As the calendar flips from July to August, band families begin the final preparations for band camp. Our students have been fully immersed in weekly rehearsals all summer - but band camp weeks will still be an awakening into the world that is Marching Band. I have been reviewing blog posts from previous July/August posts as inspiration for what to include here in my own post - and I would encourage you to do the same. There’s a lot of wisdom and history in those posts. Some are straightforward and informative while others are humorous with a hint of sarcasm - but the overlapping reminders and insider tips are priceless. (LINK TO AN INFORMATIVE BLOG POST FROM THE PAST) (Here is another good post - check out the images!)
Let’s start with the basics: there are THREE camps remaining this season. Pre-Camp, Band Camp, and Post-Camp. All three weeks are intense, long, and ultimately rewarding. It would be a good idea to go back and review my earlier blog post for reminders of what to expect.
Here’s the schedule from the directors:
Pre-Camp
Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31; 8:00am - 4:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00 pm each day
*Don't forget our Marching Band Family Dessert Socialon Wednesday, July 30, 7:00-8:30 pm at Johnson Park! Bring a dessert or snack to share, and any fun lawn games etc!
Band Camp
Monday, August 4 - Friday, August 8; 9:00am - 9:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00pm
Dinner is served by the Band Boosters each evening
*Students should plan to stay until 10:00 pm on Thursday night for our Band Camp dance. On Friday evening, students will be dismissed after our Community Performance, around 8:00 pm.
Post-Camp
Tuesday, August 12 - Thursday, August 14; 8:00am - 4:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00pm
*Students will have their high school orientations during this week. We will accommodate those orientation times, details will be provided closer to those dates.
Now let me explain in Band Parent terms:
Band camps are mandatory. Your band member NEEDS to be there. Make sure your band member is arriving at designated locations at least 15 - 20 minutes prior to the start of camps. Students are frequently responsible for gathering items from the band/guard rooms and moving them to designated locations. As Vince Lombardi said, “If you’re early, you’re on time, If you’re on time, you’re late…”
Make sure your band member has all of the proper equipment for the camp weeks.
Dot book - if you haven’t picked one up yet - there are fantastic options at Dollar Tree in Jenison for $1.25.
3 ring binder with clear paper protectors
Pencils - mechanical (there’s not pencil sharpener on the field)
String or shoelace - this is for wearing your dog book during rehearsals.
Large water bottle/jug filled with ice and water! (freeze those solo cups!)
Healthy snack (nothing that melts) for a quick snack if needed during breaks.
Hat, sunglasses, sunblock, chapstick, cooling towel, after sun lotion/aloe
Khaki Shorts for the Community Performance (black athletic shorts for guard)
Appropriate shoes (not sandals, not slides, not crocs…)
Your band member will need to pack a healthy lunch and a snack for EVERY day of all three camps. Students will still eat together - but the meal itself is not provided. Some of the older band members will go to local fast food locations, while many others bring a sack lunch and stay at school.
Dinner will be provided and served during band camp week by the Feed the Band Committee and volunteers. Encourage your band members to fuel their body in a healthy, well balanced way. (AND STAY WELL HYDRATED)
The Marching Band Family Dessert Social (formerly known as the MB Family Picnic) is a great opportunity to mingle and get to know fellow band parents. Bring a dessert - preferably NUT FREE. If your dish contains nuts - please label it clearly! Your dish does NOT have to be homemade - this should be fun - not stressful. This year the dessert social will be at Johnson Park, on Wednesday, July 30 from 7pm - 8:30pm. If you have lawn games you’re willing to bring - the students and families always seem to enjoy relaxing and playing together.
The Band Camp Dance is an annual tradition for that Thursday night of band camp week. Students bring a change of clothes and some deodorant so that after rehearsal that night they can dance, play games, and have fun with their fellow band members. This is not an optional activity - it is a part of band camp and a great opportunity to bond off the field. There will be parent chaperones there and the kids make great memories and frequently carry on traditions of funny costumes, group dances, and forming inside jokes. I have seen many students cultivate friendships at the dance that continue throughout their marching band and high school years.
The Community Performance is the first formal opportunity for parents, families, neighbors, and community members to see everything that the Jenison High School Marching Band has been working on all summer. The performance will demonstrate the warm ups, the music, and typically part one of the show. I love this performance personally because you get the chance to see where your band member is on the field and hear the music. If this is your first community performance don’t be surprised that it feels incomplete - it still is - remember that the show is a continual work in progress. Remember, that any evening, during band camp, you can come to the football field at the end of the night to see the “full run through.” Honestly, witnessing the progression of the show is my favorite part of band camp. I love seeing them start from the first day and each day witnessing the beginning of the show take shape, the confidence and pride that the students have in their work.
Post Camp is the same week as Orientations. Students will be dismissed during their designated times to go to their orientations. Since school pictures are taken at orientation - band members should remember to bring what they plan to wear, and any toiletries they may need to refresh themselves as they join their classmates at their designated orientation. They will attend their open house and then promptly return to rehearsals.
As always, if there are questions - don’t hesitate to ask! Let the countdown to “official band season” begin! 10, 9, 8…
Band Blog Mom -
Kate
Let’s start with the basics: there are THREE camps remaining this season. Pre-Camp, Band Camp, and Post-Camp. All three weeks are intense, long, and ultimately rewarding. It would be a good idea to go back and review my earlier blog post for reminders of what to expect.
Here’s the schedule from the directors:
Pre-Camp
Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31; 8:00am - 4:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00 pm each day
*Don't forget our Marching Band Family Dessert Socialon Wednesday, July 30, 7:00-8:30 pm at Johnson Park! Bring a dessert or snack to share, and any fun lawn games etc!
Band Camp
Monday, August 4 - Friday, August 8; 9:00am - 9:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00pm
Dinner is served by the Band Boosters each evening
*Students should plan to stay until 10:00 pm on Thursday night for our Band Camp dance. On Friday evening, students will be dismissed after our Community Performance, around 8:00 pm.
Post-Camp
Tuesday, August 12 - Thursday, August 14; 8:00am - 4:00pm*
Lunch is "on your own" - 12:00 - 1:00pm
*Students will have their high school orientations during this week. We will accommodate those orientation times, details will be provided closer to those dates.
Now let me explain in Band Parent terms:
Band camps are mandatory. Your band member NEEDS to be there. Make sure your band member is arriving at designated locations at least 15 - 20 minutes prior to the start of camps. Students are frequently responsible for gathering items from the band/guard rooms and moving them to designated locations. As Vince Lombardi said, “If you’re early, you’re on time, If you’re on time, you’re late…”
Make sure your band member has all of the proper equipment for the camp weeks.
Dot book - if you haven’t picked one up yet - there are fantastic options at Dollar Tree in Jenison for $1.25.
3 ring binder with clear paper protectors
Pencils - mechanical (there’s not pencil sharpener on the field)
String or shoelace - this is for wearing your dog book during rehearsals.
Large water bottle/jug filled with ice and water! (freeze those solo cups!)
Healthy snack (nothing that melts) for a quick snack if needed during breaks.
Hat, sunglasses, sunblock, chapstick, cooling towel, after sun lotion/aloe
Khaki Shorts for the Community Performance (black athletic shorts for guard)
Appropriate shoes (not sandals, not slides, not crocs…)
Your band member will need to pack a healthy lunch and a snack for EVERY day of all three camps. Students will still eat together - but the meal itself is not provided. Some of the older band members will go to local fast food locations, while many others bring a sack lunch and stay at school.
Dinner will be provided and served during band camp week by the Feed the Band Committee and volunteers. Encourage your band members to fuel their body in a healthy, well balanced way. (AND STAY WELL HYDRATED)
The Marching Band Family Dessert Social (formerly known as the MB Family Picnic) is a great opportunity to mingle and get to know fellow band parents. Bring a dessert - preferably NUT FREE. If your dish contains nuts - please label it clearly! Your dish does NOT have to be homemade - this should be fun - not stressful. This year the dessert social will be at Johnson Park, on Wednesday, July 30 from 7pm - 8:30pm. If you have lawn games you’re willing to bring - the students and families always seem to enjoy relaxing and playing together.
The Band Camp Dance is an annual tradition for that Thursday night of band camp week. Students bring a change of clothes and some deodorant so that after rehearsal that night they can dance, play games, and have fun with their fellow band members. This is not an optional activity - it is a part of band camp and a great opportunity to bond off the field. There will be parent chaperones there and the kids make great memories and frequently carry on traditions of funny costumes, group dances, and forming inside jokes. I have seen many students cultivate friendships at the dance that continue throughout their marching band and high school years.
The Community Performance is the first formal opportunity for parents, families, neighbors, and community members to see everything that the Jenison High School Marching Band has been working on all summer. The performance will demonstrate the warm ups, the music, and typically part one of the show. I love this performance personally because you get the chance to see where your band member is on the field and hear the music. If this is your first community performance don’t be surprised that it feels incomplete - it still is - remember that the show is a continual work in progress. Remember, that any evening, during band camp, you can come to the football field at the end of the night to see the “full run through.” Honestly, witnessing the progression of the show is my favorite part of band camp. I love seeing them start from the first day and each day witnessing the beginning of the show take shape, the confidence and pride that the students have in their work.
Post Camp is the same week as Orientations. Students will be dismissed during their designated times to go to their orientations. Since school pictures are taken at orientation - band members should remember to bring what they plan to wear, and any toiletries they may need to refresh themselves as they join their classmates at their designated orientation. They will attend their open house and then promptly return to rehearsals.
As always, if there are questions - don’t hesitate to ask! Let the countdown to “official band season” begin! 10, 9, 8…
Band Blog Mom -
Kate
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