1. Mudskippers Camp Survey Results
2015: Carnival of Mirrors
Compiled by Boz

2. Executive Overview

3. Executive Overview
We’re doing something right because a vast majority of Mudskippers are happy and intend on coming back to camp with us! 
The Camp Activities & Events are totally on point and something to be proud of
The biggest areas for improvement lay in the stuff behind the scenes- communications, planning, logistics, camp layout, and basically just helping the camp feel more cohesive.
Most Skips would rather battle a single horse-sized duck than a thousand duck-sized horses

4. Executive Summary- Their Thoughts on 2016 & Beyond
94% Want to Come Back Next Year and 67% Say They Plan to Be Back as Early as Next Year
84% Want us to be a stop on the Naked Bike Ride
77% Want to collaborate with other camps to larger parties and events

5. Executive Summary- Wins
The Skips are Happy! 94% want to come back! 
The Potluck Meet & Greet, Crack is Whack Party, and the Café are the most popular and most liked activities
Honorable Mentions go to the Fashion Show, Pretty Nails, and Group Costume
Skips felt very supported in terms of getting ticket and vehicle passes

6. Executive Summary- Misses
Skips are not feeling welcomed enough or that they know each other enough- either before the Burn or even once they arrive on the playa
Camp Communications are a consistent issue of contention throughout the experience- there was a pattern of ambiguity & confusion followed by swift strongly-negative communication. This pattern surfaced in pre-burn planning, during the camp build, during the meal plan, and during camp takedown.
A surprising large number of Skips commented that there was no clear Camp Take Down team, assignments, or delegation until it was too late. Must be more centralized and planned in advance.
A similarly surprising number of Skips are actually quite dissatisfied with the camp layout and setup- particularly with the shower and public areas, the flow between public/communal/private. People felt confused on where they should be and then they felt like everything was set up very hap-hazardly this year, without much thought.

7. Executive Summary- Suggestions for Next Year
Plan Early. We’ll Likely Fill Up Again Fast Next Year
Make a real and more formal effort to introduce new Skips and help them get to know each other both on FB and at Pre-Burn Meet & Greets. And when they arrive on the playa, assign one person to welcome them and introduce them to other Skips and help them with individual placement BEFORE they get assigned to a build project
Be more careful and kind in our communications- pre-plan the takedown with as much attention as the build. Target s appropriately – don’t blast everyone with s about Food Plan & RV’s for example – or they soon tune everything out
Create a camp layout that creates a more comfortable public area, creates more flow and openness in the communal (camp-only) areas, and creates more privacy around the shower and sleeping areas. Use RVs and cars to keep other camps from moving in on our turf and to give us more separation from the porta-potties.
Add “Things to Bring” to the website
Put more resources into Pretty Nails, The Fashion Show, and the Group Costume. Maintain or grow the resources for the Potluck Meet & Greet, Café, and Crack is Whack
Consider having a specific time (maybe during meals?) when everyone can charge their electronics together on a camp generator so that we aren’t having so many generators firing up randomly all week just to charge a single camera or cell phone

8. A Suggested Camp Layout
ROAD
Private Entrance RV RV
INTERACTIVE ART RV RV
Water
CAR
CAR
TENT
TENT
TENT
DINING & KITCHEN (CAMP ONLY)
SHOWER / EVAP
TENT
TENT
CAR
CAR
TENT
TENT
TENT
TENT
TENT
TOWER (PUBLIC)
TENT
SUPPLY TRUCK (Barrier Between Public & Private)
SUPPLY TRUCK (Barrier Between Public & Private)
CAR
EMERGENCY ROAD
CAR
TENT
TENT
CAFÉ (PUBLIC)
Private Entrance
Private Entrance
CAR
CAR
TENT
TENT
TENT
CAR
TENT
PUBLIC ENTRANCE / COURTYARD AREA-
Overflow for Party Crowds, Bikes,
Open Space for Fire Dancing by Andy, etc
CAR
BIKE RACK
BIKE RACK
TENT
TENT
ROAD

9. Notes on Suggested Layout
Café pushed back from Road to allow a courtyard (bike overflow, crowd overflow, fire dancing, etc)
Supply Trucks separate public area from communal and private areas
Communal areas (dining & showers) centrally located yet somewhat private
Set the Dining Area up as the central communal gathering space for Skips to hang out when they are “off-duty” from the craziness of the Cafe
Clear paths between public, communal and private areas. Make sure to create some openness or a bridge so that we don’t unintentionally divide the camp in half
Water back on service road next to shower and kitchen
RVs and Cars serve to stake our space and provide sound/visual barrier to create more privacy and separation from other camps, porta-potties, etc.
Interactive art piece (something that doesn’t require oversight such as a communal art project) on the supply road serves the requirement that we offer activities on both sides

10. The Dirty Details

11. KEY
GOLD STAR – All respondents were satisfied or very satisfied. A favorite. GREEN LIGHT- Less than 7% of respondents were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. YELLOW CAUTION % of respondents were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. STOP SIGN- 13%+ of respondents were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied.

12. During the PRE-BURN PREP & PLANNING, How Satisfied were you with the support you felt from the Mudskippers in Terms of…

13. Comments on

14. When you arrived on the playa, how satisfied were you with…

15. What worked well and what could be improved in terms of ARRIVING & GETTING SETTLED INTO THE CAMP?

16. Which camp activities did you participate in (either as a volunteer or a participant)?

17. OPTIONAL Q: WHICH WERE YOUR FAVORITE CAMP ACTIVITIES?

18. Goldie Locks

19. What Should We Do Next?

20. Duck! It’s a Horse!

21. Who’s Coming Back for More?