APOGAEA

WHAT

Apogaea is a collaborative outdoor arts and music festival held in beautiful mountains of Colorado. Here you will find an experiential forum where our ever-expanding community practices freedom of expression in an environment of participation, sharing, and creativity. We invite you to join us in a place where our spirits are as high as the mountains and our minds are as wide open as the plains.

In the spirit of the Burning Man event, Apogaea establishes a temporary autonomous zone where radical self-expression, inclusiveness, and self-reliance are the hallmarks of its participants. Apogaea is your opportunity to create and contribute, experience and evolve, share and accept, work and play.

For those who may not make it to Black Rock City this year, consider this your Burning Man family reunion. For those who haven’t yet made the journey to Burning Man, this is your opportunity to experience the fully participatory atmosphere of a No Spectators, Leave No Trace event. You can read more about these terms further down on this page.

WHERE

Apogaea 2010 will once again be at Happy Ass Ranch in Lake George, CO. We are exploring land opportunities for future years so please let us know if you find anything that meets our requirements.

WHEN

The event spans four days, beginning at noon on Thursday and ends at dusk on Sunday. The dates the next event are June 10-13 of 2010.

WHO

What sort of person would enjoy an event like this?
The answer: anyone who is ready to dive in and help make Apogaea a great time for everyone. The only entertainment you will find at this event is what you and your fellow participants create. Although you will encounter people from many walks of life at this event, they all have a few things in common: an open mind, a desire to indulge their creative side, an appreciation for art in all its forms, and a willingness to give of themselves. Let go of any preconceptions you may hold. If you can be accepting and respectful of those around you, you belong in this community.

ART

Apogaea is all about some Art and Theme Camps. Go to the Art, Camps & Things page to see more.

VOLUNTEER

Apogaea is an effort made by the community for the community; everyone involved purchases a ticket in order to support the event and for the privilege of attending. With this in mind, please join us as a volunteer to participate in making this an amazing event. Go to our volunteer pages now to sign up for a short workshift ahead of time. If that isn’t convenient, please stop by the Information Booth and sign up during the event. Volunteerism is what makes this event possible, and it is also one of the most fun and rewarding ways to participate.

PARKING

When you arrive at the event, greeters will welcome you and let you know where you may park and camp. There will be very limited car camping spaces available and you should register your car camping needs ahead of time. If possible, please plan on carpooling and camping away from your car. If you are involved with a registered theme camp, make sure you let the greeters know so they can direct you to your area. Once you park your car, you should not move it for the duration of the event. You may see a few staff cars or designated shuttle cars moving around during the event, but rest assured they have been pre-approved to do so.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Leave No Trace means just what it says. If someone where to walk through the area you had camped in or walked through, they wouldn’t be able to tell that you had ever been there.

It means you don’t leave a cigarette butt, or an apple core, or sunflower seed shells, or used coffee grounds, or poo, or used toilet paper, or anything at all. It also means you fill in all holes you create.

Use a film canister or mint tin for cigarette butts. Spread your wet food waste out on a drying rack before you bag it. Do whatever it takes, but…

Leave No Trace!

NO SPECTATORS

Anyone who knows anything about the Burning Man festival has probably heard this phrase, but what does “No Spectators” really mean? The answer begins with an explanation of what it doesn’t mean. It does not mean there will be “spectator spies” lurking throughout the event judging people for adequate levels of Participation. It certainly does not mean you shouldn’t go watch all the great bands or experience all the wonderful interactive art displays.

Everyone knows that there can be no meaningful artistic effort without spectators to enjoy those efforts. No Spectators is simply a frame of mind – an understanding that you will not come to this event with the sole intent of being entertained and provided for by others. You should arrive at the gates ready to become involved in our temporary community, to help enhance the overall experience for everyone. You should also come with a certain level of trust that those around you also hold these values.

Many people choose to wear costumes as part of their effort, but don’t assume that the quiet guy standing off to the side in a t-shirt and jeans is nothing more than a Spectator. He may have just finished building that amazing piece of art nearby. Go talk to him and find out! If it turns out that he is indeed new to this philosophy, your gentle example and encouragement might just change his whole outlook.

OVERVIEW OF RULES

Although we strive for freedom of expression, there must remain a few rules in order to maintain the safety of the participants and the integrity of the environment. Please study the How To Prepare section of this website carefully before attending the event. Here is a brief overview of those rules:

• Bring enough food, water, shelter, and common sense to keep yourself happy and healthy for the duration of your stay.
• Again, this is a Leave No Trace event. Pack out everything you bring in, including cigarette butts, gum wrappers, pistachio shells, apple cores….. everything.
• The following are prohibited, with no exceptions: glass, pets, private campfires, fireworks, explosives, charcoal grills, tiki torches, candles, oil lanterns, flares, and weapons of any kind.
• There is absolutely no vending of any kind permitted at the event.
• All installations/camps must arrange for their own power.
• Noise restrictions for generators and music will be enforced.
• Although alcohol is permitted, drunken behavior and underage drinking are not. Please drink responsibly. Please bring a photo ID. Everyone’s ID will be checked at the gate. Excessive quantities of alcohol may be refused at the gate.
• Apogaea supports county, state, and federal laws. This means you should comport yourself, with regard to these laws, as you would in any municipality.
• Any use of open flame must be pre-approved and must follow all the requirements outlined in the Rules section. Register your fire art for pre-approval.
• Burn barrels may not be moved and the wood provided is only for Apogaea burn barrels. Bring your own wood and 5 gallons of water for each approved burn barrel in your camp.
• If fire performance is permitted (pending fire ban status) it must be conducted within the designated fire performance area ONLY.

WEATHER

The site has been traditionally at approximately 9000 feet elevation. Daytime highs can range from the 50s to the 80s, depending on whether we get an afternoon thunderstorm. Evening temperatures can range from the 30s to the 50s. Please bring plenty of warm clothes, hats, and gloves for your nighttime wanderings, and raingear in the event of a storm.

KIDS

Apogaea is an all-ages event. Those under 18 must be accompanied by their legal guardian. The presence of children creates a wonderful atmosphere at the event, and you are more than welcomed to bring them along. However, please be prepared for the possibility of encountering adult-oriented situations. It is expected that parents should be in control of their children and responsible for their behavior at all times. Ultimately, the health and safety of your child is your responsibility. As long as you are prepared to keep your children under constant supervision, the event can be a great experience for them. Check out the Art & Camps page for information about a possible Kidz Kamp theme camp.

PREPARATION/SAFETY

Please study the Preparation section of the website carefully before attending the event. Here is an overview of what can be found in that section:

Self-reliance is a must at Apogaea. The only amenity that will be provided is portable toilets. You must bring everything else you need to survive the weekend in the outdoors.

Although we will have medical staff on duty, we don’t guarantee that they will have your special medications on hand. Please bring any allergy, asthma, or other special medications that you may need. The nearest hospital is 50 miles away.

You must bring all the water you will need for the duration of the event. A guideline for water is 1.5 gallons per person per day for drinking, bathing and cooking; we suggest more than that if you want to defend yourself from crazed watergun-toting klownz.

You must also bring all the food you will need for the duration of the event. Consult the Preparation section for suggestions on foods that offer minimal packaging, waste, and preparation effort.

The site has a mix of forest and meadow. It’s possible that you could find yourself camping in an area without trees. Please plan accordingly.

Don’t forget essentials such as sunscreen, insect repellant, flashlights, warm clothes, trashbags, raingear, portable ashtray, medications, and so forth. The Preparation section includes a gear checklist to help you prepare. If, despite your best efforts, you discover that you have forgotten something, ask your neighbor. That’s what community is all about!

Rangers will be on duty throughout the event. These are trained volunteers who are there to act as non-confrontational community mediators and safety officers. By encouraging and facilitating communication, the Rangers promote awareness of potential hazards, from sunstroke to tent fires. Look for the folks with tan Ranger shirts if you have a question or need help with anything.

Please study the Preparation section for more guidelines on how to prepare for a safe, comfortable weekend.

The Survival Guide is a downloadable PDF file containing all the information in the Preparation and Rules sections, along with directions to get you to the site. If you do not get one with an advance-purchase ticket, please print yourself a copy before heading out to the event.