Questions about Interlochen and other music sleepaway camps
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Anonymous
Sure— that’s what I meant about the bunk experience. You do fun activities with your bunk mates a couple of times a week. Maybe you go swimming on the weekend or a polar bear dip one morning. But it’s not like you go to orchestra for an hour then sailing, then tennis, then arts and crafts, the swim every day like a non-specialty camp. It’s an arts camp and you spend your time doing your art. That’s what you pay $$$ for and don’t want the previous poster to think it is something other than it is. Someone asked about Luzerne— my kid also applied there two summers back (but choose Interlochen). I still follow them on Instagram and it looks like a lovely camp and I think my kid would have been happy there. However, I think they enjoy mixing with kids in the other programs. They’ve had a blast going to the musicals and art shows to see their bunk mates. |
Anonymous
| OP here. the website mentioned sailing. We will reach out and check. My kid loved PIMF which was only music, but I'm worried three weeks of that would be too much. My highest priority is not burning him out. |
Anonymous
French Woods is an arts/music camp that has other activities. I don't know if the level of instruction is as high as at Interlochen, but my child liked being able to mix being in an ensemble with non music activities. |
Anonymous
PP again that listed the activities. I agree with the other poster, I don’t want to oversell the “activities.”’They exist, but if your kid is there for music, for example, as a middle schooler, they will be in practice hour, lessons, or ensembles for at least 4 hours a days and also have daily theory. I consider that a pretty good balance when all the rest is low tech, mainly outdoor fun. But if you are expecting daily sailing, canoeing, archery or that level of camp, you are likely to be disappointed. |
Anonymous
| OP here with one more Interlochen question. Do they consider applications on a rolling basis, or do we have to wait until March to hear back no matter when my kid's application is in? |
Anonymous
Unfortunately you’ll have to wait till March. It is a little late for planning purposes IMO. However, kids that attend can apply and find out earlier in subsequent years. The non-portfolio/audition programs do let you know on a rolling basis, at least in our experience last year. |
Anonymous
| Maybe look at New England Music Camp. They also have sailing and other activities like archery. Beautiful setting. I don’t think it is as competitive as Interlochen but the kids all are really into music. |
Anonymous
| 30 years ago, Interlochen had a lovely waterfront for both the boys and girls sides w canoes, sunfish sailboats, etc and it was definitely a big part of our middle school level recreation. I recall getting my first leech on my toes ... ! We had to take the "Tippy Test" and purposefully tip our canoes over with our partner, find the air pocket underneath and sing the Interlochen song before righting the boat with teamwork. I hope they have not taken the waterfront lake opportunities away. The lakes are a beautiful part of campus. |
Anonymous
Frequent poster here. The waterfront is still there! And the leech/swimmer itch right of passage still exists as well as the swim test! I guess I’m trying to give a fair impression as access to all those activities can be dependent on the kids being proactive, having time away from their arts (not as big a deal in middle school), and counselors being proactive ad well. It’s different than a general camp where you can count on that option daily! |
Anonymous
| My DD loved her experience there as a middle schooler. She was there for piano but enjoyed all the things mentioned. She was into the intensive immersion in piano by day then fun activities or just hanging out in cabin life in the evenings and weekends. Interlochen is a special place. OP, I hope your child has a great experience there! |
Anonymous
| Disappointed about the phones. Summer camp should be a phone free zone |
Anonymous
Frequent poster again. I agree with you in theory, but I'm on a lot of parent social media (the irony) for Interlochen, and this is seriously a no win issue. There are parents who want none, parents who want 100% access, and parents who want every level in between. One of the biggest changes I've noticed from my days at camp is that kids really don't write letters anymore, so the phones are the way they also communicate with parents. Our daughter did not want to be /that/ connected to us, so we actually write letters (even though we are literally on site. but it works for us, and we purposely /never/ see her so she has space) , but I think most kids would text or call parents. The elementary kids have pretty minimal phone time. It's just enough to contact parents. The middle school kids actually have their phones very little during free time. Even rest hour in cabin is phone free. Its mainly available at meals and class time. Once they get to high school, they are older than your average sleep away campers, so I think they assume no phones would be a very unpopular stance. Even the high schoolers, however, turn in phones at lights out. |
Anonymous
I'd really love to input, "one time, at band camp..." It sounds cool and fun, how lucky your kids are! 
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Anonymous
| For a music camp, look at camp Encore/Coda in ME. Great experience the past two years! |
Anonymous
My kid has done both. Interlochen is definitely more advanced but not cutthroat. Some but not a lot of traditional camp activities. NEMC has more camp activities and a decent music program but is not for serious young musicians. |