Rangers

Who Are The InterRangers?

InterRangers are participants empowered by the community and the MWB leadership to serve as first responders, information conduits, and non-violent mediators. InterRangers work with all participants, as well as emergency services, to solve public safety challenges at MWB events. While providing this service, we're no one's mama and we're not the cops.

InterRangers encourage a community of shared responsibility & only assist the community when needed to help our fellow participants find solutions. The InterRangers' primary concern is the safety of people, not property. Our success comes from the fact that we are not an outside group: we are the participants, and work throughout the event to further the collective survival of the community. We are here to facilitate partipants' fun in a safe way.

Modeled after the Black Rock Rangers for Burning Man, InterRangers practice the Art of Rangering, using non-confrontational communication whenever possible to encourage cooperation, help participants remember their obligation to each other, and help create a safe environment. As first reponders and safety coordinators, we have Medics, Firefighters, and Crisis Intervention Specialists in our ranks.

We can be reached 24 hours a day at our HQ, our outposts, by radio, or you can find us strolling around in our stylish green InterRanger shirts. Rangers collaborate with Safe Tent & Sanctuary to form the Emergency Services Infrastructure at InterFuse.

Safe Tent

The Safe Tent is dedicated to the proposition that all Burners deserve tender, loving care from the community that supports their health & well being. Burners can find a level of care here that is "better than Mom" can do!

As the emergency medical center for MWB events, Safe Tent supports the mission of the Ranger Medics in several fashions:

  • Provide a cache of supplies for Medics to draw on.
  • Provide a committed physical space for Medics to work with Burners in emergencies
  • Provide a dedicated staff to assist Medics in providing emergency care for people at Safe Tent

The Safe Tent supports the general population of the Burn community by offering various services:

  • Provide space for Burners to seek emergency medical help & recuperate
  • Preventive measures, such as application of sunscreen and harm reduction information
  • Emotional support, camaraderie, & comfort during physical health-related challenges
  • Basic physical care, such as warmth, food, & drink.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary is a place where we provide a safe, sanitary, and comforting environment to Midwest Burners event participants and staff in need of emotional, mental, or spiritual assistance. We use compassionate and respectful peer support to help our fellow burners transform challenging and potentially traumatic situations into a positive experience. As a special arm of the InterRangers, we work in collaboration with the wider InterRanger team, Medics, and Safe Tent to be an outstanding example of a community of participants who support and care for each other.

So You Want To Be An InterRanger

If you're interested in becoming an InterRanger, you will 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 effigy burn 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 4 hours. 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 effigy burn 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 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:

Questions About Rangering?

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"...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."

— J. D. Salinger