2024 Sessions
Session 1:
June 26 – July 7
Grades 9 – 12 (Central Camp)
Grades 7 – 8 (Camp Bernstein)
Session 2:
July 10 – July 21
Grades 9 – 12 (Central Camp)
Grades 7 – 8 (Camp Bernstein)
Session 3:
July 24 – Aug. 4
Grades 7 – 9 (Central Camp)
Grades 5 – 7 (Camp Bernstein)
Session 4:
Aug. 7 – Aug. 18
Grades 7 – 9 (Central Camp)
Grades 5 – 7 (Camp Bernstein)
Minor Courses
An important part of an artist’s development is creative exploration of other areas beyond their chosen discipline. This focus can help a student build new skills that indirectly compliment their artistic knowledge base, while also providing an opportunity to learn more about themselves and their interests. A student’s instructional program at Blue Lake is completed by the choice of a minor.
Camp Bernstein (Junior Camp)
In addition to daily recreation and free time, Bernstein campers also participate in a minor class. The minor class introduces campers to a new discipline through creative projects, games, lessons, and group activities. All Bernstein campers are required to take a minor, and there is no additional fee for the course.
The Art minor provides students the opportunity to explore their own creativity through visual art. Activities might include projects such as drawing, painting, ceramics, fibers, mixed-media, working with natural materials, and collaborative works, allowing campers to exercise their individual creativity while making cool stuff at camp!
The Intro to Jazz minor introduces student musicians to Jazz, a uniquely American art form. Students will learn about musical concepts and styles unique to jazz, as well as the fundamentals of jazz improvisation. The legacy of Jazz history will be explored as students learn to identify its many styles including blues, ragtime, swing, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, fusion, and other trends. Open to all instruments, students also have the opportunity to experiment musically as they explore elements of jazz improvisation and other musical techniques at the heart of all Jazz genres.
This nature studies minor allows students to experience the natural resources of the beautiful Manistee National Forest. Students learn about the variety of plants and animals that make Blue Lake their home, as well as what they can do to help preserve our natural wonders. Blue Lake’s forest and lakeside trails provide students with a perfect outdoor classroom for extensive exploration, including the ongoing quest for a Sasquatch sighting.
Central Camp Minors
While the majority of Central Camp students choose a minor, campers who do not enroll in a minor class are supervised in structured activities during that period which include camp crafts, group projects, hikes, or individual practice. All campers, regardless of schedule, have additional time for rest, relaxation, store, and recreation later in the afternoon. The fee for Central Camp minors is $99 for ten class sessions.
Students have fun while learning, writing, and exchanging chord-style songs associated with the tradition of American camping. These tunes are best enjoyed while hanging out on a starry summer night with friends around a warm campfire. All levels of ability are welcome. Students should have basic familiarity with tuning their own guitar and reading chord diagrams. Blue Lake does not provide instruments; campers must bring their own guitar.
Students selecting the New Instrument minor receive group and individual instruction on several instruments within a musical instrument family. Students work with all listed instruments during camp and present a small demonstration for each other at the end of the session. Select one of the following instrument areas on your application:
- Woodwind (flute, clarinet, and alto saxophone)
- Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone)
- Strings (violin and cello)
- Percussion (mallets, snare, and accessories)
Support for these classes is provided by Meyer Music Company. Open only to campers majoring in Music programs (Band, Orchestra, Jazz, Piano, Harp, Choir, and Musical Theater).
The Harp minor gives campers with no previous experience the chance to try the harp for the first time. Class instruction includes beginning harp technique and study of introductory harp repertoire. In order to be successful in the harp minor, students are expected to already read the treble and bass clefs. Each camper is provided with a Lyon and Healy Troubadour lever harp for their use during class time. Students present an informal mini-demonstration for fellow campers at the conclusion of the session. This minor is not available for harp majors.
Explore and experiment with the different styles of singing used in Musical Theater productions. Vocalists in theater productions act through song, and the song becomes an extension of the scene. Learn strategies for a variety of styles from tender love songs to triumphant belts while shaping phrases, using expression, and keeping in character. Improve technique, diction, projection, and breath support. Learn how to pick the best repertoire for your own voice. This is a great class to brush up skills before audition season. Open to all, but students should have previous vocal experience (choir, theater, etc) and should be able to read music.
The Art minor offers students of all ability levels a wide variety of class choices. Students focus on building creativity at their own pace. One piece of their artwork will be shown at the Final Sunday Art Show. Art minors are not available for art majors. Select your area of concentration on your application.
- Drawing & Painting: Instruction in the art studios will include the exploration of pencil, charcoal, pastel, tempera, watercolor, acrylic, and collage.
- Ceramics-Hand Building: Instruction in the ceramics studio explores clay pinch, slab, and coil construction as well as experiencing raku firing, an outdoor glazing process which produces distinctive crackled glaze patterns on hand built projects.
- Ceramics – Throwing: Instruction in the ceramics studio wheel room exploring the fundamentals of wheel throwing and the essential techniques such as centering, pulling, shaping, and trimming clay on the pottery wheel as well as experiencing glazing techniques of both functional and decorative means.
- Tie-Dye: Instruction in the fibers studio will explore shibori tie-dyeing techniques, an ancient Japanese art form involving various folding, twisting, and binding methods to create captivating patterns, cyanotype dying and silk resist dyeing, where they’ll learn how to apply special resists to silk fabric before dyeing, resulting in stunning and intricate designs.
- Printmaking: Instruction in the print studio explores prints using techniques of linoleum cut, monoprints, reduction printing, and etching. Bookmaking may also be included.
- Sculpture: Instruction in the sculpture studio explores versatile mediums such as air dry clay, paper mâché, wood, plaster and wire to create sculptures ranging from abstract forms to figurative pieces. The Sculpture course will explore the use of structural principles utilizing a wide variety of materials and techniques. Both realistic and abstract sculpture may be constructed, using traditional and nontraditional materials ranging from cardboard, paper mache, resin, plaster, and soapstone, to wood, concrete, found object, metals, and paper clay.
Explore and experiment with the different styles of singing used in Musical Theater productions. Vocalists in theater productions act through song, and the song becomes an extension of the scene. Learn strategies for a variety of styles from tender love songs to triumphant belts while shaping phrases, using expression, and keeping in character. Improve technique, diction, projection, and breath support. Learn how to pick the best repertoire for your own voice. This is a great class to brush up skills before audition season. Open to all, but students should have previous vocal experience (choir, theater, etc) and should be able to read music.
The Dance minor is structured in two levels: The Introductory level (no dance experience required) offers students an entry point to basic dance techniques and styles, while the Intermediate level (two years of dance recommended) provides previously trained dancers a more challenging experience. In these energizing classes, students experience the world of dance through sampling ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and other dance genres. Dance minors demonstrate at an informal mini performance for fellow campers at the conclusion of the session. This minor is not available for Dance majors.
The Health and Fitness minor introduces young artists to basic concepts of self-maintenance that support a healthful lifestyle and enhance their focus in their chosen arts discipline. Students learn the fundamentals of conditioning through techniques such as Pilates and core conditioning exercises which promote personal strength, concentration, and body awareness. Discussions address topics such as healthful diet and what to avoid, effective time management and common pitfalls, exercise, mindfulness and balance, and how it all ties together to help young artists excel.
Taught by professional broadcasters at Blue Lake Public Radio, this course will introduce students to radio programming, music selection, broadcast equipment, producing and editing programs, and remote recording. Using equipment in one of the broadcast studios, participants will record their own voices doing introductions, announcements, and station identification.