Where?
University of Central Arkansas in Conway
Directions at bottom of page.
Junior High Camp - June 16-21, 2008
Senior High Camp - June 22-28, 2008
Click HERE for a link to the official camp website.
Band Camp is a unique opportunity for kids to get together and make music, and to make friends with several hundred other young musicians. Students audition for placement, and will be a member of one of several different bands. They will also take part in master classes, all-region prep classes, and other musical activities as well as swimming, movies, dances and other evening activities.
Band camp is by no means required. It is expensive (because of housing and meals), but it provides a wonderful chance for the kids to put their musical training to good use, and have fun doing it. If your child sold candy during March, your profit may be used to offset the costs of camp tuition, provided your money has already been turned in.
We do not take a school bus to camp. Students will need their own rides. We suggest going down with your roommate - perhaps one set of parents can take you down and the other set pick you up at the end. Camp will end with a concert on the last day.
The camp registration deadline is June 1.
Here's the way the candy money works:
1) Go ahead and pay at least the deposit to the camp. Mail it to the JONESBORO address on the registration form. You may, of course, pay the entire amount at once.
2) On the first day of camp, send a check with any remaining balance with your child. They can pay the balance as they go through the registration line.
3) Your candy money will be given to you in the form of a check ON THE DAY CAMP BEGINS. Essentially, we will reimburse you for the amount of money you raised.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where will the kids stay? In the college dorms. They'll need sheets and stuff for a twin-sized bed, plus shower items and toiletries. Don't forget pillow and towels!
Who picks the roommates? The kids. Students who wish to room together must go through the registration line together. Only two people per room!
Are the kids supervised? Absolutely. We wouldn't be big on this camp if the kids could run wild. In the dorms, every floor will have some counselors on it, and adult dorm staff in the building. Adults supervise all activities, rehearsals and classes. At least one of our directors will be there at all times.
What about spending money? They'll need some. Although meals are provided, no kid can go the entire week without snacking or ordering pizza, or playing video games, or buying a soda between classes... The first time at camp generally provides a great life lesson about budgeting money!
How do I check up on my child? The camp has an office, which is manned until the kids go to the dorms at night. The phone number will be printed in the material you receive after registering for camp. If, for some reason, they don't answer, try back in a few minutes - with 800 kids, the staff stays busy. Some families send a cell phone with the kids. Make it a point to express to your child that you expect to hear from them, whether it be every day or whatever works for you. In emergencies, you may call Mr. Massey's cell phone - get the number when camp begins. Please don't use that number for non-emergencies, but call any time of day or night if it IS an emergency.
You mentioned auditions? Each student will spend the first afternoon auditioning for placement in a band, and chair placement within that band. The audition music has been available to the kids for a while, and they should be practicing on it to prepare for the auditions. Several hundred students will be auditioning, so if the kids aren't prepared, they will be stuck in a lower band than they'll want. They'll still enjoy themselves, but will probably regret not placing higher.
Can I come visit my child? Sure. You won't be able to disrupt classes, but feel free to come by to take your child out for a meal or whatever. BE SURE, however, to check out through the office. The staff will panic if your child isn't accounted for. And isn't that what you want to hear?
What if my child gets homesick? You'll have to decide the best way to deal with that. Obviously, you could come at any time to take your child home, but you won't get a refund from the camp, and a life lesson will be lost. Most of the time, a friendly phone call from home or a personal visit fixes the problem. If you are dealing with homesickness, it's likely that the directors don't know about it. Feel free to leave us a message at the camp office and we'll be happy to find them and check on them.
OTHER NECESSARY INFORMATION
Registration for JR Camp will be from 8:30a until 12:30p. SR Camp registration will be from 9:30a until 12:30p.
All students have a mandatory camp meeting at 1:00!
Roommates MUST go through the registration line together.
You MUST be at the 1:00 meeting. Auditions begin immediately following the meeting, so be sure to take your instrument to the meeting.
There is a REALLY long line towards the end of the registration time. Allow yourself plenty of time to register (which can take a while), move in to the dorm, hug your parents goodbye, and be on time for the 1:00 meeting.
Be sure to find one of the Pocahontas directors and let them know you've arrived.
Students are responsible for their own reeds, oils, etc. Percussion players will need their own snare drums, sticks, and perhaps mallets for keyboard instruments. You may check out a school snare drum before June 13.
Students are responsible for getting their own equipment and luggage to the camp - the directors won't be bringing it!
We issue candy checks on the first day of camp. If you don't go to camp, you won't get a check. If you leave early, you'll be expected to return the money.
Don't forget your instrument, tryout music, and supplies. Make sure your name and the word POCAHONTAS are clearly marked on your case.
Don't forget dorm supplies: sheets, blankets, pillow, towels, shampoo, SOAP, toothbrush, toothpaste, DEODORANT, etc.
Take some nicer clothes for the dances, and some nice clothes for the final concert. Don't forget your swimsuit! The SR Camp will have a costume dance - the theme will be sent in the registration material you'll get from the camp.
SR High will give concerts on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. On Wednesday, you will change music and directors, unless you're in the bottom few bands. JR High concerts are all on Saturday morning.
Once camp begins, there will be an office phone your parents can call. If they call to tell the staff that they haven't heard from you, it will be announced at the full-camp meeting! Call home to let your folks know you're OK!
Remember - you will be representing your band, your city and your family. Innappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Believe us on this.
Directions to camp:
From Pocahontas, take US67 south to Beebe.
Take exit 28, turn right, continue on US64 for about a half hour.
When coming in to Conway, stay on the same road. This is now Oak St. At the intersection of Oak and Harkrider (major intersection - Walgreens on corner), continue on same road through downtown Conway. You will cross Toad Suck Square, and cross a set of railroad tracks. Somewhere in this vicinity, the street becomes Caldwell street. Continue on it.
At Donaghey St. (stop light), turn left. Follow Donaghey to the UCA campus. Turn right on to campus in front of the AETN building. Follow this street until it ends (you'll be facing the cafeteria). Turn left and then take your first right. Turn right at the next stop sign. At the next intersection, the fine arts building will be across the street to your left. It is in this building that registration will be held.
Note: Some folks prefer the following route rather than driving through Conway:
When US64 meets I-40, turn left under the overpass to get on I-40. Take the exit for Dave Ward Drive. Turn right. Follow Dave Ward until you get to Donaghey street (stop light). Continue on Dave Ward to the next stop light - the street to the right is Farris Road (the street to the left isn't). Turn right on Farris Road. You will pass a wooded area on your right. About a mile up the road from where you turned, turn right at your first opportunity to enter the UCA campus (just before a large, newer building). Continue on this street to the first stop sign. Turn left and then take your first right. The next intersection will take you to the fine arts building (across the street on the left). This is where registration is held.