Rebel Camp History
Rebel Camp was established in 2015 by its founding mayor Craig “Foo” Young, who was later succeeded by Diana “Mama Bear” Wachtel. Today, the camp is led by its current mayor, Eric “Odie” Roth.
Rebel Camp began as a medical clinic in the 4:30 sector of Burning Man, originally operating as part of the organization’s infrastructure and benefiting from resources like power, water, and sanitation. When the 4:30 clinic was dissolved and its staff reassigned to other stations, Rebel Camp was left without a formal home. Since 2022, however, Rebel Camp has continued to thrive in the 4:30 sector as an emergency services support camp.
Our members are doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, mental health providers, and communications and logistics staff—frontline professionals who serve their communities year-round and bring that same dedication to Black Rock City. They show up with a servant’s heart, going above and beyond to care for others both at home and on the playa.
When they are off-shift, Rebel Camp provides them with a safe place to rest, nourishing meals to feed them, a supportive community to lean on, and opportunities to experience the joy of Burning Man—whether around camp or aboard our Rebel Camp art car. Entirely self-reliant, we provide our own power, water, food, housing, transportation, and grey water removal, ensuring those who give so much to others have a strong foundation to return to.
Support our Mission
Your compassion fuels our ability to offer emergency medical care, comfort, and hope to those in need. Join us—your donation or time as a volunteer directly strengthens our team and extends our reach when it matters most.
We are not just about Burning Man
As most of us are dog lovers, we know how deeply these animals touch our lives. We are not just about Burning Man. As an expanding nonprofit, we are looking to make a difference year-round. In addition to creating community on the playa, we provide Advanced K9 Care for Police, Fire, and EMS agencies across the country. These working dogs put their lives on the line every day to protect ours, and with your help, we make sure they receive the specialized medical care they need and deserve. Specific K9 donations cover essential education and preventative care to protective gear like cooling vests and first aid kits—resources that agencies often cannot fully fund on their own.
If you would like your donation to go specifically toward our K9 program, please indicate that in the message section of the donation box.