Purpose #
As a community event, we are dedicated to creating an environment that is safe and respectful for every human who is in any way involved with or exposed to Burrow. This policy outlines Burrow expectations for participant behavior as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior.
Guiding Principles #
Be excellent to each other. #
This is a friends and family event. Most people know everyone within a degree or two of connection. As such, assume the best of intentions, and if something’s bothering you or you’re not having a great time, we wholeheartedly encourage being kind to each other and working things out by communicating directly. If you can’t do that, reach out to an SC, planner, Guardian of Humanity, or other kind soul to help you out. But in general, be excellent to each other and we’ll all have an excellent time! Bear in mind that if someone is demonstrating unacceptable behavior you don’t need to feel inclined to communicate directly with them, and you can follow our guidelines around what to do about unacceptable behavior.
Enthusiastic consent! #
“Yes” means “yes,” and everything else means “no.” #
There are lots of cues, verbal and nonverbal, that indicate someone is really not into what’s happening, such as staying quiet or needing to be convinced. Rather than relying on your interpretation of another person’s words and body language, resolve to get willful, explicit consent.
Pay attention to your partner(s) and keep checking in. Make sure their verbal and physical cues match. Consent should be mutual and continuous.
A non-sober person cannot give consent. #
Any kind of consent from someone who is not sober is NOT consent. Some people enjoy it, but you would have to know the person and their sexual intentions incredibly well to make that call.
This may seem strict and impractical, but people can be seriously hurt. It’s also the law. Better to abstain than to cause lasting damage.
If you want to get it on with someone whom you just met or don’t know well, not everyone is as alert or as sober as they may appear, so ask about their sobriety before engaging. Try to interact with each other when you’re both sober and get on the same page about how you want to be treated when either of you are not sober. That said, even if a sober person gives consent for their future, non-sober self, that’s still not a free pass.
Guardians of Humanity #
There will be guardians of humanity at the event, and possibly some who will not be attending but are available for assistance. Contact any/all of these people if you experience or perceive anything that challenges a safe and respectful environment at Burrow.
Note: When contacting anyone in this group about an incident, please indicate if there are any individuals on the committee whose involvement you’re not comfortable with. They will be excluded from any discussion of the incident.
- These people have personal and professional experience handling harassment and discrimination.
- The lead event organizers aren’t in this group in order to minimize conflicts of interest and to give the guardians the ability to give their undivided attention.
- These people strive to be allies to all, and their identities collectively represent multiple diverse intersections.
Guardians of Humanity for 2026 will be announced closer to the event.
Unacceptable Behavior #
- Harassment of any kind
- Physical contact without consent
- Abusive or derogatory comments
- Intimidation
- Discrimination
- Persistent, unwelcome attention
- Stalking
- Following
- Photography or recording of people without their consent
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior #
Anyone violating these rules – in-person or online; before, during, or after the event; whether by the letter or by the spirit of the rules – may be disciplined or expelled from the event without warning or refund. Expelled individuals will be required to leave the event as soon as it is reasonably safe for them to do so. In the meantime, they may be monitored by someone designated by event staff.
“Intent is not impact”. People can have positive intentions and still have a real, harmful impact on others. As such, whether or not the behavior was deliberate will have little to no bearing on how we address the situation.
Aim to understand rather than defend and explain. If anyone tells you that you are behaving unacceptably, try to understand what they are saying, regardless of what you think of their experience or knowledge of the situation.
What to Do About Unacceptable Behavior #
Please communicate any questionable behavior to the Guardians Of Humanity or a Site Coordinator (event staff wearing orange vests) as soon as possible, whether you are subjected to it or witness it or simply have concerns. They will try to help you directly and manage the situation as necessary. We also have basic first aid on-site, and a Site Coordinator or other sober, responsible individual can drive you to the closest hospital.
If you feel comfortable doing so, we encourage you to directly try and help a situation. It’s an incredibly powerful thing to help another human, for both you and the humans you help. We are all part of the same community. It’s a good thing to check in on each other and ask if a person is feeling okay, whether or not you know them personally. It’s a potential red-flag if someone responds about another person’s well-being; try to get a clear response from each person about their own well-being.
If you want to report an incident after the event, please contact the Guardians Of Humanity.
External Resources #
- Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) www.rainn.org
- San Francisco Sex Information (SFSI) Hotline www.sfsi.org (415) 989-SFSI (7374)
- National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) endsexualviolence.org
- Rape Treatment Center www.911rape.org
Have questions?! Please ask :) questions@burrowcampout.com
What’s In This Doc #
- Camping Things: Water, Bears, and Snakes
- Event - Food and Leave No Trace
- Driving - CARPOOL list
- Suggested Packing List
Basic Info #
- Address and driving directions will be sent by email one week prior to the event. The campout is held in El Dorado National Forest (4 hour drive from SF w/no traffic)
- Arrive anytime on 6/26/26 (but we’ll be there as early as 6/24, please join us if you wish to help out with setup and hang out!)
- Exit by 6/28/26 5pm-ish.
- This year we are providing food Saturday early evening, along with some snacks during both nights. More details are in Food & Activities
- There is no cell service within an hour of the campsite. Download all maps offline.
Camping Things: Water, Bears, and Snakes #
We’re camping in bear country!
Everything that smells like food must be stored in one of six bear lockers when not in use. Toothpaste, sunscreen and soap smells like food to a bear. Don’t keep food in your tent or your car.
- We have limited bear lockers. Pack your food bags/coolers effectively, only bring the food you actually need and consider sharing space!
- Please eat the group meals if you are able to - they help us save bear box space!
Bring your own water and/or a water purification solution. 1.5 gallons per person, per day is a recommendation. There is no potable water at the campsite, but the river is easily accessible for purification. There are porta-potties in one campground, and a pit toilet in the other.
In past years we’ve seen rattlesnakes. They’re generally not aggressive; if you see one - don’t get near it or mess with it. Two tips:
- If you’re walking to the watering hole wear closed toed shoes
- Be aware when stepping over logs and around rocks
Event #
Cooking & Fires #
Please only cook on the picnic tables near the fire pit and grill at either campsite. Do not use a portable stove anywhere outside of these areas! Be it a large propane stove or a portable isobutane stove such as a Jetboil. Please help us in preventing forest fires!
NOTE: Depending on fire orders and weather conditions that are determined closer to the event date, you may need a campfire permit to operate and use a portable stove. [TBD FOR 2026]
Glass containers: No glass containers near the watering hole/rocks. We do not want to pollute the pristine wilderness with our trash. Feel free to bring cans to the river.
Smoking #
Only smoke over a fire pit or grill at one of the campsites. Be mindful of others (regardless of what you’re smoking), and let’s all do our best to get along - smokers and non-smokers alike. Most importantly, do not smoke anywhere where ash can start a fire.
Bring food #
THIS YEAR WE’RE PROVIDING FOOD ON SAT EARLY EVENING (meat and vegetarian) with a few late night surprises. For your own cooking, the campsites have grills. If you have significant dietary restrictions, please plan to bring your own sustenance for the entire weekend.
- In previous years, we have almost run out of bear locker space so keep it as compact as possible. If you want to share an ice-chest with someone; ping the group!
Leave no trace - Let’s leave the forest like we found it 😊 #
All trash and compostables must go in the trash cans or bags provided. Try not to bring feathers, glitter, confetti, silly string, fabrics that will shed (including sequins), that we can’t 100% clean up.
- Please help out by packing out a bag of trash if you can.
- Smoke and ash only over one of the fire pits (or grill). No fires or sparks of any kind allowed outside of the fire pit; portable propane grills should only be used at the picnic tables near the grilling area.
We cannot leave bags of trash outside at any point, as bears will definitely get into it (and did so last year). If you see a bag of trash outside, please store it in your vehicle and find a planner so we can put it in the truck during the event.
Bring local firewood (optional) #
Keep the fire pits going longer by bringing some wood from nearby towns like Auburn or Forest Hill, to prevent spreading disease.
Clothing #
Bring a bathing suit (consider water shoes), warm clothes for evenings, and sturdy shoes. The campsite is at over 4000 ft elevation, fully shaded, near a few potential swimming holes (conditions permitting), and a short drive to a reservoir. In many places, the ground is uneven and full of obstacles.
Driving #
A version of this document with an address and driving directions will be sent by email closer to the date. We recommend that you download the directions for offline viewing or print them - you will lose service.
Please carpool #
We have limited parking. Use the rideboard to group up. Contact organizers if you need help.
Drive Carefully #
The road to the campsite is remote, very winding, and eroded away in places. Try to arrive in the daylight to make getting in and situated much easier. In all cases, take it easy. Bring a headlamp and have it accessible especially if you’ll arrive at night. Print the directions or save them to your phone. There is no cell service and some roads are closed.
Again, there is no cell service #
Be aware that some roads in the area are blocked by landslides. Follow the provided directions.
Once you’re at camp, the nearest stores are about an hour out. We recommend filling your gas tanks at the last town on the way out.
Packing List #
What you bring is up to you, but we recommend the following at the minimum! Remember, you’re camping, and you’re coming to a party, so we recommend the following at the minimum:
Sleeping Supplies #
Seriously don’t sleep on these items; the camping area is far from the stage and generally quiet, but you’ll appreciate the extra sleep you’ll get for listening.
- Eye Mask
- Soft Ear Plugs (Mack’s are the best, get the slim fit or the regular depending on size of your ears)
Camping Supplies #
- Tent
- Sleeping pad (bring something comfier than a backpacking setup)
- Sleeping bag
- Blankets
- Pillow
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Chair(s)
Food “Stuff” #
- Food (we have two meals, you’re on your own after that)
- Container/bag for food (to put inside bear lockers)
- Bear container [optional]
- Reusable plate/bowl/cup/utensil (we will have hot tea, cocktails, various tastings, and things that are lovely to drink and eat — bring something to enjoy them on! A good minimum would be a spork, cup, and bowl)
- Water (potable)
Personal Supplies #
- Mosquito repellent!!! (they love to join the party around sunset)
- Earplugs (for music if you want, but it’s usually not too loud)
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Face wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Layers (warm during day, usually a little chilly at night. Averages for June are 80s high and 50s low. Especially on Saturday night if you’re hanging out by the stage, make sure you’re super toasty if you’re sitting and chilling.)
- Swimsuit
- Float for swimming hole (it’s typically too cold to stay in for too long, so if you want to stay in the water it’s a good idea. most people just jump in from time to time)
- Closed toed shoes
- Water shoes for swimming hole
Fun #
Extra blankets/pillows/mats/chairs (i.e. ‘floof’)
- We will not have enough chairs for everyone so please consider bringing one.
- Bring your own floof! Extra pillows and blankets are great for cuddling and hanging out by the music. There will be mats, but you should find ways to prop yourself up and make yourself more comfortable.
- Think outside the box: bring blow up couches, plastic pools with blankets in them, and yoga mats to put on the ground.
- Battery powered Lights
- At night parts of the forest are dark. If you have LED wearables or fun lights bring them!
- Games/books/etc
Registration & Volunteering
Step of 4
1. Read Our Policies
Before proceeding, please review our Critical Information for Attendees guide and agree to our Humanity policy. Attendees must sign a liability release upon arrival.
Humanity Policy
Critical Information
2. Attendee Information
Who is coming with you? All adults are required to volunteer and pay.
Burrow ticketing is sliding scale — please pay what you can. Burrow is operated entirely by volunteers and doesn't generate any profit. The tiers below are simply suggested donations. Tickets are non-refundable.
We don't want the cost of a ticket to be a limiting factor for someone to attend Burrow. If you would struggle to pay for another ticketing tier, please choose Community Support.
3. Volunteer Selection
Every adult is required to select exactly one Green shift and one Blue shift.
Role Descriptions
What is a Site Coordinator?
Site Coordinators are the small town sheriffs of Burrow, strolling the mean streets of the party while solving (usually minor) problems. Site coordinators perform tasks like finding lost tiki mugs, helping people set up tents, or locating an organizer when the generator runs out of gas. As SC, you're expected to be a responsible, mostly sober individual during your shift (we have a separate truly sober driver who can be woken up for serious emergencies). Since this is a small campout, you do not need to have attended before to be an SC - we will provide you with the information you need. The only skill you need is being helpful!
For more details, see our SC guide here .
What is a Gate Attendant?
You will be checking tickets, giving info, directing parking, and welcoming folks!
For more details: Gate Attendant Instructions
What is a Newbie Ambassador?
You will welcome Burrow Virgins at the Gate and escort them around the campsite, filling them in on the lore and love of all things Burrow. Make newbies feel as welcome as possible at Burrow.
What is a Kitchen Assistant?
You will be helping our kitchen master make early dinner on Saturday or late night snacks on Friday or Saturday night!
What is a Tea Tent Specialist?
You will be keeping heated water available for making tea and possibly assembling and brewing tea for folks wandering in. Socializing is a nice plus too but not required.
For more details: Tea Tent Instructions
What is the Teardown Role?
Everyone is expected to help cleanup the site on Sunday before they leave. To make things as efficient as possible, Teardown volunteers will sign up for a cleanup zone (such as "Art" or "Music & Lights") ahead of time. Your cleanup lead will provide you with information on Saturday about how to teardown your zone, so you can get started as soon as you wake up Sunday. Aside from the official zone signups, we also need a good number of volunteers to stay until the very end to ensure we've left no trace. Usually we're all out of the site by 4pm or so. More hands means even earlier!
4. Payment & Checkout
Complete your payment before submitting this registration.
Registration Breakdown
Do NOT use purchase protection — just make the payment as you would to any friend (PayPal calls this "Friends & Family")
Make sure your payment note says:
Processing registration...
Registration Successful! 🎉
Thank you for registering. Your volunteer preferences have been submitted.
Your payment is currently pending admin verification.
See you in the woods!