Shift Information - 2025

You can sign up for shifts at campaxo.com/shifts this year! The website will tell you how many shifts you still have to sign up for, what shifts are available, and who you'll be working with.

How many shifts should I sign up for?

Everyone is required to sign up for 3 shifts.

One camp shift (Breakfast, Dinner, or Bike Maintenance)
One Axo (art car) shift
One shift of your choice

If you want to work more shifts than required, great! Please do, in fact – we need as much “Communal Effort” as possible!

Before selecting shifts, please read & review all the job descriptions below. It’s helpful if everyone understands the basics of all roles – even if many require experience and/or technical knowledge. Sign up for any jobs that you think you can and would like to fill, and rest assured we will provide training sessions – especially for Art Car jobs.

Camp Shifts:

These roles typically happen at the same time every day, but there are exceptions, so please make note of the shift you're signing up for!

Breakfast Shift - Responsible for setting out and maintaining breakfast availability. Sign up for an "Experienced" shift if you're comfortable chopping ingredients and using a grill. There are breakfast roles for those who don't feel experienced as well!
Breakfast Cleanup - Responsible for cleaning up from breakfast and ensuring the kitchen is ready for dinner prep. In addition, this crew will tidy up the veranda and do a camp-wide moop sweep, generally ensuring that our home (domo) is looking pretty and serving the camp well throughout the week.
Dinner Prep - Responsible for preparing and serving dinner. Sign up for an "Experienced" shift if you're comfortable chopping ingredients and cooking basic meals. There are dinner roles for those who don't feel experienced as well!
Dinner Cleanup & Close Kitchen - Responsible for cleaning up from dinner and prepping Lupita for the next morning's breakfast.
Bike Organization & Assignment - Responsible for stacking, sorting, and handing out bikes to campers. Basic experience in fixing bikes (inflating tires, adjusting seats, etc.) is helpful, but not necessary.
Bike Maintenance - Responsible for repairing broken vehicles, ensuring camp bikes are in working order, and providing mechanical support to campers in need, between 5-7pm. Please only take on this role if you have basic experience with bikes (e.g. know how to pump up tires, fix chains, adjust seats, etc.).

Art Car Shifts:

Every day, there are typically three 6-hour shifts, as well as one 4-hour refueling shift on our art car, ¡AXOLOTL! The Earth Guardian (you can call it "Axo!"):

AFTERNOON: 2pm - 8pm
EVENING: 8pm - 2am
MORNING: 2am - 8am
HELL STATION: depends on the day -- check the schedule!

Don’t worry that they seem long! Axo shifts are fun, and most of the time you're on shift is not too demanding. It’s really just Partying – with a Purpose!

Once the programming schedule is finalized, we'll send out emails letting you know where your shift will start. Please make a note of this location when planning out your day, as you'll need to allow time to get to the location _before_ your shift starts so that you're arriving on time!

The Afternoon shift has the most variability. Sometimes it will start at 2pm in camp and you'll head to Hell Station first; other days it will start at 4pm and you'll meet the car out on playa. Take a look at the schedule to make sure you know which one you're signing up for!
The Evening Shift starts at 8pm and continues until 2am, when the Morning Shift crew relieves them. Axo crew can ALWAYS place their bikes on the trailer to ensure an easy trip back to camp after their shift ends.
The Morning Shift typically gets to enjoy the sunrise from deep playa, and ends at 8am.
The Hell Station Shift: Most days, a Skeleton Crew will either meet the car on playa at 8am or leave camp at 12pm to refuel the vehicle at Hell Station. Make sure you know which shift you're signing up for!

On the day(s) of your shifts, be sure to check the Programming Calendar Poster in camp, ask your Axo Shift Leader any questions you have, and pay close attention to announcements in case there’s any important shift change information you need to be aware of.

Axo Job Descriptions:

Please carefully read the Axo Jobs descriptions below! Each role is essential and requires some training and deep commitment – so consider sticking with the same job for a few shifts, so you can become comfortable in it and don’t have to keep learning new ones. Remember we have peoples’ safety and happiness in our hands! Fortunately, these jobs only require intense concentration when the vehicle is preparing to move and while moving, which is not so often. Much of the time the Axo is parked and playing music, and the jobs are much less demanding.

For all Axo shifts, please note: We rely on you to arrive on time since we're running with such a small crew. However, it's important to know that things can sometimes run late. We ask for flexibility with end times when possible, but your well-being comes first — speak up if you need a break, and only stay longer if you truly feel up for it. Check in with your Axo Shift Lead if you run into any issues.

You will have a ton of fun while on shift! In fact, Axo staff are treated like rock stars by the public – because we are! But do keep in mind that we need you to be relatively sober, and always attentive while on shift – especially when the vehicle is preparing to move and in motion.

Deck Mates - Deck Mates are the least technically demanding role – but are important and the most in number. Stationed on the upper deck, they make sure no one is bothering the DJs / Musicians / Fire People – or their equipment – and that no one is being excessively dangerous on the howdah (upper canopied deck). They also inform Stern Mates when the deck has reached full capacity, and may be asked to descend and become “Walkers,” leading the Axo through dense crowds when we’re moving. Importantly, Deck Mates also serve as “Fluffers” who make sure the vehicle has sufficient water / drink / blankets / trashbags at the start of a shift – and place Moop and trash in its proper location – especially at the end of a shift.
Dr. Axo - Dr. Axos are ANY Deck Mates who are committed to a VERY special additional role: to teach fellow Burners the astounding story and profound lessons of our beloved and miraculous Axolotl – including its history and its genetic secrets of regeneration which could one day lead to curing cancer and slowing aging. All Deck Mates can also be Dr. Axos while on duty – and it’s fun! Dr. Axos often wear white Axo lab coats and have a giant flip-book to aid in their lessons. Whether or not you want to be a Dr. Axo, we would ask everyone to watch this TEDx video about the Axolotl so that you know its story. Axolotls: The salamanders that snack on each other (but don't die) - Luis Zambrano and if you want more (especially budding Dr. Axos!) – watch this longer one too: The Insane Biology of: The Axolotl.
Stern Mates - Stern Mates are the Leads of Public Safety and manage public access to the vehicle. Stern Mates are stationed on the Rear Platform at all times – which is the Axo’s only public entrance and exit. Stern Mates can command Deck Mates and communicate emergency safety issues to the Driver – including by operating the rear Emergency Stop/Start Button. When informed by Deck Mates that the roof platform has reached its capacity, Stern Mates will close the entrance and allow people to enter only as others leave. We take great pride in being welcoming and allowing as many people as possible onto the Axo, but these individuals also need to be stern when necessary (pun intended). There are ALWAYS at least two Stern Mates, so you will never be without companions in this essential safety role.

While anyone in camp can participate in the above roles, there are a few very specialized roles on the Axo which are limited to those who have prior experience on the Axo or a similar type of art car / bus. If you think you are qualified to be one of these individuals or would like to shadow someone this year in order to learn, please email the Camp Leads.

Axo Shift Lead - !!Must be an experienced Burner and Axo camper!! This person keeps the art car running smoothly by knowing its systems, guiding the crew, and making sure supplies are stocked. They stay cool under pressure, know our programming schedule, and serve as the driver’s right-hand for navigation and quick decisions.
Driver - Only very experienced drivers of bus and/or large vehicles can apply. This is the single most important job from the perspective of not killing anyone. Deep and sober attention is an absolute requirement. There will be one on board at all times.
AV Mates - The lead AV technicians, these Mates run our sound, our lights, and support our amazing lineup of DJs, Musicians, and Performers. Only one might be needed in the day shift, but we prefer to have at least two at night – especially when dealing with complicated productions. This role requires having some previous experience with AV equipment and somewhat significant on-Playa training. But it is an amazing job and we urge skilled people to learn! When the vehicle shuts down, AV Mates must ensure equipment is properly turned off and protected from elements.
Fire People - For experienced Pyrotechnicians only. If you know propane and love making big fire, this is the job for you.

If you have any questions or think there’s a different role that you’d be a good fit for, feel free to reach out. We look forward to seeing your sign-ups on the website no later than Aug 8.