Today’s guest post is from Fran Kick, professional speaker, author and division head of the Leadership Weekend Experience at the Music for All Summer Symposium presented by Yamaha.
Admittedly, a summer camp experience for some kids serves as a temporary separation from home and family. It’s a chance to briefly be on your own and experience a taste of “dealing with the world” in a developmentally appropriate way. Having worked with a variety of summer camps – from Boy Scout camps to Girl Scout camps, collegiate camps to cabin camps, church camps to band camps – I can personally attest to Music for All having one of the finest music summer camp programs in the country!
Not just because of the spectacular staff, the high-calibre clinicians, the first-class concerts and super SWAG Team volunteers. But more uniquely than other camps, the welcoming and closing activities Music for All intentionally creates for parents. You see many camps are a “dump and run” proposition for both parents and kids. Yet Music for All understands their mission to reach beyond students and directors to parents and communities. For one week, we strive to create a kind of community that cares about everyone involved. Bringing parents in on both the beginning and ending of Symposium significantly ties together the experience for students and their families. Plus, it provides a bridge from home, to what we do at Ball State, to back home again – where ideally the lessons learned at camp are brought to life the rest of the year.
When more people in a student’s life are “in on that process,” the more impactful the inspiration and instruction they receive becomes – long term. That’s why as a fellow parent (with a daughter who’s also attending the 2013 Summer Symposium) I want to sincerely encourage every parent who can make the roadtrip to attend the first day and the last day of this year’s camp experience. I promise both days will be inspiring. To see 1,000+ students, performers and teachers launch one of the largest summer camps in America is a sight to see. Plus, you’ll get to have an exclusive sneak peek into “how we do what we do” following the opening session. Consider it a behind the scenes chance to find out how Music for All brings its mission to life.
Then plan on coming back Saturday morning. We’ll buy you breakfast, share a bit about how YOU can “be in on making the magic last longer back home,” and share some constructive ideas on how students tend to decompress after such an intense camp experience. You’ll get to see and hear final performances and concerts as well as participate in our family picnic – where anyone and everyone can take part in a drum-circle team-building leadership hands-on experience. (No previous drum skills required!)
Please do join us Monday and Saturday at the 2013 Music for All Summer Symposium so we can KICK IT IN!
Fran Kick
Read more about Parent and Family Activities
Download Flyer for Parent and Family Activities at Camp
