A Love Letter to Camp
By Peri Griffiths, Music House Camp Coordinator
Excitement buzzes through the air as we hand out popsicles to thirty campers gathered at our cluster of colorful picnic tables in the yard. It is approximately 3:50pm on a hot, humid, Summer Friday. Rain clouds threaten in the distance but nothing will rain on our campers parade. It’s the most anticipated part of the week, and it’s not because of the popsicles. Okay, it’s a little bit because of the popsicles… but mostly it’s because of the legendary Friday Performance.
The first thing our teachers hear from students who return to camp is “what will we perform on Friday?” but really, it is up to them. The format for our camps is generally the same each week. Every hour campers rotate through a variety of classes, regularly including rock band, art, theater, ukulele, and violin. But the Friday performance is never the same. As a theatre artist myself I may be partial to the plays, but I am consistently impressed and entertained by the wildly creative plots that our campers come up with. Devised theater is an art form that daunts even the most professional actor - but it comes so naturally to our campers. The wooden stage in our yard has become every setting imaginable, from a beach, to a doctors office, a group cooking class, and a magical forest (to name just a few). The real camp magic comes in when we make it (one of our favorite words) interdisciplinary! After campers establish their plot and characters earlier in the week they can opt to make props and costumes in art class, and it all comes together.
Another pillar of our Fridays are the music performances. Some weeks campers sing a song they learned, occasionally accompanied by the ukulele. But of course what really stands out are the rock band performances. Campers come up with lyrics in a hysterical mad-lib format and take turns trying all the different instruments before solidifying their roles in the band. It is really a sight to see on that stage, the best being the 4 and 5 year olds with their electric guitars or full drum kit while another sings about crazy gross ice cream flavors into the microphone, speakers blaring.
Campers also learn, if they don’t have a passion for the stage, all the important work that goes on behind the scenes. Kids who don’t want to be in the spotlight become stage managers, running sound cues from backstage. They become band managers and help load the gear onto the stage as if it was a real life touring gig. They become visual artists contracted to make cool posters promoting the band and their upcoming performance.
The best thing about our camps is that they are never just one thing, but a safe space for young artists to express themselves, explore disciplines, and discover new passions. Each week is different, each teacher and class brings a new focus and energy. We can’t wait to see what your young artist comes up with!
Warming up for the play in a costume made earlier that day in art class
Experiencing what it is like to be a true rock star by loading in their gear before the show!
