Staff Spotlight: Meet Stephanie Prater
May 28th, 2025
Meet Stephanie Prater – The Creative Force of Basecamp
When it comes to transforming raw desert into an inviting, one-of-a-kind gathering space, Stephanie Prater is the mastermind. Part artist, part event producer, and fully unstoppable, she’s been shaping the look and feel of every Rebelle basecamp since year one.
With a background in design and a love for creating beauty in unexpected places, Stephanie doesn’t just decorate—she sets the scene for connection, reflection, and a little bit of wonder under the stars. From battling high desert winds to crafting decor by hand, she thrives on the challenge.
As we celebrate 10 years, Stephanie is doubling down on surprise and style—so if you’re headed to Basecamp 3, prepare for something bold.
You’ve been behind the look and feel of every Rebelle basecamp for nearly a decade. What first drew you to this role, and what keeps you coming back?
Emily and I have been friends for over 30 years. We have worked together on all types of events during that time. When she came to me with this idea of the Rebelle and asked if I wanted to be involved, the answer was a hard “yes.” Making things beautiful & memorable is one of my strong suits and working with Emily is always a dream, not to mention the opportunity to create off-grid excitement. When I think back to nine years ago and how things have evolved, it’s mind-blowing to say the least. As I recall, we had a three-sided tent, a very big learning curve knowing what we know now about desert winds. The colorful paper umbrellas were shredded by the end of the first evening. We have come a long way since then and I am challenged each year to craft something unforgettable because that is what the event is to each of the Rebelles—a once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience!
Decorating in the middle of nowhere isn’t exactly easy. What are some of the biggest challenges you face, and how do you make it all come together?
The biggest thing is making sure I have enough decor to pull off the look and feel at each BC. We generally aren’t near any retail stores where I could pick up last-minute items, so I tend to over-order on certain things to cover all the bases. The other big factor is dealing with the elements such as wind, sand & dirt. You can’t let Mother Nature take you down when she gets mad, as the show must go on. Keeping things clean for meals, making sure decor is secure so items don’t fall when we get high desert winds (which is quite often), is a bit tricky & my team and I spend a lot of time brushing, wiping, sweeping, dusting things off during the course of our stays at the basecamps since we want this space to feel safe and luxurious. Honestly though, it’s the people that make the basecamp special. We are all on this incredible journey together with love & camaraderie in mind—what I provide is just the icing on the cake.
Each basecamp has its own personality and style. Where do you draw your inspiration from when designing these unique spaces?
Emily and I usually work together and discuss the vibe we are after for each basecamp. Landscapes in different areas tend to come into play, as well as branding, when we brainstorm on design ideas. I tend to look for colorways that blend with the outside environment and incorporate those into the interior of basecamps. We love using giant images from our amazing photography team to fill the large walls of the 40 x 100 ft tent. These large format banners help tell our story as we move into our 10th Anniversary of this incredible event.
Tell us about yourself when you’re not on the Rebelle Rally. What’s your world or day in the life like outside of basecamp?
I’m an event producer at heart as well as an interior designer. Really, the two go hand in hand in my eyes. There is an element of design within all events so it helps keep my creative juices flowing. I produce a lot of projects in Colorado in the summer months such as weddings, galas, nonprofits, and wine and food festival-type events. I work on the concept designs and details year-round and I travel the world as much as possible to soak up visual stimulation from other parts of the universe. All of my projects are unique from one another and that keeps my life very exciting and fulfilling.
What’s one design detail from any basecamp that you’re especially proud of?
I have actually handmade decor for several camps and those are my favorites. I have taken the time to create the scene with shredded fabrics hanging from wagon wheels, hula hoops & branches, brought in foliage, rocks, rusty treasures & bones—all of which I find outside on the surrounding lands. All of my basecamps are like a treasure hunt for me once on the scene. I love being able to use things from the landscape & desert terrain. Even the ops team keeps a lookout for me when we arrive, as they have grown to know my crazy style. It’s always important to bring the ceiling down into the tent area—it helps warm up the space and make it a more cozy feeling, so I tend to focus on decor that brings depth into the room.
People often say that basecamp feels like home away from home. What does that mean to you?
For me it means watching the Rebelles enter the space, excited to see what I’ve created, gathering with new friends, discussing the hard parts of the day, enjoying a lovely meal together with the staff and new teammates. Watching them chuckle or tear up after their daily experiences in an environment that feels special, vibrant, visually stimulating, and relaxing.
What are your go-to tools or must-haves that you never show up to the Rebelle without?
Number one is definitely the best Operations team in the world, followed by my toolbox as well as a trailer full of fun decor. I work with the best people (friends) a girl could ever have. They accept my crazy ideas and help me execute them year after year. It’s truly my favorite event of my career—even with its challenges. The rewards of being with 200+ people traveling across the desert together and setting up an off-grid life is truly amazing.
If you could dream up a “basecamp of all basecamps” with no limitations—what would it look like?
If the sky were the limit there would probably be “pink” involved—my favorite of all colors. There might even be a hot pink grand piano in there somewhere (very unrealistic in the desert). I feel it’s such a gorgeous color in all of its shades—I could do a lot with it. Emily has always given me a hard “no” when it comes to using pink, so… someday I may just have to surprise her. Haha.
Any final words for this year’s Rebelles as they get ready to roll into your next basecamp creation?
Well get ready for some va-va-voom, especially at Basecamp 3!
What would be fun for me is to have some feedback of favorite basecamps from the Rebelles and maybe even some fresh ideas to work off of from them. It’s important to me that all basecamps feel different from one another so there is a bit of a “wow” factor when the girls walk in for the first time after a long, long day. They always make me feel so good with their praises—it motivates me to make it a one-of-a-kind experience year after year. THANK YOU!
