The State of Things: A Quick Dispatch
A lot is happening and we want to make sure none of it slips past you, so here’s the rapid-fire roundup.
Tickets
We currently have 28 tickets left. That’s not a lot. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is the sign, and it is blinking.
Beacon Scholarship Tickets
We are actively awarding Beacon tickets. If you’re expecting one or think you might be eligible, log into your Volunteeripate account. At the top of every page will be a banner saying that you have a ticket offer waiting. Click that!
Volunteer Shifts
All volunteer shifts are open and ready for you to claim. Go do that. The Effigy build team is the one exception: those spots are full, so if you missed it, there’s always next year! Don’t worry, there are many other ways to contribute your labor and efforts to this event.
Theme Camp Applications
The theme camp application window is closing soon, on April 18th. If your camp hasn’t submitted yet, now is the time to stop talking about submitting and actually submit.
Pre Event Ranger Trainings
Whether you’re Ranger-curious, freshly motivated, or have been putting this off for years, there are several opportunities coming up in the Midwest to get trained, get questions answered, and get your boots on the ground.
Virtual Office Hours with Tanto
Tanto is hosting virtual Rangers office hours on April 22, and May 3, (HINT, THOSE ARE ALL LINKS TO THE CALENDAR EVENT!) from 6–7PM (central). These are open to everyone: curious newcomers, freshly trained Rangers figuring out what they’ve gotten themselves into, and veterans who want to put a face to a name before we’re all dirty, tired, and squinting at each other on-site.
Come with questions, come with enthusiasm, come in your pajamas, we don’t care. Click dates above to add the event to your calendar!
Black Rock Ranger Training
PsyJam is hosting a full Black Rock Ranger Training on May 9th in Tonganoxie, KS, followed by a Green Dot Ranger Training in Overland Park, KS. Midwest training opportunities don’t come around often, so if you’ve ever been even a little Ranger-curious, this is your chance.
To become a Black Rock Ranger you’ll need to have attended Burning Man at least once in the last 10 years, complete the Ranger application process, attend a full day of training (hi, that’s this), and pass an on-playa mentoring shift. Anyone can audit the training, though you’ll still need to go through the same sign-up process.
A quick note worth making: being Black Rock Ranger trained is genuinely valuable experience for Interfuse Rangers, even though it doesn’t count as Interfuse Ranger trained status. The skills translate. The culture overlaps. It’s not a shortcut, but it’s not nothing either.
B.U.R.N. Burn 2026: Spring Solace
New to Rangering and not quite ready to be thrown into the deep end but want some on the go training? B.U.R.N. Burn has been a Midwest Ranger training ground for years, known for shorter shifts and a lower-pressure environment that’s great for getting your first shift under your belt.
Interfuse 2026 is Live on Dust!
By popular demand, we are using the DUST app (and website) again this year to host our digital WhatWhereWhen guide, and all currently approved theme camp submissions have landed in the app. Welcome back, Mayors!
Quick note on process since we know someone will ask:
- camp registration and placement approval still go through the Camp Registration Form first. That part hasn’t changed.
- Once your camp is officially approved, it gets ported over to DUST, where you can take the wheel on your own details and event schedule.
- If your camp has already been approved and see an invite in your inbox right now, please click it.
- Once you’re in, you can add events to your camp, add a co-lead’s email if you want, and decide whether the general public can submit events to your camp page or whether you’d prefer to keep a tighter grip on your event schedule.
You can use a computer to manage your camp; don’t feel like you need to do it all on a phone. That would be annoying!
DUST is genuinely the easiest way to keep track of theme camp events, workshops, and art installations across the community, so we’re glad to have it back. Never used it before or forgot everything from last year? The creator put together very detailed instructions that will walk you through everything.
As of today, anyone has the option to create an event! Camp Mayors have the option to allow the public to submit an event to their camp. Contact a camp mayor if you don’t see the camp you wish to host an event at.
Approved Mutant Vehicles have been added! Art Installations will have the same abilities as Theme Camps, but not yet! Coming soon, please sit tight!
Questions about any of this? Shoot us an email at ifimp@midwestburners.org and we’ll sort you out.
Red Light District!
The Red Light District (RLD) is not new. You may have wandered through it, wondered about it, or pretended you didn’t know what it was while absolutely knowing what it was. But this year, things are getting a little more intentional over there.
Ordinarily managed by the Placement lead, this year, the RLD has its own dedicated lead. Pinkie is stepping into the role of Red Light Czar and taking full ownership of the district to give it the care and attention it deserves, with a vision to make it an actual destination rather than just the vibe people stumble into at 2AM when they’re seeking… extracurricular delights (don’t worry, it’s still that too 😉).
The goal is to grow it into a more vibrant, curated area with art and camp experiences that belong there. If you’ve got a camp concept, an art piece, or an experience that would feel right at home in an 18+ environment (or for legal reasons cannot be done outside of an 18+ environment), now is a great time to get involved while things are still taking shape.
Reach out to Pinkie at ifrld@midwestburners.org to learn more or pitch what you’ve got.
2026 Updated Survival Guide is Live
Radical Self-Reliance starts long before you arrive at the gate. We have officially released the new and improved 2026 Survival Guide, and it is recommended reading for everyone, from first-year burn-gins to ten-year vets.
We’ve overhauled several sections, including updated departments like First Aid (formerly Medic) and new insights on site-specific logistics. Staying informed is the best way to ensure you and your campmates have a safe and successful burn.
Please keep in mind that the Survival Guide is a living document and will always be in flux as our community grows and our needs change. If you see something that needs a tweak or have a suggestion to make it better, please feel free to leave a comment!
