Virginia
Children/Youth Camp

Children/Youth Camp is a great opportunity for children and youth ages 8-17 to sing and learn with others. They will sing in choir under an experienced director who will make it both educational and fun. Classes will help children read and understand music as they learned to read and understand words.

Learning

Children/Youth Camp is Monday – Friday, 10:00AM – 3:20PM. In choir, students see the music, notes, rests, and rhythms. In class, they learn what those things mean and how they work together to form a song. The teachers work hard to customize material for each age level so it’s accessible and exciting.

Sharing

Camp is also a social experience. Lunches are provided, and everyone gets to eat together. Camp also includes recreation and games – a welcome break from the mental work of classes and choir.

Singing

All the learning and singing during the week is building toward an end goal – performing at ChoralFest, getting to share what they’ve been learning with family and other audience members. This is a highly satisfying chance to show what they did throughout the week.

Registration: March 1 @ 6:00 AM EST

Meet the 3 C’s of your learning experience:

Choir. Class. Choral Festival.

Treble and Youth Choirs are both for Family Package students and for local students.

Treble Choir (Ages 8-12)

This choir is for treble voices only. (Male singers in this age range with changed voices may be promoted to the Youth Choir.) Treble Choir rehearses twice daily. Students enrolled in choir also participate in Dress Rehearsal and ChoralFest.

Conductor: Kristin Nolt

Youth Choir (Ages 13-17)
This SATB choir rehearses twice daily. Students enrolled in choir also participate in Dress Rehearsal and ChoralFest.

Conductor: Ryan Kimberlin

When we first start school, we learn about letters, how letters form words, and how words form sentences. In musical skills class, we do the same thing – only with music. Students will learn about notes, rhythms, rests, pitches, and how they all fit together to form a song. Class placement is by age.

Ages 8-10: Musical Skills I
Ages 11-12: Musical Skills II
Ages 13-14: Musical Skills III
Ages 15-17: Musical Skills III or Adult Rudiments*

Skills Instructors:

Regina Brubaker
Kristin Nolt
Jeff Swanson

*Students ages 15-17 may choose to take an online test and be placed into an Adult Rudiments class (view class description). This class will require purchasing a textbook. First-time participants are required to take an online placement test before coming to camp. Youth who have taken an Adult Rudiments class in a prior year will be placed in the next level unless they request to retake a level. Students who do not complete the test will be placed in Musical Skills III.

All students enrolled in choir sing in the ChoralFest, including the dress rehearsal on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, children should be at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren by 5:00PM for practice and dress rehearsal. Children should have supper prior to coming to practice.

On Sunday, the formal ChoralFest begins at 3:00PM. Children should be at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren by 2:00PM, dressed in their formal choir attire.

Children should bring games and books to occupy themselves quietly during and between programs. Following the afternoon program, supper will be served. After dismissal of the evening program, children are once again the responsibility of their parents.

Schedules

	At Calvary Mennonite Fellowship
9:50	Registration (Monday only)
10:00	Arrival
10:15	Choir Rehearsal 1
11:30	Treble Choir Study Time Youth Choir Lunch & Recreation
11:40	Treble Choir Lunch & Recreation
12:50	Musical Skills I-III (optional Adult Rudiments for age 15-17)
1:00	Rudiments (ages 15-17)
2:10	Choir Rehearsal 2
3:20	Dismissal

	At Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
4:45	Arrival
5:00	Choir Rehearsal
7:00	Dress Rehearsal

	At Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
1:45	Arrival
2:00	Choir Rehearsal
3:00	ChoralFest Concert I
5:30	Supper
6:30	ChoralFest Concert II

Dress Code

Follow camp dress guidelines as much as possible.
BOYS: Three-button shirts & jeans are permitted due to recreational activities. No t-shirts.
Wear shoes or sandals. Do not go barefoot or wear flip flops.

Program Attire

Solid-colored black pants and white dress shirts (long or short sleeved) for boys.
Black dresses for girls. If black is unavailable, a dark solid is acceptable.

What ages are allowed in Children/Youth Camp?

Ages 8-17 are welcome.

What are attendance expectations?

Children and youth are expected to attend all classes and choir rehearsals in the schedule. Please do not be absent without first communicating with administration.

What if my son has a changed voice?

Changed voices are welcome! He will sing in the Youth Choir.

Do my children need to wear concert attire at dress rehearsal?

No, their daily class attire will be fine.

Can my child attend without me attending?

Yes, a child is welcome to attend camp even if their parents are not students. All transportation as well as childcare and supervision outside of Children’s Camp hours must be completely arranged by the parent.

What guidelines are in place at camp to ensure the safety of children and youth?

SCMC instructors and staff who teach or supervise students under age 18 at camp have completed abuse awareness and prevention training through Ministry Safe and have had a background check completed. In addition, they annually review and agree to follow the SCMC policies for the protection of minors.

Fees

The total cost for Children/Youth Camp is $195.
*Textbook cost will be in addition to this.