PolyParadise - 2013 - Wrap-up

Sunday December 29, 2013

Can you believe another year in BRC has come & gone? PolyParadise 2013 was the truly the best Theme Camp iteration we have ever created, each year there are many challenges and together we overcome, together we build an amazing space within the gates of BRC, a place to really call home in the desert.

Each year as Benevolent Dictator, I learn more and more about why I love all things Burning Man, why I love all things PolyParadise.

Of course there is an amazing personal journey for me, but it is the journey I watch in others, their self-discovery, their triumphs as well as low points, watching people grow and blossom.

This section of the Year in Review; The Wrap-up is my way of thanking all of the amazing people that assist us in creating PolyParadise, not only On-Playa but all year-round here in Phoenix. I am taken aback by those that give even when they are not PolyParadise campers or give to the community even if the Playa is not in their travel plans.

Here-in are my THANK YOU's for Burning Man 2013...This list in not an all-inclusive list and if I left someone or something out it is not because I was unaware of your contribution it is just a minor oversight. EACH ONE OF YOU HAD A PART AND A HAND IN MAKING US THE SUCCESS WE WERE!!

The first Thank You has always been reserved for my Life Partner, Wife, Friend & companion, WildChild!!! She continues to be an awesome inspiration for all things Burning Man, stands by me in my ever increasing need to volunteer…Thank you my love!!!

BIG BIG Kudos - To our fellow AZBurners who are always available to assist during the year; for Truck Loading & Unpacking; carrying, cleaning, sorting and building PolyParadise year-round here in Phoenix. Special Thanks to (UncleBob, Sista, Poje, Big Phreeky, Alien, Sarge, Knotch, Shadow, Kilted James, The Doctor, Corvus, Sandman, CactusMan, Captain Jack, Mardell, Frankie, Gecko, Tigrezz, Dash-O, Elaine, Mu, Pimpo, Cobalt) Back in the day circa 2006 it was only WildChild & I that represented Arizona in PolyParadise.  It is amazing to have had 34 AZBurners in our camp this year. You are all ACES in my book!!! Thank you all so very much!!!

Thanks to the Truck Packing Crew: Paul, Richard, Big Phreekie, Ray, Tigrezz, Ron, Rhonda. It is so much fun to share the excitement of PolyParadise hitting the road with all of you!!! YEAH!!! You guys are GREAT!

Thanks to UncleBob, Tigrezz, Big Phreeky for being here for Truck Unpacking, I cannot thank you enough because doing it myself would just have way sucked!!! Thanks so much!!!

Early Arrival - Many, Many thanks to all of our Early Arrival crew. Kudos go out to Tailfeather, Martin, Sista, Brotherluv, Peter, Gretchen, Knotch, Shadow, Brandy, Alien, Sarge, Merlin, Theresa, Touch, James, Duncan, Iris, Ranger Beethoven, Keira, Trevor, Dr.Jones, Stephanie, Mark, Sprinkman, Honest John, Mistress Barney, Dave, Lisa, Mu, Meep, Endeavor, Merlin, Kerrin, Kyrka, Corvus, Yobi, Tommy, Lisa & Uncle Bob for their tireless efforts to get the camp erected and all system connected. You guys ROCK!!!

MANY, MANY thanks go to the most amazing takedown crew we have ever had. There were so many people that stayed and assisted with the huge job of getting things in some order before it heads to the truck. THANK YOU ALL!!! Both WildChild & I appreciate your efforts.

HUGE thanks to all who stayed On-Playa till Tuesday doing that last MOOPING of our space - As far as MOOP goes - we did much better in 2013 when the final MOOP Map was released. Out of 55 squares defined by our camp there was only One (1) that was not GREEN!!! Way to go!!!

MOOP Map 2013 MOOP Map 2012  
PolyParadise 2013 MOOP Map PolyParadise 2012 MOOP Map  

This is a vast improvement from the 2012 MOOP MAP was revealed - our entire block Asylum - Begonia 5:00 - 4:30 was shown in a Green/Yellow Cross hatch pattern.

For 2014 our MOOP MAP Footprint goal is ALL GREEN. Remember it is MOOP if it is not Playa -that is the definition of Leave No Trace. Overall we did an amazing job - thanks to all that assisted in Never Letting It Hit the Ground!!! Thank you to everybody that stayed for teardown and beyond...You guys ROCK for making those last sweeps through our space and making sure we would be MOOP FREE!

Thanks to Martin & Susan Fischer for bringing the 9 Energies camp within the borders of PolyParadise - thanks as well for making the Work-Party in March in Phoenix - so awesome to meet you both & see the positive results of people being awaken to their Energy!

We all must collectively thank Tailfeather for his amazing efforts on the Poly Play Space. A place to let loose, a space to explore sexually. Thank you Tailfeather. Thanks to everyone that assisted in the assembling & teardown of the dome.

Major Kudos to the organizers Major Kudos to the organizers Touch & Crew (HCW), Facilitators & participants of Poly High Tea, BrotherLuv (Mind Melt) , With Keith & Lenel not On-Playa thanks to all that facilitated the (Heart of Now), Dr. Jones (Hiney Hygiene Station), Elaine & Mu ( Rope Harnesses, Dresses, and Bondage: Oh my! ), Martin & Susan (9 Energies). You all are aces in my book!!! Thanks to everyone who assisted in each and every event. The events are as much for us as a camp as well as sharing with the Playa Citizenry.

Thank you to all our international campers from Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Mexico, Switzerland & England.

The Carcass Wash...Many thanks go to Touch - Trouble and others for heading up the Human Carcass Wash. A HUGE THANKS to everyone else who helped with Setup & Cleanup and to those that ran the event each day.

Many Many thanks & Kudos to Twist for his ingenuity several years ago in creating the pumps/basins for collecting the drain water from the sink & shower and sending it to the Gray Water Tank, you rock Twist!!! Thanks too for the 2500W Battery-Backup system that worked like a charm. Your Master Skills as a Rocket Scientist have no gone unnoticed.

Speaking of Sani-Hut; Thank you again for providing us with a Gray Water Holding Tank and for the awesome service on Playa. We did have an issue as we did not get a drain cap for the tank & we were left with a small very deep Grey Water Playa stain; regardless we appreciate your efforts and hope to continue to do business with you again in 2014.

Thanks to Stephanie & Crew for arranging all things Early Arrival Crew Meal Plan. It was awesome to have food available to us after a hard days work ERECTING PolyParadise.

Thanks to the Boyz from Illionoiz for bringing the Tiki Bar - Daily Drinks and with the help of Honest John & Mistress Barney the most AMAZING & INCREDIBLE Thursday night meal ala Chicago Style!!!  The Tiki Bar was an awesome place to hang out right outside the community space and fill up your cup with the days drink concoction! Thanks to all of you for seeing the valley of community!!

Thanks to Bud & Bunnie for bringing the Flattop stove - it really got some use - Thank you so much - think we may need to get one of these for the camp.

Major KUDOS to The Doctor aka Duncan for taking on a huge cooking responsibility. Every time I said I could use the Salmon or Tri-Tip cooked you were right there and did it with a smile.  I also appreciate that you made sure that WildChild & I got some of the first batch off the grill - Its good to be the king!

Special thanks to all the Playa Virgins that decided to make PolyParadise their First Home on the Playa. I hope your experience was awesome and that Burning Man, The Playa, BRC and the rest of us instilled in you a LOVE for the week leading up to Labor Day that your excitement will have you camping again with us next year. Each of you gave & gave & gave of your time & effort and we all Thank You...

Thanks to everyone who provided & prepared food for Community Meals, Washing Dishes, all who helped out when it was needed, for taking garbage home with you, for knowing what building community & sharing community is all about.

Thanks to Trevor for taking on several projects I asked of you, and many that I did not even have to say.  Thanks for taking that long walk with me to try and find Kennita & her broken down scooter. There were several other things during the week that you just went over and above the call of service, you did so because you saw it needed to be done and for that I am forever in your gratitude.

Many Many thanks to STAGGER for again heading up all things Garbage Czar for stepping up and taking on the role of TRASH!

Major Kudos & thanks to Stephanie & Crew for coordinating, setting up and facilitating an incredible kitchen area. You so rock!!!! The Community Kitchen was an awesome success! Thanks so much to all of their helpers that maintained the kitchen all week long.

Thanks to Mark for the ice of an Ice Czar and for heading up daily runs for ice. Thanks as well for coming up with the idea and making it happen.  The Foot Pump/Hand Washing Station 2.0 was awesome!! Thank you!!

Special callout to everyone that assisted in the creation of Trash Can Pizza on Tuesday, Of course to UncleBob for coming up with this crazy idea. Thanks to for everyone that assisted with Trash Can Turkey and a HUGE Thanks to Trevor, The Doctor, Big Phreeky for jumping right in and carving up all that turkeys (80lbs of BIRD) while an anxious crowd awaited food…Amazing!!! Thanks to all those that assisted with Turkey portioning per plate so that all 150+ people in line got to enjoy said Turkey!!!

Special callouts - Congratulations & Kudos to Congratulations to Watercolor for becoming a BRC Ranger this year. It was very fun to STOMP on your hat!!! We all appreciate your effort & service to the greater good of the Playa Citizenry; know we are proud of you both.

The most SPECIAL of SPECIAL THANKS is reserved for my Partner & Wife WildChild!!Your love of everything Burning Man, Community, Hard Work, artistic talent and love of people is inspiring. Never let that light dim.

To those that camped elsewhere or who were unable to make BM this year, your spirit was always part of PolyParadise, and know that you were deeply missed & loved in this group.

As each year passes; the journey of BRC & PolyParadise just gets better & better; this only happens because there is so much love and effort from all of you; a love of PolyParadise; a Love of Burning Man and of Community. There are so many people that give of themselves, give without thinking about how long it will take or how heavy something is, so many people that give of themselves!!

Burning Man is a year-round event at our house; we take the contents of our garage out to the desert and create together an amazing, loving space on the hallowed ground of the Black Rock Desert. Thank you ALL for assisting me in creating PolyParadise.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!

Only 238 days until we Burn again. Each of those days will have thoughts of all you and how good I feel having each of you as my friends and part of my family.
Playa Love,

Scotto
- Camp Daddy
- Benevolent Dictator
- Burning Man Lifer/Geek/Zealot