Theme Camps

A loungey theme camp set up with lots of rugs, pillows, and couches

Image credit: Kasai Photography

What is a Theme Camp?

Theme Camps are an essential part of the heart and soul of Kiwiburn. They are social meeting places where anything can happen, and often does.

Featuring art and activities, Theme Camps are interactive in nature. They are a direct expression of the principles of inclusion, communal effort, participation and gifting.   

A Theme Camp is a pocket of reality created by a group of humans who get together to do something interesting. Theme Camps create an ambience, a visual presence, provide a communal space, or create and host art and activities for Kiwiburn participants. 

Registrations
Sound camps
Set up guide
2025 Theme Camps

THEME CAMP CRITERIA

To qualify as a registered Theme Camp, you’ll need to:

  • Run at least 3 interactive events, which will be featured in the Kiwiburn Event Guide.
  • Contribute to the 10 Guiding Principles of Burning Man.
  • Agree to our Theme Camp Setup Guide.
  • Have an open and interactive space for participants.
  • Offer distinctive art, events, or a theme.

Some theme ideas: Chill Space, Music Space, Health & Wellness, Food & Drink Space, Workshop Space, Games.

THEME CAMP BENEFITS

By gifting the presence of a Theme Camp to the community, your team:

  • Will have your Events and Camp description featured in the Event Guide, distributed to every participant on entry.
  • Will have an allocated Theme Camp placement on site, in line with your space needs, for your camp to be set up for the week. We will also work hard to try to accomodate any other placement requests.
  • If you are planning to build a Theme Camp and don’t register your intention, we cannot guarantee that space will be available for you to build your camp.
  • The general camping area is a fire free zone.
  • Could be eligible for Reserve and Early Entry tickets.

Register your Theme Camp

To access these benefits, Theme Camps need to be registered with Kiwiburn and submit some paperwork.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

  1. Fill out the Theme Camp Registration Form (Heads up – the form is slightly longer this year and will take around 30 minutes to complete. We recommend downloading a PDF version of the questions to prepare first)
  2. Agree to our Theme Camp Setup Guide
  3. Submit your Health and Safety Plan 
  4. Register at least 3 events 
  5. Have no MOOP, sound, or safety violations on record from previous events.

KEY DATES FOR KIWIBURN 2025

Registration

  • 7 July Theme Camp Registration opens
  • 4 August Theme Camp Registration closes if you ARE applying for Theme Camp Reserve Tickets
  • 18 August Theme Camp Registration closes if you DON’T need Reserve Tickets

Theme Camp Reserve Tickets

  • 7 July Request for Theme Camp Reserve tickets open in Theme Camp registration form
  • 4 August Requests for Theme Camp Reserve Tickets close
  • 18 August Theme Camp Reserve Ticket numbers advised & allocated in the Kiwiburn Portal
  • 23 November Theme Camp Reserve Tickets allocated to Burner Profiles
  • 18 December Burner Profiles to complete purchase of Theme Camp Reserve Tickets

    General Ticket Sales

    • 24 November General sale tickets released
    • 20 January Ticket resales (STEP) close at 8am

    Health & Safety

    • 6 December Health & Safety plan submissions close

    Sound Policy

    • November Sound Policy updated
    • December Sound Leads online meeting

    Early Entry

    • 23 November EE passes allocated to Theme Camps (registration in Theme Camp application)

    Event Guide

    • 20 December Event Guide submissions close

    THEME CAMP RESERVE TICKETS

    Theme Camps that meet all these criteria can apply for a set number of Reserve tickets.

    Allocated tickets applications will close on 24 September and numbers will be advised to Theme Camps on 1 October. These tickets must have burner names submitted against them by 15 October. They will then be allocated on 23 November for you to purchase by 18 December. 

    To be considered for Reserve tickets, your Theme Camp must have a good history at Kiwiburn or other burn events, and no MOOP, sound or safety violations from previous events.  You will also need to run a minimum of 3 events.

     

    EARLY ENTRY

    Theme Camps can also apply for Early Entry passes, of which there are a limited number available for key team members who qualify to come to site early and build your structure.

    You can apply for early entry in your Theme Camp registration. To be eligible to apply, Theme Camps must be registered by 7 July.

    We will confirm Early Entry passes in November and you’ll need to provide to us the names of those on site early.

    Early Entry tickets are very limited due to our Resource Consent requirements and are strictly enforced.

     

    EARLY ENTRY CRITERIA

    Early entry is limited by our Resource Consent, it provides access to Theme Camps where they need to set up Structures, Sound Systems, Art, or complicated Infrastructure prior to the event commencing.

    Priority is given to key members of your team and access may be granted up to 3 days prior to the event commencing.

    Please let us know when you register if you need early entry, what you plan on doing and how many days and people are needed.  Health & Safety during this period is critical as it is a working site.

     

    THEME CAMP SETUP GUIDE

    Can I serve alcoholic beverages? What can I burn at my Theme Camp? Where can I dump my rubbish? Where can I plug in Theme Camp Sound System?

    For the answer to all of these great questions, see our handy-dandy Theme Camp Setup Guide.

     

    THEME CAMP WOF

    For the safety of everyone on site (and our Resource Consent to run Kiwiburn in years to come!), we run a Theme Camp WOF system (previously Guidelines) that each Theme Camp will be evaluated on.

    Passing this WOF is crucial to having your Theme Camp being allowed to return the following year.

    More info on the WOF is to come – this will be distributed directly to Theme Camps. When it arrives, please take the time to familiarise yourself and your Theme Camp members with it.

     

    SOUND POLICY

    What happens if I want to play it LOUDER? Where can I set up our sound system? Can I throw a sunrise psy-trance party in the forest? Who cares if our music is a little loud? What else should I know?

    Luckily for you, we have the answers right here in our Sound Policy. 

    HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN GUIDE

    Theme Camp Health and Safety Guides are live now in the portal! Log in to your account on the Kiwiburn Portal to fill this in by 6 December For any questions, please contact your Theme Camp Coordination Team.

     

    Have we missed something? Please get in touch with the Theme Camp coordinator!

    Image credit: Kasai Photography

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