Center Camp
Overview
Traditionally, Center Camp has been a central meeting and general use space. It acts as a community center and, to a degree, a main stage. It is one of the only camps completely sponsored by Apogaea and one of the largest pieces of Apogaea infrastructure. The goals of the Center Camp team are to make sure it is a center of creation, interactivity, and the arts--from visual, to theater, to music and beyond.
In the past, Center Camp has also been called "Centropolis." Some documents on this wiki still use this language when referring to the department and/or the physical presence.
Update from 2022
Center Camp in 2022 was a great experience. Apogaea bought a new tent, a beautiful investment after having the previous tent stolen. The Center Camp Cafe was set up in an adjoining carport. Christmas lights were used to decorate most of Center Camp. The structure hosted many workshops including the Ms(cellaneous) Apogaea Pageant, and lots of water, tea, and coffee was served. DPW reported that the tent was much easier and faster to erect. For a particularly hot event, Center Camp provided much needed shade. It was suggested that next year, Center Camp invest in new chairs and tables, as previous years' playa tech tables and chairs were discarded due to years of wear and tear. A new coffee maker was purchased due to one being broken. A budget for chairs, tables, and a red carpet was suggested and approved by the board for 2023. Angela (Japangela) Andersen was the lead for Center Camp. Center Camp also had three Ignition Positions: Cafe Lead, Performance Lead, and Decor Lead. These positions were continued in 2023.
Infrastructure
Center Camp Tent
Center Camp is primarily made up of a 40 ft. x 80' ft. pole tent. The tent has 5 main support poles and 40 auxiliary poles, each with a diameter of approximately 4-5 inches.. Note that this is not a frame tent, meaning that there is no place to secure hanging items to safely. Four walls are available for the tent, but in general are not used. If the walls are to be used, all four must be up or the entire structure becomes susceptible to pressure changes in the wind.
The Dome of Perpetual Adornment
There are not a lot of specific details recorded about this dome. It was last used in 2010 and does not have a cover. Options for dome covers and ways to improve the structure are available in the 2010 Center Camp afterburn report. None of these were followed up on, as the new tent was acquired before the need arose.
History
2012
Liaison:
Functional Leads:
Center Camp Infrastructure
Related Departments:
Cafe (Tentative)
Team
Liaison: Matt Stringer
Center Camp: Amelia Graycen
Orphan Performance: Holly G.
Overview
The workload for the Center Camp was deemed to be too great and the Orphan Performance lead was created to ensure quality performance. An effort was made to centralize services. The main infrastructure consisted of the 40x80 tent. The Whomp Truck stage had been dismantled, prompting the use of an alternative.
Additional Resources
2012 Kickstarter: Kickstarter
2012 Build Blog: http://centercampsecrets.blogspot.com/
2011
Team
Center Camp: Dakota Lyons
Center Camp: Jennifer Whitesell
Overview
The main infrastructure consisted of the 40x80 tent. A stage was borrowed from the Whomp truck and a budget of $500 was awarded, most of which allegedly went unused, as it came too close to the time of the event.
Gallery
2010
Team
Center Camp: Aaron 'Dr. Scotch' Kshvsky
Center Camp: Jules Pellerin
Center Camp: Jethro Grant
Overview
The last year Apogaea was held at Happy Ass Ranch, an attempt was mad to build out Center Camp using a dome--The Dome of Perpetual Adornment. (This may be the dome still listed on the Center Camp inventory.)
Supposedly, this is the year that the mission of Center Camp, or as it was called in 2010: "Centropolis," was first set forth definitively. According to the 2010 Afterburn report, that mission was to "to create an open venue for performances and workshops, [with an] emphasis on performances." There were efforts to take on more than this scope--including the building of a "village" around Center Camp with a theme camp style setting. Those efforts seem to have failed.
A fundraiser was supposedly held, raising approximately $700. There was also supposedly coffee served.
Summary of 2010 Takeaways
There were concerns that camps didn't want to plan events at Center Camp until they better knew what other camps were doing. A suggested remedy was a database like the one used to manage volunteer signup.
Shelter or shade should continue to be provided.
New people were shy about using the space, even though it was communal in nature.
There was a lack of events planned, even though the capacity existed. Earlier and better recruitment efforts were suggested.
There was not enough knowledge or bandwidth around sound equipment. It was suggested that a volunteer position be created to mange this equipment and coordinate participants beforehand. Managing the sound system isn't something that can be left up to shift volunteers, as they may lack the experience.
Milkman suggested the purchase a 100 foot parachute to cover the dome, which Aaron generally agreed with, but provides more insight on in his report. An alternative proposal of Aaron's was to set up the dome year-round and constantly add to it.
The original scope was designed around the idea of building a Center Camp village--hence, Centropolis. Aaron relayed that the basic scope of should have stayed limited to a communal performance and workshop space. DPW and others seem to have echoed this sentiment, saying that the theme camp aspect should been diverged or dropped.
Additional Resources
A very detailed 2010 Afterburn report was filed by Aaron and exists here: Afterburn 2010: Center Camp
The 2010 fundraiser: Colorado Burning
Centropolis announcement: Tribe
2009
Team
Center Camp: Charles Wrona?
Overview
In 2009 the board proposed to give Center Camp Cafe to Charles. The Carnival Cafe, his theme camp, was already fulfilling the function and it was seen as a good fit. The Carnival Cafe had already apparently received an art grant, which the board increased by another $200. This was seen as a compromise, allowing the community to have coffee available at Apogaea while the organization didn't technically fund food or alcohol.
It was asked that the hours be expanded past the originally proposed 3:00am - 6:00am time-frame. Additionally, in order to avoid licensing issues and the slippery slope of commercialization, coffee was required to be given freely. The crew was allowed to collect gifts, but not cash tips.
A microphone was arranged, and the need for an events coordination lead was recognized.
Description
More tricks than a clowns pocket. An Oasis by day with free espresso and coffee. Also will be carnival games in the day and it will then explode into a most unusual carnival by night where you just may laugh until you cry! Two DJs from the East Coast being flown in and MANY local DJs and live artists.
Additional Resources
April 12, 2009 Meeting
April 26, 2009 Meeting
2008
Overview
Center Camp and Info Booth were jointly located. There was talk about hosting them in the Happy Ass Ranch greenhouse, if it was not used for planting.
In 2008 the board officially voted to eliminate the term "Main Stage" and performance was handled by the community teams that volunteered stage services.
Additional Resources
April 13, 2008 Meeting
March 9, 2008 Meeting
A post mentioning the need for Info Booth/Center Camp volunteers: Colorado Burning