AACPS Summer Music Camp 2020
Cancelled 💔
Application Process
Auditions
Fill out the Google Form here to apply for camp, then let your teacher know so they can have a rough estimate of who is attending auditions. There are two groups for which you can apply: Intermediate Choir is open for grades 6-12, and Advanced Choir is open for grades 7-12. Audition for the group you think would most be suited for - when in doubt, ask your teachers' advice!
Date/Time/Location: 6-8 PM, February 18th or February 19th 2020 (You can pick the night that suits you best to audition. George Fox Middle School. There are no specific time slots - they are open auditions. Come any time in between 6 & 8, sign in, do your thing, and leave feeling proud of the courage you had to audition!
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The Audition Experience: Students will prepare to perform the song "The Water is Wide" or "Irish Folk Song" for a panel of judges, made up of music teachers from the county. The student must audition by themselves, not with a friend. The song will be sung acapella and memorized. Once finished with the prepared piece, the student will complete two sight reading examples: the first is only rhythms, and the student can clap, tap, or count the example out loud; whatever method the student is most comfortable with. The second example is melodic, meaning the student will have to sing the appropriate pitches in the appropriate rhythm. The student will be given a 45 second study period before each sight reading example. Students will find out if they are accepted within a week, via their school teacher after the AACPS Music Office forwards the results to us.
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Why auditions?:
The reason we audition students for this camp is to maintain a high-quality environment for the students who participate. A week-long music camp can be intense at times, and we want students who are dedicated to the cause to be a part of what we do. We still view it as an educational opportunity: students will judged on their current skills, as well as the growth/potential the student has.
Rehearsal
Expectations:
It is expected that students will be present at and actively involved in all rehearsals. The rehearsals are approximately 2 hours long per "session" to facilitate time for breaks, rec, meals, and attention spans ☻These 2 hour rehearsals will most often be in a group setting, but we could sometime split up for sectionals if the director prefers. It also allows for time for water/bathroom breaks.
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Materials:
Students will have music provided to them when they arrive at camp on Sunday, or Monday at the first rehearsal. After this, students are responsible for bringing their music, a pencil, water, and any other materials the guest conductor requests for EACH rehearsal.
Meals
Meal Layout:
All the meals are served "family style". There are different meals each day such as Mexican, Italian, pizza night; breakfast could be toast, eggs, pancakes or waffles, bacon; and lunches are sandwiches, salads, etc. If you child has a dietary need such as vegetarian, gluten free, or the like, there are options at every meal for them as well. Students are assigned a table that they will sit at for the entire week. At the table, there are a mix of middle and high school students, as well as a counselor to help encourage conversation.
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Being a Hopper:
Students are asked to be hoppers at a minimum of one meal per week to help facilitate the feeding of hundreds of campers, counselors, guest conductors, and other staff members. The meal at which you are assigned to be a hopper, you will report to the dining hall 30 minutes before the meal start time. At breakfast, this means waking up a tad early. For lunch and dinner, it means leaving rehearsal or rec early to help set up. But remember, you only have to do this once during your camp week. As a hopper, during meals you are in charge of going back to the kitchen to get more food if your table runs out. At the end of the meal, everyone at the table is in charge of helping to clean the area, but hoppers are responsible for taking the stacked dishes, silverware, and trash to assorted bins at the front of the dining hall for cleaning.
Schedule
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday - arrive @ camp, get settled in cabins, getting to know you activities
Monday - rehearsal & rec
Tuesday - rehearsal & rec
Wednesday- rehearsal & rec
Thursday - morning rehearsal & rec, concert, then home
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Daily Schedule:
7 AM-7:45 AM: Wake up/get ready for the day
Breakfast
~2 hours rehearsal
~2 hours of rec time
Lunch
~2 hours of rehearsals
~2 hours of rec time
Dinner
Evening activity
Back to cabins
10:30 PM - 11 PM Bedtime
Rec Time
Activities to Choose From:
• various extra ensembles (ukulele, pop 'capella, etc.)​
• outdoor rock climbing wall
• gym & outdoor area (gaga pit, basketball, volleyball, frisbee, cornhole, football
• dry zip line
• wet zip line
• kayaking
• pool
• giant swing
• ropes course
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Guidelines:
• students do not have to attend rec activities in blocked time other than the 2 hours given to them, but they are expected to be present at a rec location with an AACPS or NorthBay employee, or directly en route to one of these locations, at all times. While fun is the optimal experience, safety of students is the #1 priority.
Payment
For the Nervous Parent
Total Cost:
The full sticker price of camp is $550. At first, this seems like a lot. But here are some facts to help justify that cost and put your mind at ease.
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⇾This is MUCH less money than most other summer camps cost.
⇾You can be considered for a scholarship through the AACPS Music Office by filling out an application.
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What your child gets for that money:
⇾They get to work with a guest conductor from other parts of the state or country.
⇾Staff (music teachers from all over AACPS) that have given up their summer to make sure these kids are safe and have a FANTASTIC experience.
⇾Quality music instruction that will set them up for success the following school year(s) in their content area.
⇾T-Shirt to wear for the concert & to remember camp by.
⇾Approximately 12 hours of time in which they can do all the "adventure" components.
⇾12 all you can eat meals.
⇾Lodging in thoroughly cleaned, air conditioned cabins.
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And of course, the friends and memories they'll have from what many campers and staff alike have described as the best 5 days of their summer!
My child isn't allowed to take their phone? But what happens if I need to get in contact with them?
You will be provided with the camp phone number, where you can call, will be connected with an AACPS staff member, and then can contact your child.
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My child takes daily meds, but I want to make sure they are taken. What can I do?
NorthBay has a certified nurse on site 24/7. There are announcements made before and after each meal to remind students to go take their meds in the nurses office. However, if they are not marked as having taken them within half an hour of when they should, the nurse will track down that student to ensure the medicine is taken.
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This is partly an adventure camp, and kids are bound to hurt themselves. What sort of protocols are in place for that?
Each rec activity is supervised by multiple AACPS employees at all times. Also, for the bigger attractions (giant swing, zip lines, rope course), NorthBay has trained and certified employees that are in charge of suiting kids with harnesses and helmets to ensure their absolute safety. And when all else fails, note above where it was mentioned that there is a nurse on site 24/7.
From Ms. Louder
To "my humans" and their families alike:
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I believe in this camp. From the bottom of my heart, I wish it were something every student would get to experience. It is such a worthwhile cause in more way than one: educationally, mentally, socially, emotionally, and musically. I had the privilege and absolute joy of being a counselor over the 2019 camp, and as I've been a part of many music camps myself (both from the student and teacher perspective), this one truly brings something special to the table. Not many public schools have this opportunity to present to their students, and this is a camp that is talked about on a state-wide basis. People hear the hype and are interested, and they are not disappointed if they have the chance to attend or experience it for themselves. Even among AACPS, not many students have are pushed to do this camp, as their teachers don't know how amazing it is: I have the inside scoop, having been a counselor, and family, I IMPLORE you to take your child's request seriously if they show interest in auditioning. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns that I can alleviate, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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All my best,
Megan ♬