You’ll find the latest updates from Alexis on the road with the Vans Warped Tour 2018, here.
Hey hi hello!
My name is Alexis Acar and I am one of the Corporate and Community Engagement Coordinators at the Student Conservation Association (SCA). In a few days, I’ll be hitting the road on the 2018 Vans Warped Tour.
Now, for those you who don’t knowRogue, the Vans Warped Tour is the largest touring music festival in the United States. Each year the tour reaches around 40 cities and 500,000 people, the majority of that number being young people ranging from 14-21 years old. It has been a summer staple of teenagers for the last 24 years and is responsible for the careers of Katy Perry, Blink 182, Green Day, No Doubt, The Black Eyed Peas, and Eminem (just to name a few).
Here’s a quick visual aid…
Now that you hopefully have a better grasp of the scale of the tour let me tell you a SparkNotes version of who I am.
Far before I was on staff at the SCA, I was a crew member turned crew leader. This mystical magical journey began all because an AP Environment teacher noticed my “hippie energy” (her words not mine) and told me I should “channel it,” and wham bam thank you ma’am it brought me to the SCA. I applied, got in, and went into my first crew as an awkward 15 year old who loved pop-punk and wanted to save the world (not much has changed).
Fast forward to now where I am about to embark on a two month long journey across the country with a punk rock music festival. Between the sleeping on a tour bus with 16 other people and not showering, it isn’t too far off from a trail crew. However, let’s not forget the most important part—conservation.
This summer, the SCA will be building the trail between music and conservation—utilizing music as a platform for activism. I will be running our incredible SCA branded activation that will feature a seed ball making station, trail tool trivia, and much more. If all that weren’t enough, we are upping our game and overseeing all of the sustainability efforts for the tour! From composting to tour bus recycling, we are going to make the Vans Warped Tour as green as possible.
The best part is that I get to bring you all along with me!
Check back for updates and for the most up to the minute tour shenanigans follow me on Instagram @acaralexis.
Keep it rad,
Alexis Acar
2018 Warped Tour Bus Journal
Below you’ll find the latest updates from Alexis on the road.
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July 11, 2018
So we are 14 shows deep into the Vans Warped Tour – it’s hot, I’m sweaty and we are about go into a 21 day stretch.
So far the summer has been amazing, we have had alumni volunteers from across all different programs as well as additional help from some incredible bands and warped tour veterans.
(Teaching the members from “Makeout” how to make seed balls.)
Now what many people may not know is that every year a handful of “baby bands” follow the tour in their own vans just hoping tell enough cd’s to make it to the next city.
(Bryson from “Survival Kit” helping lead the activation at the Vans Warped Tour.)
About a month ago I received an email from a random girl regarding a band called “Survival Kit” who planned on following the tour. They were an looking for ways to get involved with non-profit, so I said sure although not entirely convinced a group of skinny jean wearing band boys would really be that stoked on recycling and seed ball making. The Atlanta based alternative rock band have become crucial parts to the success of our activation everyday. They bring not only their muscle but their positive energy and willingness to learn.
(Justin Mason from “His Dream of Lions.”)
These boys constantly tell me how prior to helping with SCA they didn’t know and didn’t care about conservation. However now they can tell you about 75 different species of wildflower and help you find out what types of plastics can be recycled at the venue. Togetherness is something special about warped tour, the combining of two completely different worlds to make one better place.
(Alexis leading the band boys into the WARPED.)