Express stop in San Francisco or Reno early Saturday morning. Just tell them you are riding the Future Turtles Burner Express Bus charter.
- San Francisco: you can pick it up at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St., as early as 6:30am Saturday.
- Reno: you can pick it up at 1500 Terminal Way, at the Air Cargo Terminal of Reno airport, as early as 9:00am Saturday.

<div>**Monday, September 2**</div><div>- 11:00 am departure time from 7:00 &amp; Fascinate
- First stop at the [Grand Sierra Resort, Reno](https://maps.app.goo.gl/j1tDtTGsKqoZjn2K6)
- Final stop at [Safeway, 16th and Bryant, San Francisco](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGv2YCuT1tqyK41bA)
- It is historically extremely difficult to predict how long it takes to travel from Black Rock City back to Reno or San Francisco. Although our bus will skip the Exodus line, bad traffic on 447 or bad weather can result in <u>severe</u> delays.

<div>**If you miss a scheduled departure we will not wait for you, you will not receive a refund, and you will have to make your own way.** </div><div>**Luggage Allowance**</div><div>- There is room for only **one large suitcase or luggage item per passenger** under the bus.
- You can also bring a small knapsack or personal item with you on the bus.
- Mark all your luggage clearly with name, phone number, and email on the outside.
- We do not have room for bikes or extra luggage. However, we may have room for bikes and one extra luggage item on the Turtle Truck, which travels separately.
- Note that the Turtle Truck does not always accompany the Turtle Bus! Read carefully if you plan to use the Turtle Truck.
- If you want to put a bike or extra luggage item on the Turtle Truck, make a reservation at [https://forms.gle/<wbr>7QNAx9yD5uQLrycB8</wbr>](https://forms.gle/7QNAx9yD5uQLrycB8)

<div>**The Turtle Truck - Inbound** </div><div>- To load items on the Turtle Truck in San Francisco, bring them to 340 Ritch Street on Friday, August 23, at 11:00am.
- The truck will be departing San Francisco on Friday Afternoon
- To load items on the Turtle Truck in Reno, bring them with you to the Grand Sierra Resort.
- Because the Turtle Truck does not skip the line to get onto playa, it will probably arrive later than the bus at 7:00 &amp; F. You may have to come back to the Future Turtles camp to pick up your excess luggage later on Saturday.

<div>**The Turtle Truck - Outbound**</div><div>- The Turtle Truck will leave playa at the same time as the bus, approximately 11am Monday.
- Because the Turtle Truck does not skip the exodus line, it will arrive in Reno later than the Turtle Bus. We will email this list with an ETA for Reno as soon as the truck hits pavement.
- If you are picking up things in Reno, please plan to come back to the GSR promptly to unload, as the truck will not be able to wait around for you.
- The Turtle Truck will not get to San Francisco until Wednesday, September 4. We will provide an exact time and location for unloading in San Francisco as soon as we have that information. Please plan to come back promptly to pick up your stuff, as we don't have any way to store it for you.
- Please make your own arrangements to remove your own moop from playa, for example by carrying it out in your luggage. We do not have camp trash cans.

<div>Thanks and see you in the dust!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></details>## Contacting the Burner Bus People

Our contact was:

Sharif Zawaideh  
Burner Express Bus Program Manager  
sharif@burningman.org  
206-799-5136

They do a **great** job and are **totally on the ball**. When there was rain last year, Sharif knew more about when the playa would be open than anyone in any position of authority we could find.

## Financials and Contract

2025:

- The cost in 2025 was $8899 each way from San Francisco.
- [2025 Burner Express Bus Group Charters - Standard Terms &amp; Conditions.pdf](https://drive.google.com/file/d/11-3rwHDecDhQhRnPkykK-sBrKGVcbuKC/view?usp=sharing)

2024:

- The cost in 2024 was $8499 each way from San Francisco.
- [2024 Burner Express Bus Group Charters - Standard Terms &amp; Conditions.pdf](https://wiki.futureturtles.com/attachments/20)