2025

Turtle Camp & Simon the Turtle Art Car

Last spring I teamed up with Sam Ogden, the creator behind Simon the Turtle, a beloved mutant art car within the Burner community. With my background in event management, content creation, networking, and a deep passion for Burner culture, I decided it was time to explore another side of the community.

That journey led me into the incredible world of mutant art cars—a creative space that quickly opened doors to regional burns, festivals, art shows, and collaborative experiences across the country.

Throughout the year, Simon the Turtle traveled to a wide range of events and gatherings, including:

• Burnerella – Bisbee, Arizona - where I hired Simon the Turtle as part of the event experience

• Saguaro Man – Wilcox, Arizona

• Amplify Las Vegas, an Organika Event – Las Vegas, Nevada

• BEquinox – California City, California

• Elements Music Festival – Long Pond, Pennsylvania

• Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada

• Reno Tahoe International Art Show – Reno, Nevada

• Tempe Fantasy of Lights Parade – Tempe, Arizona (Winner: Best Use of Lights)

Along the way, I began creating content for the project and managing Simon the Turtle’s social media presence, helping share the art car’s adventures with the broader community.

At Burning Man, I officially stepped into the role of Co-Camp Lead for Turtle Camp, a mutant art car camp built around Simon the Turtle. Our camp included around 30 members, with participants traveling from across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

In this role, I managed many aspects of camp coordination, including logistics, tickets, camping and power setup, weekly planning meetings, and serving as the primary contact for camp members and inquiries. It was an incredible opportunity to help support a collaborative community built around art, creativity, and shared Burner values.

Photos Pending..