Earth Guardian
The Earth
Guardians' mission is to protect the playa from the ravages of human
activity. The Earth Guardians are active year-round. In addition to working
to spread the Leave
No Trace message to their fellow citizens of Black Rock City, members
of the Earth Guardians are involved in playa clean-up efforts as well
as recreational-use monitoring efforts in coordination with the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) and other Nevada environmental groups.
The Earth Guardian's dedication to the Leave
No Trace (LNT) philosophy was nationally recognized in 2001. As part
of the group of volunteers organized by the BLM working on restoration
projects in the Black Rock National Conservation area, they received the
2001 "Making a Difference" National Volunteer Award at a special ceremony
held May 23, 2001, at the offices of the Department of the Interior in
Washington, DC.
Leave No
Trace 2001. Photo: Karina O'Conner |
Earth Guardians started preparation for Burning Man 2001 in the spring by revisiting the BM 2000 site to check for traces bubbling up after winter rains. Other trips to the playa during the summer focused on trail restoration in the mountains around the playa and clean-up of previous Burning Man sites. All work and no play isn't exactly in the Burning Man tradition, so starting with their annual Leave No Trace "train the trainer" backpacking weekend, Earth Guardians got a chance to spend some fun time on the playa. Another highlight of the summer camping season was the weekend trip to the microplayas at the northern end of the Black Rock desert, ending with a visit to the local hot springs to wash off playa dust.
As the 2001 event approached, the senior Earth Guardians kicked into
high gear, planning the pavilion in center camp, compiling LNT messages
for theme camp coordinators, working with the Black Rock Gazette, recording
PSAs, and making cool Earth Guardians schwag. This year's schwag -- Matter
Out Of Place (MOOP) bags, Earth Guardian bandanas and laminates -- offered
volunteers a way to show their Earth Guardian pride.
At the event we were busy cleaning the trash fence, monitoring the hot
springs around the Black Rock Desert, answering questions at the information
desk, hosting performers at our stage, handing out MOOP bags to everyone
with an eye for trash, and talking with theme camps to help them understand
how they could reduce their traces. EG focused a lot on gathering information
on how camps can easily and beautifully handle wastewater (see our website
for more info).
A popular event this year was the nature walks. Despite the early morning
start time (6:30 am), there were waiting lists for the nature walks on
Thursday and Saturday. Due to the high demand, they'll be back next year
with more walks covering local flora, fauna, and cultural history!
Hitting the
trail. Photo: Karina O'Conner |
While Burning Man 2001 was only the Earth Guardians' third year
at the event, it was a transitional year. Many burners start planning
for the next year's Burning Man soon after the event to keep the flame
burning. While happy with the small amount of MOOP left this year,
EG reassessed priorities, volunteer efforts, and needs during the
event while the dust was still blowing. Future goals including building
stronger Leave No Trace understanding within the Burning Man organization,
bringing more to our volunteer community (including a new website
and a better Earth Guardian home base in center camp), and providing
better information to the larger community of participants at Burning
Man.
Big changes are coming for the annual Leave No Trace training efforts.
During the next year, several senior Earth Guardians and BM Senior Staff
will be taking the NOLS LNT Master Training. Once there are LNT Masters
in house, it will be possible to organize and stage a "train the trainer"
LNT class for Burning Man participants. The class is primarily focused
on training folks who can then train others (e.g. volunteer coordinators)
but the class is open to everyone.
Better communication and the idea that "comfort is key" are goals for
keeping Earth Guardian guests and volunteers happy next year. To this
end the Earth Guardian pavilion in center camp will be redesigned. Think
more information (displays and a library on the Black Rock Desert and
LNT techniques), more shade, a working LNT kitchen, and a lounge for Earth
Guardian volunteers -- a happy place. In contrast to most Burning Man
groups, Earth Guardians don't have a task but a goal to fulfill. Earth
Guardians do whatever creative minds and active bodies can think of to
get participants to Leave No Trace.
I think we're
here... Photo: Karina O'Conner |
In the past Earth Guardians tried to communicate and coordinate with
every person participating and coming to Burning Man through every communication
channel. In 2002 Earth Guardians will focus efforts on theme camps and
other Burning Man volunteer groups.
Earth Guardian Camp of the Day contest will be expanded, and include
some large-scale theme camps to be model Leave No Trace camps. (Email
earthguardians@burningman.com
if you're interested!) Earth Guardians hope to work closely with other
BM departments to tackle tricky issues such as managing burn platforms.
Folks were burning way too many nasty items (such as couches) this past
year that sent clouds of toxic chemicals toward unsuspecting campers.
Read the article
on toxic non-burnables for more info on what not to burn at Burning
Man.
Earth Guardians are also going to take advantage of our growing volunteer
base of participants who know a lot about the Black Rock Desert environment
and want to share their knowledge. EG are looking to grow a team of skilled
scientists to research and teach others about our environs. Using things
such as our Black Rock Desert nature walks -- both during the event and
off-season -- will draw interest in Leave No Trace. It may sound corny,
but once we all love and respect the desert, we will treat it better as
a community and Leave No Trace. 