History
NODE/noʊd/nouna connection point in a network.
Launch
We overpromised, built an insane wooden temple and launched NODE Republik with 92 campers. A blueprint slowly emerged for our optimistic future home. Leaders were forged, 2x4s were splintered, and meaningful connections were formed beneath the shade of a geodome. Maximum experimentation, minimal inhibitions.
Not Quite Dialed...Yet
60 people, a patch of desert, and the concept that we're building an optimistic future home. The training wheels came off as we gained familiarity with our infrastructure, camp systems, and group ethos. One step closer to bringing our future home into the present.
The Pause
As the world sheltered in place, Node sadly had to raincheck BRC for two long years. We kept the spirit alive with camp calls, local hangs, shared playlists, and plans for what came next. They say you don't know the worth of water until the well runs dry, and this hiatus made us realize how special our yearly time in the desert can be.
Finding Our Identity
NODE returned to Black Rock City with 50 souls and more ambition than ever. The revamped camp flourished with fresh faces and new stretch tents. Gale force winds tried to batter our spirit, but we fought back with wide smiles and 18” lag bolts. Node's world-famous morning coffee & yoga made it's debut, keeping BRC citizens caffeinated and limber throughout the long desert days.
Dialing It In
With 55 nodes, we hit escape velocity. 2023 saw the inaugural Big Petes' Hip-Hop BBQ, which became an instant hit serving hundreds of burgers & dogs. We adopted the Tikivision art car for the week and took to the streets. While many burners only remember the mud and the rain, Node looks back fondly on the chaos as another challenge that needed to be overcome.
Full Send
Years of camp evolution, combined with Mother Nature finally letting up, allowed Node to thrive and have our best year yet on-playa. Build & strike were smooth as silk, the Hip Hop BBQ became the talk of town, one pair of Nodes got hitched and another popped the question, and we popped rosé under the hot Nevada sun.
Can we burn yet?
The weather in Black Rock City hit hard and kept coming. The wind and rain may have destroyed some infrastructure but it did not destroy our spirit. Newbie Nodes stepped up, resilience was our most valuable resource, and a long uphill battle eventually resulted in a beautiful view from the summit. We pulled it off, but the storm already had us thinking of how to do it bigger and better the next year…
Axis Mundi
Next year was always better. 60 campers. More interactivity, more art, and always more communal effort. This is where you come in! We can't wait for Node to have its best year yet, and we know you can help make it happen. Hit up the application form to join in on the fun.
