Melon Camp Registration

#ScienceFact

To be a Burning Melon you need to first register and pay your dues. No exceptions. Here’s how!

Register Your Melon Self

Registering for camp is easy! You just need to get the registration link while registration is open. If you look around it shouldn't be hard to find. If this is your first year camping with the Melons, ask your friend who is referring you for the link! Other things to know:

• • 2020 Melon Camp registration for returning Melons only opens 12:01pm PST on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

  • If you are a first time Melon, you must be referred by a returning Melon.

Pay Your Dues

Burning Man the event is a gift-based economy. But unfortunately Burning Man itself is not so much. Building a Melon camp with all that entails costs dough, so we ask Melons to pay dues. They are $228 for regular dues and $108 for reduced dues (for more on reduced dues, see below!).

Melon dues must be paid via debit or credit card at the point of registration. Full refunds of dues will be available up until registration closes (12:01pm PST on Thursday, August 6th, 2020).

More On Referrals

It is such an honor when a Melon refers someone to camp, and this has happened literally hundreds of times over the last nine years. We want to keep a good thing going, while adding steps that strengthen camp culture and keep our camp size manageable. So this year we’re updating our referral guidelines to increase inclusiveness, and enable better support from referers. It goes like this:

• • New in 2020: Returning Melons can refer one (1) new Melon.

  • Referrals can be replaced if plans change.

  • Referrals will get admitted into camp via email invite on a rolling basis after returning Melons, starting Saturday, March 21, 2020.

Referrers must be camping with the Melons in 2020. As a referrer, it is your job to provide guidance and support to your new Melon, and make sure they are familiar with Melon ways of doing things (*cough* and our Manifesto *cough*).

How Referrals Work, Once More With Feeling

After camp registration opens:

• • Referrers register first and submit the correct email addresses for their referees plus an explanation of how they'd be a good Melon.

  • After returning Melons have gotten spots in camp new Melons will be admitted via email on a rolling basis

After everyone is registered:

• • Referrers check in with their referrees leading up to the Burn to ensure they’re prepared. Radical Self-Reliance is important, but so is knowing what to expect when newbies arrive on playa :)

  • Referrers share resources with their referral Melons, like the Burning Melon website & packing lists

  • Referrers act as a resource & friendly face for their referrals on-playa

  • Referrers practice good communal effort, participation & inclusion by helping their referrals acclimate & meet new friends on-playa

  • Referrers are responsible for their referrees. Some ways that responsibility might play out on playa if the referee is: flailing on a shift, has a conflict with another camp member, needs to be accompanied back to camp or to the med tent for a medical problem

Not so bad, right?

More On Reduced Dues

As our camp has grown, the cost to camp with us (ie. registration) has increased to support an ever-more-awesome playa home. Like a patch of casabas, crenshaws, and sharlyns, one of the best things about the Melons is our beautiful variety. We realize that the registration cost may be prohibitive for some and we want all prospective melons to be able to make it to the burn! Some guidelines for those using this option:

• • Did you apply for a low-income ticket to Burning Man?

  • Would the registration fee prevent you from camping with the melons?

  • Are you underemployed or unemployed?

If you can answer YES to any of these questions, you may want to consider the reduced dues option. Please note that we are testing Reduced Dues on an experimental, honor-system basis. Please opt in only if you think you need it. Seriously, don’t ruin it for everyone.

Meanwhile Anyone can donate to support Reduced Dues – even if you're using Reduced Dues yourself (almost like a DIY sliding scale...). If donations exceed the Reduced Dues need, excess will go towards camp infrastructure.

What About Shipping Burner Boxes and Stuff? Where’d That Go?

Good question! In years past Melons have signed up to ship things like our Burner Boxes and bikes while they registered for camp. Things are a little bit different in 2020 though and we’re still figuring that out. So stay tuned, mmkay?

Link to Register For Melon Camp

Check your email!