HANDBOOK of KAMP APOKILIPTIKA - you shall READ.-
Handbook of APOKILIPTIKA
Greetings Comrade!!!
Just where in the world do you go to get started?
Right here. This handy reference contains the essential elements any new recruit needs. First we should get to a bit of important philosophy. This handbook is intended to be a concise, easy to read guide for members and prospective members of the APOKILIPTIKA Theme camp that will assist members in understanding the theme camp, as well as the roles, responsibilities, community needs and operations that make the camp successful.
There is a lot of information in this handbook, but it is a concise and easy read. It will lay out the basics of what we need from you, what we need from each other, and how the camp should work. This is based on the collective experience of dozens of camp members with a great deal of experience.
WARNING:
APOKILIPTIKA does not want campers that take up space, even if they pay camp taxes. The purpose of being a member of this camp is not to get a cool place to camp near Esplanade- but rather, to participate in a very theme-oriented camp, and personally engage in that theme and activities in order to make the experience a success for all.
APOKILIPTIKA Theme
Since 2005, the camp has used a Cold-War Relic, Neo-Sovietski and somewhat Totalinaristic-Dictatorist theme, a'la Marshall Stalin, Comrade Fidel, or Uncle Ho (with a bit of dead Khadafi thrown in for color/flavor).
This year, Kamp Apokiliptika seeks to re-create the look and feel of a forgotten Soviet army outpost in the deserts of Afghanistan, Circa 1989, plus about 30 or so years, with an added touch of Atomic Annihilation, Fear and Doom, and the good Old Militaristic and Paranoid Feel of the KGB, Stasi, and your neighbors itching to turn YOU in before YOU turn THEM in.
Subplots may also include Eastern Bloc Politics, NVA-style interrogations ,Extreme torture, and other family fun and roaring good times. Remember Kruschev? Remember Kruschev's famous Shoe?
WE take up the banner of that shoe, when we tell enemy camps... WE WILL CRUSH YOU!
The frontage of APOKILIPTIKAmay change, but the spirit of OUR side of the Wall NEVER changes. And neither will you.
We support the heavy use of camo nets, extreme (and occasionally mismatched) military surplus, along with props, Russian and Eastern European style uniform, propoganda posters, banners, and props, and copious simulated weaponry and special effects to enhance our visual theme.
As a member, you are encouraged to assemble uniform(s) and accessories fitting to the theme. You are also encouraged to TAKE THE THEME to other Apokiliptikans and BRC citizens.
"A nice uniform helps you to bond with team, and enhances everyone's theme."
Mom Stalin, 1943, while shopping at Leningrad's Dep't store and Tractor parts house.
Oven Mitts
"The way of the Mitt is strong with this one..."
Osama-Wan Kenobi, speaking to Apokiliptikeen Skywalker, A long time ago in a place far, far away from boring, banal art.
Bring an oven mitt!!!
As all members of the Apokiliptik Hegemony are well indoctrinated, the path to true enlightenment and joyful doom is to follow...
The Way Of The Mitt.
The world was once dark, a void with no form, no substance or purpose. The people were sad and much like sloths. Ugly, artless Sloths. With no imagination. And no Bacon...
Then LO, from on high did a light appear, and a beam came down upon the artless and imagination-less Sloths, and upon the holy surface of the desert that would some day be called "Black Rock", upon a large pile of Rotted Granite and Asbestos Cloth there was a flame appearing within a firmament. .
And as the flame died down, and the mists of the firmament did part, there, before the sloths with no talent, did appear...
THE MITT
The masses looked upon the Mitt, and placed it upon their hands, and as it DID fit their hands, they said, "Wow, man, this is pretty cool shit". And their Slothiness withered away, and their imaginations blossomed, and their talent sprang forth, and they went on to cover the playa with art and other cool things.
Lo, it was the mitt that brought art out of the darkness and into the light... It was the mitt that brought joy, purpose and labor to the masses. It was the mitt that kept man from burning the $#!t out of his hands when he grabbed hot things from the fire. Sure, man was still hungry, but now, once they had swept up the sawdust and concrete dust and sand and dirt and shredded dung of yak and splintery cwood shavings, and even unto the shards of glass and blades of Wilkenson, they could now form it into loaves of bread, an, at leastuntil they went to eat of it, they could handle the hot loaves with safety.
And even in this end-time of modern condemnation, APOKILIPTIKANS wear the mitt in commemoration of being raised from the slugs of the playa, a being lesser than the mormon crickets and playa chickens, and being raised to interrogation, annihilation, and immolation.
The mitt has many esthetic and utilitarian functions. When equipped with belt loops or shoulder strap, it makes a perfect pistol holster, water bottle caddy or feminine hygiene product dispenser. It can be used to lift burning embers from a recently-torched Man or playa art project (or playa artist), engage in fisticuffs with enemies of the state in Thunderdome. It makes an admitable emergency dust mask, and even can make the most intimate evening wear - or lingerie - showing both a touch of class mingled with an element of pure insanity.
Your grenades never had a more cozy home, your MP-40 - well, even the military has yet to devise a more suitable holster, and as a portable beer cooler on the beltit has no equal -- suffice it to say, Where there's Man, there's Mitt.
They even make great fashion, and hold an important place in History!!
*** Know the Way of the Mitt ***
A note to the viewer... After viewing the above link, and If by chance you still don't get it, stare at the dancing oven mitts below until you reach enlightenment.
Things to know...
General principles of BM
There are 10 principles of the BM experience at Black Rock City, and it is important that all participants become aware of these:
Radical Inclusion. Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.
Gifting. Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
Decommodification. In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.
Radical Self-reliance. Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
Radical Self-expression. Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.
Communal Effort. Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.
Civic Responsibility. We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
Leaving No Trace. Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.
Participation. Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.
Immediacy. Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.
The Desert is a Tough Place!
A few words about what it can do to you!!!
It takes nearly everyone a day or so to adjust to the desert climate. Don't be surprised if you spend your first day feeling a bit queasy and cranky. Begin drinking more water as you approach the desert. To stay healthy and enjoy the week, drink water all the time whether you think you need it or not. Drinking up to one gallon of water per person per day is the rule of thumb.
Remember to eat proper salty foods to prevent electrolyte imbalance. Users of alcohol, caffeine or other drugs are particularly at risk for dehydration, and should pay careful attention to their water intake. Dehydration can cause headaches, stomach cramps, abdominal pains, constipation, or flu-like symptoms. It exacerbates both heat-related and cold-related conditions (i.e. both sunstroke and hypothermia), and makes it difficult for the body to mend itself. If someone you know complains of these symptoms, or shows signs of either severe overheating or (worse) a case of chills under the mid-day sun, get them to shade immediately and seek prompt medical help. In case of emergency, go to the Medical Clinic at Center Camp or an Emergency Services Station near the Civic Plazas. Medical aides are always on call and evacuation is available.
Some signs that you may not be drinking enough water:
You don't carry a water bottle with you at all times.
You swill instead of drinking deeply.
You wait to drink until you're thirsty - too late!
Your urine is anything but clear and abundant.
You become cranky.
Beating the Heat (and the Cold)
Make sure you bring some kind of shade for your camp and try to lay low during the hottest part of the day (save your strength for the night). Use sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and water. If you don't take a few basic steps to protect yourself, the desert's midday sun will cook you in no time. However, when the sun drops over the horizon, temperatures can quickly plummet fifty degrees. Overnight lows in the 40's can seem exceptionally cold after extensive daytime sun, so you'll want to bring warm clothing and a good sleeping bag as well.
THIS IS THE REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF - WITHOUT IT, YOU WILL DIE (or at least be miserable)
Preparing
Remember your ticket, and read the back of it.
Remember your ticket, and read the back of it.
Remember your ticket, and read the back of it.
Know where the camp is located!
Early Entry Passes
These are very limited and distribution of these is based on members bringing in camp gear and infrastructure, or and, those willing to be part of the hot dusty sweaty set up crew. Otherwise plan to arrive Monday or later.
Arrival
Once you have arrived, you will be shown to the camp area and where to park vehicle and tent etc.
You will need to provide camp leaders with some simple contact information in the event of an emergency.
Your Stuff
Be sure to mark everything!!!!! Your stuff will swirl around and get misplaced. If your name or your mark is not on it, it’s not likely to get back to you… so, MARK EVERYTHING!!! You may be camping in a tent, a vehicle or RV and I’ll leave those aspects to you. However, all members should have the following important personal items with tem at all times when out of camp:
Goggles
Dust mask or large bandana
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Water container or canteen
Sun hat
Conditioning lotion for skin and feet
Playa cup
Water Supply
The recommended MINIMUM supply is 20 gallons. The “suitcase” jugs are ok, but if you can manage it, the 3-5 gal jugs are better.
Shade for your tent
If camping in a tent, shading it is a very good idea. We do provide a number of camo nets and the like, but if you can bring a light fabric tarp, please do.
What to expect in our camp
As a part of a village, we do provide for our own porta-johns!!! Your wretched camp taxes at work.
We also provide shower/washing facility. As of yet, we have not found the perfect setup, but we are getting closer every year. Your wretched camp taxes at work.
A fully equipped kitchen. We like to keep the kitchen as clean as nature will allow. It is available for daily group meals, and you are also welcome to prepare things yourself there too. Your wretched camp taxes at work.
A 24 hour in-camp bar with beer, liquor and mixers, as well as an ice supply. Your wretched camp taxes at work.
Communal Shade Structures.
Your Wretched camp Taxes make all this possible!!!
General Camp Logistical Details
Last Supper- a traditional treat for the hard working post burn clean up crew
Kitchen, Cooking and Meals
You will NEVER know how important eating well is until you experience culiniary bliss on the Playa!!!! The camp has a kitchen with everything needed to prepare meals and clean up. You are free to use the kitchen as it is available, and ESPECIALLY for cooking of bacon. .
Bacon...bacon... bacon!! Just remember - without the Mitt, it is not pleasure, but pain!
Here is how we handle food and meals.
Breakfast. Since nobody wakes at the same time, From really early to quite late, you are on your own in deciding when breakfast takes place. You can bring simple breakfast foods like cereal and the like as you prefer. Your camp taxes assist here by providing all members with off the shelf and out of the ice chest items including bacon, bagels, peanut butter, cream cheese, fruit, instant oatmeal, cookies coffee and tea. Generally whoever is awake early enough makes some coffee, someone will usually fry up stuff (bacon, eggs, bacon, spam, bacon, potatoes, bacon...) and the rest follows from there.
Lunch. You are on your own here as we have no set lunch time and you are likely to be out and about. This is a good time to see what's in the camp supplies, or bring something to add to them!
Dinner. THIS is where we have a schedule!!! Dinners generally are served around 6 pm at the camp. We have an annual dinner meal sign up on the Terminal City discussion board- APOKILIPTIKA threads. There members can view and sign up to prepare a dinner meal. Dinner is also the time we talk about what's going on around the camp, how to make things better, and all the cool ideas we came up with.
The Living Room / Kitchen "structure" will have tables for use as a dining room.
Personal Eating Equipment
Pack a plate, bowl, cup and utensils. Some like the Sierra cup or the new sillycone Milspec ware and a spork, others like using a traditional Mess it. We DO limit the use of disposables due to their moopiness. Whatever you bring - Clean and pack away your OWN utensils after meals. Don't leave it to the Kitchen Clean-up crew and do not leave them in the kitchen of living room area.
Speaking of Cleaning...
IF you are not the scheduled Cook fo r the evening, you WILL be on the post-dinner kitchen clean-up crew. When everyone chips in, it takes less than 30 minutes. When people don't chip in, it sucks... Remember - we're a family - don't make us get all parent on you!
Your Ice chest.
You can keep your ice chest at your personal camp, or you are free to place your ice chest- marked with your name, in the kitchen tent. This way ice deliveries won’t have to find your ice chest, and it is kept safe from the sun, off the hot playa surface. Your choice.
Ice
Camp taxes will pay to maintain the bar and community food ice chests. If you have an ice chest, you are on your own to fill it.
Your help
All of us need your help in keeping the kitchen clean, assistance with meals and clean up. We may have a whiteboard or other means for you to sign up for various assistance, otherwise just look for where you can be of help.
Can Recycling
A couple of runs will be made during the week to recycle camp. Recyclables are collected at the kitchen tent.
Showers
The camp will provide a shower structure, a shower pump and several shower bags. PLEASE when finished refill the pump tank or shower bag for the next user. Use only enough water- shower with a friend etc. to get the job done. Too much water use is wasteful and puts too much water into the evap area.
Please keep your toiletries at your camp when not in use, and not at the shower area.
Here is a suggestion-- bring an old towel to use as a floor mat in the entry area of the shower. Remove and hang to dry after your shower!
Members will get a shower orientation upon arrival.
Porta –Johns
We will have the keys to the potties located in the living room. Please return the key there after use. Please do not let others outside our village members use the potties… no matter how cute he or she is. About 25% of your wretched camp taxes pay for YOUR access to the johns.
In-Camp Bar
Your taxes help prime the pump. Provided are Vodka, PBR, and whatever YOU bring to make it home! You surely have favorites and are encouraged to add these favs to the larder. The in-camp bar aka beverage center will be located in the "back room" of the kantina, usually separate from the booze for the customers.
HELPFUL HINT - An ice supply cooler - for drinks - is IN the kantina backbar SEPARATE from the Beer Cooler - DO NOT mix the 2!!!
First Aid
A full first aid kit will be located in the kitchen tent. A first aid station is located at center camp, and at each of the Ranger Outposts the closest being Outpost Berlin up 3:00 from the plaza.
Apokiliptika List of Dangerous Characters: Splat and Bay Bridge Sue, Dragonfly Jafe and Robotland and Commissar Logan.
General Camp Member Expectations:
Be a participant!! Be a contributor!! If you have joined our camp, we fully expect YOU to be a contributor and a willing participant.
Get into the theme! Get a fun and funky uniform. Join in on activities and impromptu ideas like road checkpoints, raids or other frivolities. Most important have fun and share fun.
Help others. A theme camp has a certain amount of work and members often need assistance. We have summarily dismissed members before for being slackers. The best way to be a real part of a group, besides in sharing fun, is sharing the work too. This is one of the most important glues in any community.
Don’ts and Dos
Don’t leave your stuff or mess for others to clean up!
Don’t be a slacker, ass hat, a drag, dark-wad or shit-head.
Don’t leave gear scattered about.
Don’t complain about something that is fully in your power to fix.
Don’t let non-camp or village members use the porta-johns- please!
Don’t expect to leave chairs, bikes or other gear behind for others to take away unless agreements are made in advance.
But…
Do participate! Get into the theme, get an OVEN MITT!!!
Do nice things for others often!
Do help with meals, clean up and mooping!
Do look out for each other!
Do take care of yourself- eat well, drink tons of water, and protect yourself from the elements.
Do avoid Drama.
The Burn is over—go home!!!!
Packing up
PLEASE do not just leave stuff behind. Anything. Apokiliptika has a reputation of NO MOOP LEFT BEHIND.
This includes things like like bikes, folding chairs, tents, trash, tarps, pillows, aardvarks, or even cups. If you brought it, you WILL take it out with you!!!
Do not count on the camp leaders to take that folding chair off your hands before you drive to Reno Airport. You know how many folding chairs we have already? You don’t want to know, and we can’t take any more. You want it thrown out? Guess WHO is responsible for that?
Mooping and Departure.
Everyone Moops. Before you leave, take time to help make our camp and our village and our BRC 100% moop free. Everyone at BRC is asked to moop no less than TWO hours in your camp, and TWO hours outside your camp. Most do 4 times that much, from sun-up to sundown, sometimes 2-3 days after last supper. Really.
Your camp spot is your MOST IMPORTANT mooping spot, all the way across the street to the neighbors, and 3 feet outside our borders. Really. We 're that fanatical about moop.
Every bit, every tiny shred and speck removed.
Do not expect the take down crew to moop for you—YOU MOOP TOO. EVERYONE IN OUR CAMP MOOPS. NO EXCEPTIONS. NOT EVER.
Everyone takes some trash or recyclables out with them. Everyone.
Questions? Contact killbuck25@gmail.com.