First time, huh?
Welcome! We’re excited you’re here and we hope to meet you at Celtic Burn. One of the key principles that guides our event is radical inclusion, which means that anyone may be a part of Celtic Burn. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.
If you have yet to get a chance to read the ten principles that guide burning man events, please take a moment to do so.
In addition to these principles the 11th principle is consent, which we take seriously. There will be consent workshops at the burn which we would highly encourage new and old burners alike to attend.
What happens at a burn?
Burns are co-created events/communities. Participants make up the experience by bringing their dreams, ideas, skills, art, workshops, performances and energies to make the event what it is. It is an opportunity to connect with others and to be accepted as you are. To fully express yourself and discover new sides of who you are. It is an opportunity to engage playfully, create, learn, reflect and to simply be.
Burns are whatever we shape them to be as a community and for all kinds of humans and you will find all kinds of ways to engage with the burn. We are a welcoming bunch and you are encouraged to participate however it feels right for you. As a participant you also play a part: there are no spectators at a burn!
What will be provided?
Camping space. Communal spaces such as warm yurts with wood-burning stoves. Communal kitchen space. Water. Outdoor composting toilets. Hot tub and sauna. *Nothing is sold or bought at a burn, so be prepared to bring everything you need for the week.
Feeling apprehensive about camping? How To Camp In Scotland In April And Stay Warm
Can children come to Celtic Burn?
Yes, Celtic Burn is open to all ages! Participants under 18 must be registered alongside a legal guardian and will receive their membership for free.
Parents of under-18s are encouraged to be familiar with our Safeguarding Policy, which is currently work in progress, and you are invited to get involved in co-creating it! We are planning to take the safeguarding policy of an established regional burn and adapt it. Some areas, performances, and workshops will be strictly adult-only. These will be signposted - it is very important that you and your children respect these boundaries. Parents are responsible for supervising their children. Responsible teenagers can explore unsupervised with their parents' permission, but should be checked in with regularly. Younger children should be supervised at all times by an adult. An older child cannot supervise younger children in place of an adult.
What do I need to bring?
Bring anything you’d bring for a normal camping trip for a week, sans what you might need for one meal a day if you sign up for the kitchen membership.
Things you might want to consider packing include but are not limited to:
- Tent or van to sleep in
- Sleeping bag/sleeping mat/duvet/pillow (pro-tip, a hot water bottle can be great for especially cold nights)
- Warm layers/hat/jacket/scarf/gloves (it is April in Scotland)
- Rain gear and perhaps boots/wellies (it is April in Scotland)
- Clothes that help you feel fully you!
- Cup/bowl/plate/utensils
- Snacks/meals (depending on whether you're joining in the communal kitchen plan)
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Towel/shampoo/ body wash/conditioner
- Headlamp
- Earplugs
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen/sunglasses
- Garbage bag/hand sanitizer
Remember, a principle of burns is radical self-reliance, so don’t rely on the above list, but we hope it helps you have a bit more of an idea of what to expect.
*Additionally, another burn principle is gifting, and burners look out for each other, so if you get in a pickle, people will help you out.
***Yet two other principles are decommodification and leave no trace, so when preparing for a burn, remember that you will need to take everything you brought out with you and that we encourage creating over buying.
What if I get overwhelmed or find an experience at the burn difficult?
We have a cosy, calm welfare space at the burn where anyone is welcome to go when needed. This is a space with kind volunteers who will await you and hold space for you. Stop in to say hi and have a regulating cup of tea, or just lie down in silence under a blanket.
How is Celtic Burn different from other regional burns?
Celtic Burn is a small regional burn with 130 memberships currently. The next one will be the fourth-ever Celtic Burn in the history of mankind!
As described above, Celtic burn is a decentralised burn with a do-ocracy model. There is no hierarchical model of organisers with leadership roles.
A unique feature of Celtic Burn that some participants have appreciated in the past is our “morning meetings”; these have typically been optional meetings at ~11am burner time, where people can announce different experiences that they plan to run/host. We create a whiteboard of this info for the day and it’s a space to connect at the beginning of the day.
All of that said, every year of a burn is different and one year may look totally different to the next!