Design and Share Your World
The existence of Camp Manifestation is the outcome of a number of different inquiries, processes, learnings and creations that has given rise to a beautiful community of like-minded people, sharing, building, learning, growing and evolving themselves and the camp over time. As a camp we encourage and support people to examine the process of manifestation. In so doing one can come to find that each person is unique in their expression in the world and therefore what they manifest. Who you are - what you are designed for - is the primary force that empowers you to make your ideas come to pass. By aligning oneself with that design one can thrive. Then the sharing of what one creates in the world becomes a natural expression.
The vision of the camp involves exploring ones design, the very nature of creation and the realization of that power within each of us. That power enables us to manifest whatever is in one's heart thereby allowing one to experience life as one desires. By acknowledging and honoring our very human nature, putting intention toward the coupling of the power of thought combined with the moving force of action, we begin to see and experience the merging of these two forces which allows us to create magical results in the world.
The vision of the camp involves exploring ones design, the very nature of creation and the realization of that power within each of us. That power enables us to manifest whatever is in one's heart thereby allowing one to experience life as one desires. By acknowledging and honoring our very human nature, putting intention toward the coupling of the power of thought combined with the moving force of action, we begin to see and experience the merging of these two forces which allows us to create magical results in the world.
Burning Man starts
in -605 days!
in -605 days!
The Man burns
in -599 days!
in -599 days!
Burning Man starts
in -605 days!
in -605 days!
The Man burns
in -599 days!
in -599 days!
The History of the Camp
After 2 years of attending Burning Man, having camped with a generous camp from Santa Cruz called Blazin' Raisins, Jed Zilberberg found himself desiring to create a place where his own community could gather and create. The Santa Cruz camp was a model for how a community could come together, what the possibility for Burning Man camps could be and what the possibilities for living structures could be. These 2 years of experience, in 2003 and 2004 were the spark and inspiration for what would become Camp Manifestation and for the larger expression of community in Jed’s life.
Additionally, during this time Jed was living with his friend Brian Ott in a 2nd floor railroad flat in San Francisco. This communal living situation added to and fulfilled the desires for more communal experience, as well as provided an additional, unique opportunity. The backyard of this apartment was a rundown garden space. It was a relatively large space, rectangular in shape, with empty planter beds lining 3 sides. The space in between was cracked, black asphalt. The back wall was covered in graffiti. Basically, the space was a neglected mess.
Jed and Brian would look out at this eyesore from their back deck and dream about what the space could become. They would frequently talk, brainstorm and imagine about creating a beautiful garden - a space which could be used to enjoy nature right at home and a space that could be used for entertaining. This imagining and creating went on for about a year and a half because neither had the resources at the time to make this happen. During this time, as well, Brian was in an alternative psychology program which had a spiritual focus, and both Jed and Brian were going deeper into their personal study in spiritual teachings, specifically around Buddhism and Hinduism. All of this served as the seeds for inspiration and brought forth the focus on the idea of manifestation, how that works in the world and how that plays out in the lives of individuals as creative power.
Ultimately, the result of the continued and consistent discussion about the back garden area was that the process of manifestation was defined as a very real process in their lives. A very real expression of that was the creation of the garden they had imagined. Despite the challenges in the way, how this came to be was that through some coincidental meetings with the property management, and some properly placed action in the form of requests and offers presented, an agreement was reached whereby the property management company would pay for materials and Jed and Brian would do the work to totally renovate the backyard and create an amazing Japanese style garden. The style of the garden was Brian’s vision, and would later become a full blown, successful landscaping business for Brian.
The creation of this garden turned out to be more than just a garden. It was the fulfillment of the process of manifestation that had been being fleshed out over time. Neither Jed nor Brian could know at the time that either the garden or a significant body of understanding would come out of any of this, yet those were the gifts that did present themselves over time. They discovered that the process of manifestation involved presencing an idea or desire, first through thought, then through word, then through action and then in to physical reality. This was a powerful realization, that gave power to bringing anything to fruition.
As this all came to be and awareness in this area grew, Brian having been to Burning Man once before, introduced Jed to the gathering. The 2 of them attended in 2003 and 2004 with Aaron Bart. Out of these 2 years of exploration in the Burning Man community, the desire to have a Burning Man camp of their own was born. There was a need to develop a theme and name for the camp and through all that had been experienced during this time, the natural out-springing of all that work and growth was Camp Manifestation. It was the obvious choice given what had been present in their lives and what was being expressed in their world. This idea was presented to the community members who were interested in creating this camp for the first time, and all were in agreement that this was a great choice for what this community would bring to the playa.
The camp’s first year was 2005. This first year, the entire infrastructure for the camp was packed in to a standard size cargo van. The communal living structure was a very basic and rough Bedouin tent that Jed created, modeled after those that were used in the Santa Cruz camp with which he first camped.
Though the amenities were basic, the community involved and the space created was fully appreciated and was rich.
During the camp's 4th year, 2009, the camp hosted it's first wedding! Jed married Corina Beczner!! All the camp mates pitched in to make this an amazing celebration which involved a full processional out to the man where the ceremony took place. In the camp's 6th year, 2013, the camp hosted it's second wedding! Jed's brother, Noah Zilberberg, married Jenjen Wong!! Jenjen had requested that the camp be reignited after a few years off to provide a space in which to host this celebration. Jenjen and Noah were married out at the trash fence with a procession aided by Love Potion with their Amphora art car. The camp also hosted their post wedding dinner party, for which the Quonset Domes were converted from their normal communal space function to a banquet hall, thanks to Corina's event planning skills (Vibrant Events in Sonoma County).
The camp has been put together for 12 years total, over 15 years, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The camp had ever evolving Bedouin tents for the first 4 years. Then 2 years of less DIY spaces, but still very cozy spaces. The last 6 years, elaborate Quonset Domes and Huts were created by Jed and Noah and the infrastructure and amenities grew to accommodate the enlarged spaces and the growing numbers in the community. The camp went from needing a standard cargo van to transport everything to requiring a 24 foot and a 16 foot box truck. The community of people has evolved over time, with the congregation of people morphing from year to year, as has the theme and its expression.
We are now looking towards 2022 with excitement and wonder for what may be created next!
Additionally, during this time Jed was living with his friend Brian Ott in a 2nd floor railroad flat in San Francisco. This communal living situation added to and fulfilled the desires for more communal experience, as well as provided an additional, unique opportunity. The backyard of this apartment was a rundown garden space. It was a relatively large space, rectangular in shape, with empty planter beds lining 3 sides. The space in between was cracked, black asphalt. The back wall was covered in graffiti. Basically, the space was a neglected mess.
Jed and Brian would look out at this eyesore from their back deck and dream about what the space could become. They would frequently talk, brainstorm and imagine about creating a beautiful garden - a space which could be used to enjoy nature right at home and a space that could be used for entertaining. This imagining and creating went on for about a year and a half because neither had the resources at the time to make this happen. During this time, as well, Brian was in an alternative psychology program which had a spiritual focus, and both Jed and Brian were going deeper into their personal study in spiritual teachings, specifically around Buddhism and Hinduism. All of this served as the seeds for inspiration and brought forth the focus on the idea of manifestation, how that works in the world and how that plays out in the lives of individuals as creative power.
Ultimately, the result of the continued and consistent discussion about the back garden area was that the process of manifestation was defined as a very real process in their lives. A very real expression of that was the creation of the garden they had imagined. Despite the challenges in the way, how this came to be was that through some coincidental meetings with the property management, and some properly placed action in the form of requests and offers presented, an agreement was reached whereby the property management company would pay for materials and Jed and Brian would do the work to totally renovate the backyard and create an amazing Japanese style garden. The style of the garden was Brian’s vision, and would later become a full blown, successful landscaping business for Brian.
The creation of this garden turned out to be more than just a garden. It was the fulfillment of the process of manifestation that had been being fleshed out over time. Neither Jed nor Brian could know at the time that either the garden or a significant body of understanding would come out of any of this, yet those were the gifts that did present themselves over time. They discovered that the process of manifestation involved presencing an idea or desire, first through thought, then through word, then through action and then in to physical reality. This was a powerful realization, that gave power to bringing anything to fruition.
As this all came to be and awareness in this area grew, Brian having been to Burning Man once before, introduced Jed to the gathering. The 2 of them attended in 2003 and 2004 with Aaron Bart. Out of these 2 years of exploration in the Burning Man community, the desire to have a Burning Man camp of their own was born. There was a need to develop a theme and name for the camp and through all that had been experienced during this time, the natural out-springing of all that work and growth was Camp Manifestation. It was the obvious choice given what had been present in their lives and what was being expressed in their world. This idea was presented to the community members who were interested in creating this camp for the first time, and all were in agreement that this was a great choice for what this community would bring to the playa.
The camp’s first year was 2005. This first year, the entire infrastructure for the camp was packed in to a standard size cargo van. The communal living structure was a very basic and rough Bedouin tent that Jed created, modeled after those that were used in the Santa Cruz camp with which he first camped.
Though the amenities were basic, the community involved and the space created was fully appreciated and was rich.
During the camp's 4th year, 2009, the camp hosted it's first wedding! Jed married Corina Beczner!! All the camp mates pitched in to make this an amazing celebration which involved a full processional out to the man where the ceremony took place. In the camp's 6th year, 2013, the camp hosted it's second wedding! Jed's brother, Noah Zilberberg, married Jenjen Wong!! Jenjen had requested that the camp be reignited after a few years off to provide a space in which to host this celebration. Jenjen and Noah were married out at the trash fence with a procession aided by Love Potion with their Amphora art car. The camp also hosted their post wedding dinner party, for which the Quonset Domes were converted from their normal communal space function to a banquet hall, thanks to Corina's event planning skills (Vibrant Events in Sonoma County).
The camp has been put together for 12 years total, over 15 years, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. The camp had ever evolving Bedouin tents for the first 4 years. Then 2 years of less DIY spaces, but still very cozy spaces. The last 6 years, elaborate Quonset Domes and Huts were created by Jed and Noah and the infrastructure and amenities grew to accommodate the enlarged spaces and the growing numbers in the community. The camp went from needing a standard cargo van to transport everything to requiring a 24 foot and a 16 foot box truck. The community of people has evolved over time, with the congregation of people morphing from year to year, as has the theme and its expression.
We are now looking towards 2022 with excitement and wonder for what may be created next!
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."
— Martha Graham
"Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach – how you look at things...Whatsoever you do, if you do it joyfully, if you do it lovingly, if your act of doing is not purely economical, then it is creative."
— Osho
CONTACT: Jed Zilberberg • jed@campmanifestation.com • 415-860-7528
