Sticky's Playground

The makers of the Last Bet Motel bring you a theme camp coming to Black Rock City 2023. Sticky's Playground debuts at Rod's Ring Road & 7:15, come say hi!

When did you last ask a friend: “Wanna see how fast I can run?” Or hold your breath until you’re gasping for air? Or balance on one foot on a rock with your tongue slightly out the corner of your mouth as you try to calculate whether or not you have sufficient calf explosiveness to launch onto the next rock?

As kids, we were drawn to these kinds of challenges. We’d make up random dumb ones if left alone with minimal stimulation. They were part of how we played. They were part of how we figured out our limits in the world or found how much we might be capable of.

Over time the challenge instinct fades. Adults in the default world rarely challenge themselves to push their physical limits. And when they do, it isn’t for the joy of the challenge itself, it’s for some “productive” end like losing weight or peacocking our athletic prowess on social media. We no longer run for the simple joy of moving next to a buddy. We run for exactly three miles so that next week we can run four miles.

Welcome to Sticky’s Playground, a camp for burners of all kinds to rediscover their childlike love of challenge. Sticky’s is a place where people experience the incredible satisfaction of doing things they didn’t know they could do. A place where playfulness and free energy are king and queen and come together in a world of mega-sized playground structures, games, and type-2 fun experiences reimagined in the breathtaking beauty of playa.

Our art camp is designed to provide a supportive environment for adult-aged children to express themselves through various forms of nostalgic play and physical challenges. Our team of artists and facilitators (Aka Recess Hall Monitors) will supervise your recess time to ensure all burner safety and host a series of oversized, extreme schoolyard games throughout the week. Whether you're a seasoned or first-time burner, our camp is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all.

In addition to our daily recess games, our camp also features a variety of fun and playful installations and structures for you to explore. Come ride our giant slides, 360 degree see-saws and swings, duke it out on the four-square court, learn some new moves on our dance floor, do a rope climb and rekindle joy in the simple and the wonder of familiar old things.

We at the Motel Art Collective are a group of eccentric and eager human artists, engineers, and human animals from Reno, Nevada. We are deeply passionate about our local Nevada community and we strive daily to foster growth and spirit in our biggest little city. This year, the Motel Art Collective we are proud to present to you Sticky’s Playground, where every day we strive to remember that we don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.