This is Skooliepalooza.

[@REGRETLYSS1]

such an honest look into the event. Finding your people is SO important. I'm so glad you were finally able to find our circle. Sending you love as you continue down the road.

[@LauraTuller]

Hey, I sub to you! What a pleasant surprise to have seen you on this channel! 😊

[@hshalom9113]

Nice to see the various aspects - the kids & families. Not just the night life party. 😊 Thanks for sharing.

[@mariajoseandchase]

So glad you got that from the video. We wanted to share all of the experiences and highlight that there is a place for everyone there. Even if sometimes it’s a little loud.

[@mycontinuative]

Agreed, it was our goal to keep it a family focused event, unfortunately the nature of the event evolved into what it is.

[@mariajoseandchase]

I don't know that it even needed to stay a "family" event, but it's not even a community event either. Few who show up have respect for the BLM and State Trust land it's being held on. Few who show up have respect for other individuals around them either. It's not a fun situation and there are far too many sketchy situations to be enjoyed now.

[@tammycruz8189]

I'm so happy y'all went n saw everyone. It's nice to see the group together still ... It's a bond that can't be broken....

[@laudalady61]

You're so right! It has changed so much in the last couple years!

[@mariajoseandchase]

I personally think it’s time to get back to a much smaller more community focused get together.

[@xavierreigneau41]

@@mariajoseandchase any leads on a smaller more community-filled event?

[@BricksofHappiness]

BY FAR THE BEST SKOOLIEPALOOZA VIDEO WE'VE SEEN. Love you friends!!!!!! Miss you

[@myweeskoolie7504]

So nice to see u guys + 1 there. ♡ U guys downsized & I upsized to a rare 11 window Snub nose Vista. I'm still in New England, 2000 plus miles away... my grandson Chase is so big now he's in 1st grade. Enjoy every minute with Isla ♡ ♡♡

[@BartBourg]

Love seeing your perspective on the event. I’m inclined to agree with you. I much rather prefer smaller intimate settings and surroundings. Look forward to sharing a smaller (much smaller) gathering with y’all, down the road. ✌️

[@chucky6367]

First time watching this channel. What a surprise to see a little cherub sitting amongst the cushions! 🥰

[@NoCaping]

Loved seeing Kels & Jay on your channel! Jay is doing the thing Chase is starting building out vans!!

[@melissarosario2936]

Aww I loved everything about this vlog. Seeing you go to skooliepalooza as a family and getting to enjoy yourselves as well! ❤ I hope to get to experience this very soon! Thank you for sharing your journey!!

[@Vulpix_-fs3tv]

Love seeing a different perspective on this event :) And very cool to see some of my favorite Nomads in your video and that you are friends with them. I gave you a follow!

[@susanjeffay3851]

My first time.. luckily met some friends on the outskirts and away from the partying. Someone came to our fire and played guitar. That was nice but then drunk or stoned couple descended and changed the whole vibe. wll look for smaller gathering with my skoolie next time

[@oscartrejochoa]

I love it!! It is excellent that you are back on the road, new adventures, but now with baby Isla. I love you guys.

[@mariajoseandchase]

We love you too! We are so happy we get to introduce Isla to such a cool lifestyle

[@lennyburdick3192]

Buslife Kitchen is an awesome cookbook!

[@thepricefamadventures]

Love this so much friends! 🥰 our hearts were so full getting to finally meet and spend time with you guys!! ❤

[@tommyamaya4254]

Your guys rock your adventures are awesome God bless and safe travels

[@mariajoseandchase]

Aww thanks friend! So glad we get to bring you guys along with us

[@upside93]

I had a blast at skoolie this year. But I'm not a party all night type of guy so I certainly slept terribly for a week straight with the music going til 3-6 am every night/morning.

[@dmsjt5181]

We were going to go this year but couldn’t make it and I’m genuinely surprised there aren’t mandatory quiet hours 😬

[@cintroberts6614]

Once is enough for us . The party animals keep everyone up late with that thumping music.

[@mariajoseandchase]

We hear you on that. It's one of the many not-so-awesome things about the event. We're more than happy to miss this year. (and the next, and the one after that)

[@ExpatNatt]

Sending love to the whole family ❤❤ another great video 🥰

[@justisforalll]

I am about to take off in a school bus and I was excited to go to this event. I will have to make sure to be communicative and make friends so I’ll have the best time!! Thank you for this video!!

[@mariajoseandchase]

It’s VERY easy to find your people there. That’s the major benefit of the event. Can’t want for you to get out there!

[@IceGhost-e7t]

Thought about dropping by to see what it’s all about. My gut feeling is I already don’t feel welcome. Looks too closely bunched together for my taste. Hopefully ya’ll enjoy yourselves tho.

[@mariajoseandchase]

We bailed this year. The vibe at Skoolie has gotten weird. We also didn’t feel welcome for a lot of the event. There’s a place for everyone there, but this event just isn’t what it used to be.

[@halasalready]

I wish this was a thing when I was young. I love traveling and moving from place to place. I would have loved living a life like this.

[@LaTyler24]

Very well said. It was so nice to meet you guys and hopefully we can meet up again sometime!🧡

[@mariajoseandchase]

Stoked to meet you there. Sorry we had to add music that wasn’t you there, also stoked to see you’re on KZbin, so we can mention you in the description.

[@anthonyrosa4388]

Now that's how you have fun just ignore the idiot and meet up with great friends so much so that you stay another day thank you for inviting us into your journey

[@tammytroche1624]

Ahhh!! Keep going for just a little longer!! I would love to meet you guys!! We’re working on our bus right now!!

[@mariajoseandchase]

We're not going anywhere! We might be working on another bus in our future

[@AnthonyFlores-vq9ji]

I'm hoping my 40' bus will be done in time for the next Skooliepalooza. I've been watching the videos since 2018 and I see the same thing you have. It's changing, and not for the better. I want to go to it at least once, just to say I went. I'm not looking forward to the 3am rave music, but @eightyeightbus is (or will be soon) very well insulated and with enough whiskey maybe I won't hear all of that. I had hoped to see the buses (and vans) that I have been watching the past few years like Wes, Alyssa, Bumpin Bus, etc.. I hope y'all decide to go one more year so I can finally meet everyone in person. Then I'll focus on the smaller, more family centric gatherings. Hope all is well with y'all!

[@halasalready]

So much fun

[@margoburns9085]

Great video. Keeping it real.

[@lobegirl8074]

Can always count on you to introduce less known music!

[@saguarotreker]

Popularity kills all things "different." As SOON as there is an opportunity for somebody to make a buck, the corporations are not far behind.

[@mariajoseandchase]

Yep! There are two competing groups after the Skooliepalooza name. The first is the original that intends to keep it community and individual based. Then there’s the profiteers with a registered name now seeking to organize an event on private land and make it a few based event.

[@saguarotreker]

@@mariajoseandchase it contradicts the intent of the foundation of the minimalist/schoolie lifestyle.

[@danaowen9014]

That looks like fun.

[@Bre19188]

Getting back towards a smaller community of others that is family based would be amazing. Through I love the concept of this event, the party crowd deters me.

[@kevinstenholm40]

From what I understand, there was a party section and a family section. So if you stayed in your family section, especially at night, you would have been fine.

[@mariajoseandchase]

You’re not wrong. There were “designated areas” but we stayed in 4 different ones over the week and found music until 2-3am was common and easily heard.

[@K.C.Uncovered]

it may also feel differently for you all because you have a baby now and are parents and see things differently. New parents look at thing completely different when their child is invovled. Not saying thats a bad thing but its an observation

[@mariajoseandchase]

Being parents has definitely changed our brain chemistry a bit, but we've seen the event deteriorating over several years, even before having Isla. We weren't even going to go last year because it has become such a shitshow for drugs, fights, aggressive dogs off leash (we've nearly been attacked the last two years we went), and people who seem to think they can stake claim to the public land and ask people to leave (happened to us last year when we were in a group with friends by someone who thought we were "too close" to them). I think the primary problems for Skooliepalooza, as I see them, are more related to certain event goers lack of respect for people in attendance, utter and absolute disrespect for the land people are congregating to and the amount of trash people leave behind, and an attempt of a few people and their profiteering efforts with the name "skooliepalooza" itself.

[@terrydavis1917]

❤ what " they " might say don't Mont two 2⃣ ah hill of beans 😢😮😅😊, NIGHTY NIGHT LITTLE PUPPIES 😮

[@timothyallbritton1961]

Yes, it's sad that Skooliepalooza has changed so much. We too made our last trip to it two years ago. It went from checking out the great bus builds to 24-hour partying lasting all night long.

[@mariajoseandchase]

Yep! Not here for the garbage of it anymore. Too many sketchy situations to be enjoyable.

[@sonofthedesert3132]

Being from Arizona, I was always looking forward to go to Skooliepalooza. It was already kind of weird last year, but this year it definitely got worse. If there is still a meet-up next year, I might just call Jim and Debbie with Life is a joy and spend a whole day with them in Quarzsite rather then go all the way over to Ehrenberg. I love those two and enjoy every second I can spend with them. Even though I've never ran into you guy's, maybe you are joining in there too ?

[@LifeisaJoy]

We love you, Ray! The first two we attended were amazing and we made many great friends. The last two years (and this one) we will just drive out and visit. We hope to see these kids!

[@sunnydaze136]

So good to see you traveling again and taking us to Skooliepalozza! Is that something that's a yearly event that everyone knows to be at? How fun for you especially with all your friends with babies like Isla..cute seeing them all bouncing..is this just an area on BLM land that is a constant for people coming and going or an actual planned event that takes place?.. really cool I love that one bus was really nice inside

[@mariajoseandchase]

We’re so excited to be back out here as well. It is an annual unorganized, but community led event that takes place on BLM lane. Their bus is SO NICE. They have a KZbin channel as well @thepricefamadventures

[@sunnydaze136]

@@mariajoseandchase thank you!

[@billstephens396]

New to your channel, and I may not agree with having a child in that lifestyle, Isla is a beautiful child and you have a blessing on your hands... I know, some sleepless nights may make you feel otherwise, but she is a blessing to you both...

[@mariajoseandchase]

Hey Bill! Thanks for the kind words, and we totally understand. We do have a home base in Tennessee where we live now, so our journey in the van is more or less long road trips rather than full-time like the last few years. We agree completely, she is a blessing and she is such a wonderful baby. We’ve gotten well adjusted to the nights with her, thankfully they’ve been super easy for the most part!

[@billstephens396]

@@mariajoseandchase Glad to hear that she is "allowing" you both to sleep... TN is a wonderful state, as I have family in NE TN... Raise that gal right and she'll bring love and honor to your family name!

[@dawnbishop3315]

@@mariajoseandchase I just want to say how you two raise your daughter is your own business and even if you were fulltime living in the van and traveling and home schooling your daughter, she may just be better for it because it's not like it's that sort of festival happening every weekend and there is nothing worse than public schools and "fake a** busy body neighborhoods" just saying. I loved this vlog though it was real and if I didn't already have such a massive craving for it, you definitely sealed it for me so thank you and I wish your family safe travels! 🚐🪅

[@NoOverhead]

This was great!!

[@mariajoseandchase]

Thanks friend! Tried to show the reality of it as much as possible.

[@SteampunkSteve]

I can't believe that I wandered down to your camp a few times to shoot a bus tour video and didn't see you. 😳

[@myweeskoolie7504]

Hi SPS! ( maybe it's coz those Sprinter van's all look alike, unlike Skoolies) so nice to see Chase & Maria again! Their wee girl is so cute! She looks a lot like Chase ♡

[@proudhavenot]

I went to my first RTR a few years back, was invited to attend a skoolie event, didn't go. I parked on the outskirts of the RTR event. This was before they went into town, it was made up of hundreds, if not thousands of followers, huge, and groupies with a much different agenda. It's why I won't go to these types of events anymore. And, if you notice, there is a marketing trend towards these groups which, in my view, goes against the goal. I still want to meet up, but not in an outdoor concert environment. Just me.

[@mariajoseandchase]

We did the same with RTR. Parked way south of the event and walked in once to see what it was about.

[@proudhavenot]

@@mariajoseandchase Yep. It's funny, because the Q as a town is actually cool, but as soon as everyone shows up, it's a much different space. ;)

[@leticiahernandez5014]

I work at a convenience store and we have to take the trash n take it to the dumpsters rain or shine. I don't know why u didn't take yours to a dumpster.

[@mariajoseandchase]

Hey Leticia! We hear you. Unfortunately most of the dumpsters we’ve come across in Arizona and California, including this one at the 76 are locked, therefore we use the bins at the pump while we’re paying for fuel. In our former work lives, we had to also carry waste and trash from paying and non paying customers to the dumpster, in rain, snow, extreme hot, and extreme cold conditions so we get it. It was unfortunately a part of our jobs then as well, so we did it. Hope that helps clear up why we didn’t just take it to the dumpster our selves. Also many of the dumpsters we do find have “No dumping of any kind” signs and many business owner frown upon depositing any external trash in them. It’s a weird situation and a weird world.

[@matissta]

Felt like I was there

[@Nivasi]

Bart knows everybody! LOL

[@mariajoseandchase]

Haha! He’s literally everywhere.

[@Nivasi]

@@mariajoseandchase another one is Luke / Digital Nomad ( his bus is known before he walks out)

[@stephopalopal]

😘❤️👍

[@distinctivemf1918]

See you in January

[@mariajoseandchase]

We won’t be out there this go around.

[@distinctivemf1918]

@@mariajoseandchase bummer. I hate myself for missing it the last three years and I cannot wait to show my bus off

[@distinctivemf1918]

@@mariajoseandchase Florida here

[@mariajoseandchase]

@@distinctivemf1918 we had a lot of fun the first few years. Last year was a turning point for us regarding the event. I’m sure you’ll still be able to find a good time but it was too much of everything we didn’t want to be a part of

[@charlestait5303]

Is it just me or does schooipalusa seem more slab cityish😮

[@georgeritmeester4736]

You don't need pancake mix to make pancakes.

[@mariajoseandchase]

You're right, BUT we didn't have flour, sugar, eggs, or baking soda. It was easy to ride to the store and buy a box that has all those ingredients in it, rather than multiple ingredients for the same end result.

[@michellecastaneda4104]

I went this year for the first time. Let's just say I left after 3 days very disappointed. Met people there that I wasn't expecting let's just say that. Not so nice

[@mariajoseandchase]

We stayed much longer than we expected or anticipated, but it’s because we finally found the friends we wanted to be around. The event has become something rather undesirable as a whole.

[@michellecastaneda4104]

@@mariajoseandchase you said it right there, you found your group of people. I've been traveling 10 years now transitioning into full-time now. And I would say that's the hardest part is finding your group of people.

[@jamessignorelli852]

Sorry that America has let your foreign girlfriend down but I enjoyed last year Scooby palooza it was my first and I enjoyed it much fun much friendship and it was just a joy to be there

[@mariajoseandchase]

America let my *wife down how? Last years Skoolie was awesome if you’re really into benders and EDM.

[@biglug9364]

It would appear that some of the people now attending school apalooza are trying to change it into a mini version of burning Man sad to see😢 when we go to quartzsite we will not park anywhere near skooliepalooza

[@r8edrv4fun65]

Why not just politely ask them to move their camp out of the road.

[@mariajoseandchase]

They weren’t there. Otherwise we would have. It wasn’t that big of a deal, just worth noting. We see things like this a lot, people parked with gas cars at diesel pumps, people parking on the road in and out of blm land, et cetera. Just part of it I guess. We don’t get too bothered by it anymore.

[@maggiebrattoli383]

Dusty, windy, cold, dirty, loud, etc, etc, etc. no thank you.

[@mariajoseandchase]

Pretty accurate haha

[@adifferentworld404]

2024 was terrible!!!! this was my last year going!!!

[@mariajoseandchase]

It truly looked awful. We've been keeping up with the drama and the daily (and nightly) dealings. Truly ran into the ground and let loose to the crazies.

[@adifferentworld404]

@@mariajoseandchase I drove from Atlanta all the way there, I’ve been the last 3 times but something told me to skip this one but I ended up going and it was a complete waste of time! No bus tours and only partying!! They wanna tire Skooliepalooza in the burning man so bad!!

[@anitaevangel8742]

...skoolie Palooza has become burning man 2.0...SAD

[@mariajoseandchase]

Truthfully though, burning man at least in large looks after the land and other people. Skooliepalooza is just a mess and people are openly and actively trashing the environment without respect for others.

[@jackkinnear7234]

why do people go to skoolie paloza if you dont have a skoolie?

[@mariajoseandchase]

We went to skooliepalooza for a few years with our bus conversion. It's an event for everyone, enthusiasts, bus owners, rvers, van lifers, anyone who wants to check out rigs and hang out in the desert. It was a super cool event but has turned into a shitshow over the years.

[@r8edrv4fun65]

I can't believe I'm saying this but that sounds like random noise, not music at all.

[@mariajoseandchase]

We’re in the same boat. Just noise.

[@briancoughlin6732]

Why are there critics of this gathering i don't understand leave people alone

[@mariajoseandchase]

Because it’s okay and perfectly normal to have an opinion of anything. We’ve been at skoolie since the beginning and the last few years the popularity of the event has brought bad actors and people who don’t care for the environment, leaving tons of trash when they hike out of town. I don’t understand why there are critics of peoples experiences. Leave people alone, Brian.

[@jamessignorelli852]

I don't mean this to sound the wrong way but you can tell these people have homes where they normally live they don't live full time on the road you can tell by their faces and their attitude and the way they dress that they don't live on the road full time because you're a waste society is it's the hardest thing I've ever done

[@mariajoseandchase]

@@jamessignorelli852 hey James! You must be new here, so no worries. We don’t take it the wrong way. To catch you up to speed, we sold our home in 2018 and have been traveling full time since. We’ve been documenting our life on the road since we set off and wildly enough, it’s all here on this channel. We’ve stopped from time to time to help family, or to visit family, but we’ve been without a home that wasn’t a van or a bus since then. That said, I respectfully disagree. Life on the road is wildly easy and enjoyable. Some aspects can be difficult or frustrating, but we plan a lot and we design our rigs for optimal creature comfort. I’m happy to hear that our attitudes, faces, and I guess how we dress portray the enjoyment we have here on the road.

[@mariajoseandchase]

@@jamessignorelli852 but while I’m here, I noticed you’ve come back to this video of ours again and I would still love to understand what you meant about the comment regarding my “foreign girlfriend” being let down by America, whatever that means.