Rangers
Who Are The InterRangers?
Rangers at InterFuse have been dubbed InterRangers. The InterRangers are members of your community who have volunteered to facilitate the safety and well being of the InterFuse community. Modeled after the Black Rock Rangers of Burning Man, we are a non-confrontational mediating entity. We participate by practicing the Art of Rangering. We help our fellow community members find solutions to their problems. We’re not cops and we’re not your Mamas! In fact, we have no real authority whatsoever other than the power of persuasion. We’re here to help you find solutions. We’re your first responders, with Medics, Firefighters, and Crisis Intervention Specialists in our crew. We can be reached 24 hours a day at our HQ, by radio, or find us strolling around in our stylish green InterRanger shirts.
So You Want To Be An InterRanger
If you're interested in becoming an InterRanger, you will, by proxy, become part of a group with a rich history.
The following excerpt is borrowed from the Black Rock Rangers area of the Burning Man website:
“There are as many different reasons for being a Ranger as there are Rangers. Our strength comes from the diversity of our backgrounds and experiences. The most important qualification for being a Ranger is the desire to be an interactive participant. Helpful qualities include a sense of humor, flexibility, integrity, patience, empathy, focus and an unwavering commitment to both the event and the participants who make it happen.”
As an InterRanger, you'll spend the vast majority of your shift getting to know our fellow Burners. It's a great way to meet people, educate them on who we are and gain their trust so they'll come to us when needed.
Since we serve a first responder role, our crew is strengthened by the presence of people with special skills and training. While not required for InterRangering, special skills and training are highly appreciated and valued.
Are you a First Responder, EMT, LPN, RN, NP, PA, or MD? The citizens of InterFuse may need your skills! Be an on-call Medic or combine your skills with the Art of Rangering.
Do you have an NFPA Firefighter Certificate or other related professional training? Your skills will come in handy keeping everyone safe during the Main Event and other sculpture burns.
Regional Burns usually bring out the best in people. Occasionally, the survival environment can be extremely stressful. Couples can face difficulties, people may witness a trauma and individuals may abuse alcohol, etc. Whether trained in psychology, social work or willing to do 12-Step work, you could make the difference in someone's weekend, or even their lives. We're not necessarily looking for you to have some graduate degree. Sometimes the School of Hard Knocks is your best resource.
Related Link: Black Rock Rangers area of the Burning Man website
Requirements
Shift duration is 2 hours per shift. Everyone, including specially skilled InterRangers, will be expected to work at least one shift in addition to helping maintain the burn perimeter at The Main Event on Saturday night. The Lead Ranger may also develop flexible on call shifts for medically skilled InterRangers. Additionally, we require you work your shift sober. The Lead Ranger will meet with volunteers at the event to orient them to radio procedures, safety, and Ranger philosophy.
All InterRangers except people involved in the pre-burn procession and ceremony need to help maintain the perimeter at the Main Burn. Pre-burn ceremony performers could really help with the InterRanger effort by grabbing a couple shifts on Friday.
Related Links:
- The Main Event
- Volunteer (fill out the form at the bottom of the Volunteer page)
Questions About Rangering?
Use web-based email to Contact The Event Planners.
"...I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and CATCH them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy."