Some Tips From Experience
This section adapted from “Getting Ready for Camp,” an article by Lissy Abraham that appeared in the April 2006 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine. For more information, scroll down to the Packing List.
Prioritize your goals. |
Think about what you want to get out of camp. To be a better jammer? To learn a specific style? To try a new instrument? Just to have fun? Narrowing your focus can help you prioritize so you don't run yourself ragged (and learn nothing) trying to do it all. Many teachers overload students so that they'll have something to work on the rest of the year; don't expect to master (or even remember) all the material you're given. |
Arrive well rested. |
Get plenty of sleep the week before you go. Many worthwhile jams happen late at night, and most camps don't provide a lot of down time. You'll probably come home exhausted, so don't start out that way. |
Strengthen you calluses
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For at least a month or two before camp, play as much as you can to develop your calluses. You'll be bummed if you can't participate due to sore fingers. If you're a singer, get your voice in shape by singing least a half hour a day for a few weeks before camp. It's OK if you can't do a major musical workout; even 5 or 10 minutes a day can help. |
Tune up your instrument. |
While you're getting your body in shape for camp, don't forget about your instrument. If anything's loose or the action's not right, now is the time to get it checked out. At the very least, put on new strings before you go. |
Get a gig bag. |
For carrying around your instrument, a gig bag instead of a heavy hardshell case is invaluable. If you're traveling by air and need to bring a hard case, pack the gig bag with clothes and check it as luggage so you'll have it at the other end. |
Bring special
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Most jams won't require charts, but if you want to play more complicated tunes (or originals) with a small group or in a performance, bring charts. If you have reordings of special songs you might want to teach others, bring them on CDs, tapes, or an mp3 player. |
Review your repertoire. |
Avoid having to stop and say, "I used to know how to play this song" by brushing up on your tunes. |
Write your name
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Get an indelible marker and write your name on everything you bring! You'd be amazed at what turns up in the Lost & Found after camp—from bathing suits (check the shower!) to expensive instruments. On that last sleep-deprived day, a packing list might be the only way you'll return home with everyting you came with. |
The Packing List
The weather is usually hot in the daytime and cool at night. Check the forecast for Foresthill. We strongly encourage you to write your name on everything you bring and check the lost and found before you go home!
Clothing & Personal Items
- Jeans or other long pants, shorts, shirts, socks, and so on
- Bathing suit
- Sturdy shoes
- Jacket or sweater
- Sunhat
- Dress-up clothes for the dance (optional—jeans and T-shirts are fine too)
- Bedding (sleeping bag or sheets and blankets, and a pillow)
- Towels (for yourself and an old towel or bathmat for the floor)
- Toiletries, including sunscreen and mosquito repellent*
- Personal medications, eyeglasses, etc.
- Note: DEET (found in many repellents) can damage the finish on your instrument. Two alternatives to DEET repellents have been deemed effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. If you can’t find them at drug stores or camping stores, try health food stores.
Safety Smarts
- Camp is in the woods, with all the critters big & small that also live there, such as mosquitos, raccoons, various bugs and bears.
- If you’re tenting, be sure to pack any food for storing it in the buildings and toiletries to keep in the bathrooms.
- Remember to always keep your tents scent free of yummy smells that may attract the critters, always carry a flashlight at night, and be attentive to your surroundings
Please don’t bring
- Electric instruments or amplifiers (except for use at dance or student concert)
- Weapons
- Illegal drugs
- Pets
- Video cameras