Camp Bernstein, Blue Lake’s Junior Camp, is ideal for personal and individualized instruction for young musicians. A special program for band and orchestra students, it features an atmosphere which promotes positive social relationships, building selfesteem, and rapid musical growth. And as with all Blue Lake programs, Camp Bernstein’s primary goal is to send campers home motivated and with new enthusiasm.

Camp Bernstein’s programs are carefully structured to provide students with a warm and nurturing learning environment. In order to establish a close relationship between student and teacher, Camp Bernstein cabin counselors, who are typically arts education majors in their later, more advanced years of study, are involved in the junior campers’ instruction as well as recreation and basic supervision. The Camp Bernstein conductors and staff help to promote a friendly and fun atmosphere for learning about music and other fine arts.

A camper’s typical day at Camp Bernstein features many group activities, an unhurried schedule, and time for recreation and free time. Daily full ensemble rehearsals and sectional/technique classes provide campers with significant musical growth over the twelve-day session. In addition to daily recreation and free time, Bernstein campers participate in minor classes, including Art, Theater, Choir, Jazz Studies, History of Music, or Nature Studies. These required courses introduce campers to a wide variety of creative processes through small projects, games, group activities, and lessons.

Concerts, recitals, talent shows, skit nights, camp fires, dances, cabin parties, and cookouts fill the campers’ evenings with fun and excitement. Throughout the session, Camp Bernstein also takes field trips to Central Camp to hear a variety of performances in Blue Lake’s Stewart Shell.

 

Recommended Age and Experience Levels

Band:
Sessions I and II
Grades 7 – 8 next school year 1 ½ to 3 years music study*

Sessions III and IV
Grades 6 – 7 next school year 6 months to 1 ½ years music study

Orchestra:
Sessions I and II
Grades 7 – 8 next school year 2 to 4 years music study*

Sessions III and IV
Grades 5 – 7 next school year 1 to 3 years music study

*Although students eligible for sessions I and II of Junior Camp are also old enough for Blue Lake’s Central Camp Intermediate Sessions III and IV, campers may prefer the more specialized and less competitive environment of Camp Bernstein, especially if it is their first time away from home.

Camp Bernstein Conductors 2013

Session 1:  June 26 – July 7
Band—Allman Todd, Big Rapids, MI
Orchestra—David Sowerby, Caledonia, MI

Session 2:  July 10 – July 21
Band—Ricardo Vazquez, Elmhurst, IL
Orchestra—Barbara Scott,Elmhurst, IL

Session 3:  July 24 – August 4
Band—Stephanie Purvis, New Era, MI
Orchestra—Jessica Fiedorowicz, South Haven, MI

Session 4:  August 7 – August 18
Band—To Be Announced
Orchestra—Lynn Brosnan, West Bloomfield, MI

 

Camp Bernstein

2013 Calendar
Session I: June 26 – July 7 Session II: July 10 – July 21 Session III: July 24 – August 4 Session IV: August 7 – August 18

 

All Camp Bernstein Campers are required to pay a $40 minor fee.