Welcome to Black Rock City!
Join the Gate, Perimeter, and Exodus (GPE) Crew
GPE is an inclusive and supportive crew and community that thrives on individual expression and lifting each other up when the dust storms roll in. Whether you want to jump in for a quick afternoon of civic duty or join us for the long haul, there is a place for you here. Come to help out and participate, leave with forever friends!
Volunteering with GP&E provides a unique, rewarding experience that very few people within Black Rock City (BRC) get to have—and we have roles for every level of commitment:
Ready to get involved in making Gate great? Complete the Volunteer Questionnaire and check the box for Gate, Perimeter, and Exodus!
What Does GPE Actually Do?
Simply put, we choreograph the beautiful, dusty dance of traffic into and out of Black Rock City. GPE is one of the very first departments to arrive on playa and one of the last to leave. Our operations run 24 hours a day from early August through mid-September, working hand in hand with almost every department in BRC, and there are ways to participate for just a little — or a lot — of that window.
Are You a Future GPE Crew Member?
We are always looking for volunteers to enhance the experiences of everyone entering and leaving Black Rock City.
We have roles for every personality, skill level, and ability. You will absolutely thrive out here if you:
- You enjoy being part of a team (of awesome humans!)
- You are willing to work hard in dusty conditions
- You are self-reliant, responsible, and can keep your sense of humor when things get difficult.
- You have patience, composure, and the ability to roll with rapidly shifting situations.
- You are eager to participate! (A desire to help the beautiful people enter and leave BRC is a must).
- You are ready to have serious fun while doing serious work.
Note: Yes! First-year Burning Man participants CAN volunteer with GPE!
Complete the Volunteer Questionnaire and check the box for Gate, Perimeter, and Exodus!
GPE Is Made Up of Three Main Crews
Gate – The Stewards of Ingress
Gate ensures that anyone entering the city has a valid ticket or credential.
Gate staff ushers tens of thousands of people from the blacktop to the playa. Some mistake us for Greeters, some for security, and others for just ticket-tearers. While we do scan tickets and screen vehicle contents, we do so much more! Stationed one to three miles outside the city on Gate Road, we are guardians of BRC’s safety and are responsible for important elements of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permit requirements.
- The Mission: Ensure every citizen gets in safely and legitimately.
- The Action: We validate participants’ credentials, peek into trunks for sneaky stowaways, and intercept potential MOOP-makers (Matter Out Of Place), firearms, fireworks, and unauthorized pets. We also make sure awesome mutant vehicles are pre-registered with the Department of Mutant Vehicles before they roll in.
Perimeter – The Guardians of the Playa
Ever wonder what happens beyond the trash fence? Perimeter patrols the vast, quiet expanse outside the city limits to protect the 51,000-acre closure zone.
- The Mission: Keep the city boundaries secure and safe in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management.
- The Action: Using high-tech equipment and low-tech interactions, Perimeter staff guide lost wanderers back to safety and intercept anyone trying to sneak into the event without a ticket. Tisk-tisk.
Exodus: The Science of Egress
When the Burn is over, the Exodus team handles the monumental task of moving 35,000+ vehicles off the playa in a 72-hour window.
- The Mission: Keep the mass departure smooth, safe, and stress-free.
- The Action: From Saturday night through Tuesday, we support participants from the Greeter station back to the pavement. We run the Gate Advisory Radio Station (GARS) at 95.1 FM, keeping the public informed of any impediments to the flow, strategically pulse traffic to save fuel and give engines a break, and use certified highway Flaggers to keep State Route 447 safe.
What we ask of you
We look for people to help us make a positive impact on everyone’s experience as they transition into and out of Black Rock City. We need volunteers 24 hours a day during event week, and a few days after for Exodus.
The full 6-Hour GPE Crew Commitment
Looking for the ultimate, immersive GPE experience? Dive all the way in!
- The Commitment: Full training that unlocks access to all GPE departments and shifts (not just the Gate lanes).
- The Reward: Depending on your level of commitment, you can earn official GPE t-shirts, hot meals, showers, and even discounted or free tickets for the following year. Plus, you’ll gain hands-on skills that look great on a default-world resume and an instant playa community that will keep you craving that Gate Life.
The 4-Hour Shift (NEW!)
Want to do your civic duty, help your campmates get into the city faster, and still have tons of time to play? This option is for you. You can even bring your campmates or friends along with you for the ultimate team-building or bonding experience.
- The Commitment: Just one (or more!) 4-hour shift. No long-term commitment required.
- What you’ll do: Support the lanes, process vehicles, scan tickets, and help your friends come Home over opening weekend or times of need.
- The Reward: You’ll meet a rad group of humans, learn the ropes, and make a massive difference in travel time for your friends. You’ll be the person who admits your fellow Burners into the city!!!
How to Apply (Hint: Do It ASAP!)
Ready to join us?
- Fill out the Volunteer Questionnaire. Log into your Burner Profile, follow the links to Volunteer, and complete the questionnaire – be sure to check the box next to “Gate, Perimeter, and Exodus“.
- Watch your inbox: Our Volunteer Coordinator will email you with all the next steps to get you trained, scheduled, and ready to join the crew.
Important Note: By the beginning of August, our team heads out to the desert to build our home base, which means our internet access drops drastically. Please fill out your questionnaire as early in the year as possible!
Got questions or just want to say hi?
We can’t wait to meet you.
Want to bring a group? Email gate.vcteam@burningman.org for the details on how to do so.