DangerCon: Camping and Making...things explode

DangerCon is a go

What happens when you combine your 3 favorite things: Camping, Making, and FIRE? Well you get the 1st ever DangerCon! FredHack and Nova Labs are joining forces to bring you important maker-related topics that are too dangerous to demonstrate near civilization.

On the agenda are:

From Russell, DangerCon Host:

>>

Fri night:
Pregame; setup camp and equipment areas, fire circle, socialize with any potential early birds and probably get a spontaneous hack going. Maybe work on the forge if we get it setup by then (I'm trying to get it this weekend if I can). Drink beer by the fire and chill.

Saturday AM:
Pregame/Influx; Arrange campsites, direct traffic, introductions, socialize.

Saturday Noon: Commencement. Officially open dangercon with some kind of short intro akin to a "drivers meeting". Official tour of the grounds and Staff intro. Saturday Noon-1800: welding classes and pyrochem fab lab. We only have one 240VAC outlet, so wire welding and stick welding classes have to be in series, this also gives the teachers a chance to take each other's course or do something else. I'll be teaching basic pyrochem fabrication to no more than two at a time during welding classes.

Saturday Noon-1800 pt two: Pyrochem will be running all afternoon so anyone who wants should have a chance to actually make something incredibly dangerous; this is why only two at a time, it dramatically increases my chance of survival.

Saturday 1800 - 2200: Forgework class if we get the forge running, battlebot demo/discussion, free period. If anyone else wants to setup a class/demo/lecture/do something, here's your schedule block to show me something cool.

Saturday 2200 - TBD:
Pyrochem testing. We spent the afternoon making dangerous things, but mean old me wouldn't let you light them around all the dangerous powders. Now that its dark and all of the scary chemistry is gone you get to see if what you made worked, have fun. Followed by or concurrent with sitting around the fire.

Sunday 0800 - 1200: River Raid. We'll be mounting an expedition to the Rappahannock river to prospect for gold. Wear clothing that you won't mind being fully immersed in because you will be. I have a canoe and Garret can supply another, but the spot we've chosen is withing wading distance from the public boat ramp so you can arrive or leave at your leisure. I have not secured a dredge or fixed mine yet so for now consider this hand tools only (pan/sluice).

I can provide 3-4 pans that we can share among the group. We'll be collecting black sand concentrates in a bucket and panning them out for gold. How you distribute any findings is up to you to fight over, I don't want a share. I may have some specimen bottles you can take home your precious in.

Sunday During/Post River Raid: Egress. Breakdown your stuff, cleanup your areas, and get off my lawn :)

<<

(For obvious reasons participation will be one's own risk and waivers will be required)

Plan: Arrive Friday nite July 20th around 7PM, camp overnight, and leave 3PM Sunday, July 22nd.

Note: You don't necessarily need to camp to attend DangerCon. Goldvein, VA is about an hour to the southwest of Reston, VA. So you can drive up and back on Saturday.