Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
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[edit] About the Camp
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a summer arts camp in Twin Lake, Michigan and is located in the Manistee National Forest. In 2006, 7,814 participants were enrolled in Blue Lake's numerous programs. Since its beginning in 1966, over 250,000 students have attended. 2006 marks Blue Lake's 40th anniversary season.
Four of Michigan's Governors have noted Blue Lake as "one of Michigan's great cultural assets." Located in the Manistee National Forest, nature provides the extensive beauty that the camp is known for.
Blue Lake remains a budget-friendly experience for young people. Blue Lake includes the Blue Lake Scholarship Program where representatives travel to schools and award scholarships. Everyone who auditions receives a scholarship, which goes along with Blue Lake's philosophy of letting anyone, regardless of skill, receive the Blue Lake experience.
In addition to the summer camp, BLFAC hosts several music festivals, a family camp, and programs for adults.
[edit] Camp Structure
BLFAC offers several different "camps within a camp", separated by time (when offered during the year) and age.
[edit] Summer Camp Sessions
[edit] Music Camp
BLFAC has four two-week primary summer camp sessions (identified in most materials as Session I, II, III and IV). Traditionally, the first two sessions are for junior high aged students while the second two sessions are for high school aged students. Recently, they have changed this to junior high during Sessions I and IV, with high school Sessions II and III). The age recommendations are primarily for the comfort of the campers, not only for interpersonal interactions, but also for musical skill level.
Depending on the year, Jazz Bands are organized at least once per each age level (eg: Session I and III or II and IV), and as of 2006 are offered during all four Sessions.
Orchestras are also organized each summer session, with wind instruments allowed in Sessions III and IV.
For all music programs, campers audition upon arrival to be placed into bands or orchestras based on their skill levels. In both Band and Orchestra, "Symphonic" is used to describe the highest placement possible and then there are, depending on the number of campers, additional bands and orchestras named with colors (usually Red, White and Blue). For Sessions that allow wind instruments in orchestra, the top auditioning wind players are seated in the orchestras created for that Session.
[edit] Art (and Photography)
As with music campers, art programs are offered during each Summer Session.
Photography used to be an additionally offered program, but is no longer available.
[edit] Piano, Harp, Dance and Theatre
Campers interested in other music and performing arts outlets also have a home at BLFAC. Each program, like band, orchestra and art, have highly-qualified instructors to help students grow and develop their skills.
[edit] Camp Bernstein
Recognizing that younger students may also benefit from the BLFAC experience, Camp Bernstein (most recently located in what was formerly known as "East Point Unit"), affords younger campers a virtually identical BLFAC experience, adjusted slightly for their age differences.
[edit] Daily Schedules
For most campers, their daily schedule is fairly standard. From the BLFAC website "Campers begin their day at approximately 6:45 am by getting up and ready for breakfast. Mornings are filled with classes and rehearsals. After lunch, students have a break for rest, recreation, an elective course, or individual practice. Afternoon classes and rehearsals end around 4:00 p.m., leaving plenty of time to rest and clean up for dinner. Evening activities conclude each day with arts performances or camp fun. Unit Directors call lights out with Taps." <http://www.bluelake.org/life.html>
[edit] Fall and Spring Sessions
During times other than the summer, BLFAC hosts a variety of adult learning programs, as well as marching band camp facilities.
[edit] Camp Facilities
Campers are all housed in one room cabins, approximately 11 campers and 1 staff person per cabin. Five cabins are placed close to each other in Units, headed by a Unit Director. Male (and Female) Units are clustered close to each other, with the one gender at each end of the campus.
Male Units: Bandwagon, Broadway, BigBand, Canvas (so named as it was once filled with army tents rather than wood cabins)
Female Units include (not a complete listing): Promenade, Aria, Chapel Hill, Billings Point
Faculty other than cabin counselors and unit directors stayed in the Faculty Village across the road from the main camp area.
Once relegated to swimming in Little Blue Lake, campers are now able to take advantage of two swimming pools. Campers also have a variety of sports fields (for soccer, frisbee, etc), and myriad other activities.
Dining is most often in Marek Hall, except for certain special "pizza social" evenings on a per-Unit basis. Campers can also purchase small snack/candy/soda items at the Camp Store located in the Main portion of the camp (central to the male and female cabin areas).
Rehearsals for full band and orchestral groups happen in one of two main performance "shells", Stewart Shell and Alumni Shell. Large sheltered practice facilities as well as smaller unsheltered areas are scattered throughout the camp, spaced in a way so as to minimize interruption and disturbance from other groups. Piano huts are segregated for solo practice, and Art Barn facilities as well as a full dance and theatre area are designated specifically for those functions.
The Instrument Museum, originally operated by Gilbert Stansell, has a dizzying array of musical instruments, all of which are functional.
BLFAC has an on-site health facility, with certified health care professionals.
[edit] Blue Lake's International Exchange Program
Each year, BLFAC sends six touring groups to Europe - an orchestra, two bands, jazz band, choir, and ballet ensemble. While at camp, students apply to be a part of one of the ensembles. Each year, an average of 350 Blue Lake students are a part of the program. An average of 10 to 15 European and Asian music and dance groups travel to Michigan for a two-week tour and a visit to Blue Lake.
Each BLFAC group tours Europe for 3-4 weeks after an intensive week of rehearsals at Blue Lake. Each group tours 2-4 countries (France and Germany are the most frequent), staying in a total of about 7 cities. The groups stay with European host families for about 3 days each, providing them with a unique first-hand cultural experience. During their stay in each city, the groups give a performance featuring a variety of musical styles. After their tour of Europe, the groups return home for a welcome back concert.
[edit] Summer Arts Festival
The Summer Arts Festival at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp features camper, staff, and other talent from all over the world. Located in the scenic Stewart Shell, the Blodgett Recital Hall, and the Howmet Playhouse, the Summer Arts Festival is alive nearly every night. Past performances done by artists not attached to the camp have included the Northshore Concert Band, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Andiamo String Quartet, the Artesian String Quartet, and the US Army Field Band and Chorus. Many works have been premiered at the festival, most recently "The Last Leaf" done by James Niblock.
[edit] Public Radio
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp serves the West Michigan Community with its Public Radio Stations, WBLV-FM 90.3 in the Muskegon area and WBLU-FM 88.9 in Grand Rapids. The stations are listener supported, and can be listened to online at Blue Lake's website.
[edit] Notable Alumnus
James Carter (musician) attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp when he was in the eighth grade. One day, when Gilbert Stansell was showing students his enormous musical instrument collection (now the Blue Lake Museum), he came across a talented young camper. He called his son and said "Fritz, you've got to come over here right now. You won't believe what this 8th grade kid can do with almost any instrument in the museum!" James Carter was picking up and playing instinctively every instrument Gilbert Stansell would let him handle. Gilbert Stansell later stated that he believed James to be "perhaps the most naturally gifted young performer I have ever heard."
