Summer Band Camp

Overview

At the end of July (and the beginning of August depending on how the calendar falls), we begin preparation for our marching band season that runs alongside the football schedule. This preparation includes a week of meetings for seniors, Student Leadership Team, drumline, and an orientation for freshmen on the Thursday of that week. This "pre-camp" week is then followed by a full band rehearsal the Sunday prior to camp and a brief camp meeting so parents know what the camp experience will look like. We then depart for camp at Eagle Village Monday morning and remain there until Thursday night. Students will report Friday for a rehearsal in the late morning, pictures in the afternoon, followed by a performance demonstrating what we did that week that concludes our camp experience. Further detail on each aspect will be broken down below. 

Why Do We Do Camp? 

The camp experience is integral to the success of our program for a variety of reasons. During our camp and pre-camp, we cover all material and techniques included in our pre-game and half-time shows for the season. Usually, our first football game falls within the first few weeks of the school year, which leaves us no time to properly rehearse our contribution to the game. 

In addition to the amount of information we cover, camp provides students with a strong bonding experience that helps create unity, friendships, confidence, and more. We work hard, but we also provide students with time with friends, games, and other traditions that they cherish. We have created a camp structure that is enjoyable for all students regardless of ability, social familiarity, or their level of experience being away from home. 

Pre-Camp

Pre-camp is the week prior to our departure to Eagle Village. 

At the core of this week is a series of evening drumline rehearsals that run 4-9 (with an hour dinner break) Monday through Thursday. Attendance to these rehearsals is expected from all members of the drumline. This schedule is paramount to the success of our entire ensemble, as drumline performs anywhere from 70-85% more music than the rest of the ensemble in the tradition of marching band. 

Monday evening will include a meeting for the senior class of the upcoming school year. This meeting is called to discuss aspects of how we recognize their commitment to the ensemble. We will cover topics such as their bonfire awards for underclassmen, their senior song/drill for later in the season, and more. 

Tuesday begins our Student Leadership Team (SLT) Training that extends to Wednesday as well. We will go over leadership training, marching and conducting technique, and prepare materials for the upcoming camp week. These 2 days of training are expected from all students appointed to SLT at the previous spring banquet. 

Our pre-camp week wraps up on Thursday with the final drum line rehearsal and our freshman clinic. Students who just completed 8th grade as well as our SLT are expected to attend. This clinic is for the purpose of bringing our new members into the fold, introducing them to our leaders, and brief them on some of the traditions and techniques that are a staple of our program. 

Camp

Our camp week begins Sunday at Western. We have all students report for briefing, dispersing materials, run throughs, and marching basics. At the end of this rehearsal, students load the trailer to head out Monday morning and parents attend a brief meeting in the auditorium that covers the ins and outs of camp. 

Monday morning, the busses arrive for loading and we depart for Eagle Village in Hersey, Michigan. Students pack for a 4 day 3 night stay where we rehearse, drill, break off with instrumental staff, and bond. During this week, we will cover marching basics, our pre-game music and drill, nearly (if not) all of half-time music and drill, parade marching, and all of the music we use in the stands. The busses will return Thursday night. 

Post-Camp Friday 

The final day of camp week, students get a night's rest at home Thursday night and return Friday for a few final things. We hold a rehearsal at 11 on Friday to make sure everything is running well for later on. Students will receive their "show shirt" which is the unofficial uniform T-shirt for our show that year and we will partake in some form of game before midday dismissal. 

Students will return in the afternoon for pictures with their cabins, sections, and seniors will have individual portraits taken. Following these pictures, the band will warm up in the parking lot. At 5, we will begin a demonstration performance of the things that we learned while away at Eagle Village. Upon completion of this performance, our camp experience concludes!