So one Time at Orchestra Camp...

Life changing weekend - we dropped my daughter off at a 5 night string camp at a local university. She's the only one from her school that went, and she knows absolutely nobody there, so it's a bit stressful for her parents, err, mom, to deal with.

Dorm room with fox posse assembled:

No photos at auditions, please :

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We're not allowed to visit, even though I work half a mile away . We collect her on Thursday after their concert. My son is working all weekend, so it's eerily quiet here this weekend...

Well hope she has fun. One of the hardest things for teens is getting stuck somewhere with no one they know. Hopefully friends happen pretty quick.

Bonding is probably easier at music camp than anywhere else, as it's a cooperative venture to play in a group. There's direct competition for spots, but not if the camp is run well.

My best friends are from my music background.

I mean, isn't the worst case scenario that she hates everyone there and appreciates her existing friends and family more? Even the bleak outlook has a positive ending!

I was waiting for this to be about a tuba and a Cadillac.

I'm sure she'll have a wonderful time, and if she doesn't her Dad is half an hour away, not five hours or a plane ride or something. My little sister went to Music Camp for years and it was definitely the unquestioned highlight of every single year. If she comes back next week and says it was indescribably awful and the worst experience ever, try letting her sleep for 18 hours and then ask her again. Her analysis may change. (Ask me how I know about this technique.)

Sorry everybody, I didn't mean for my post to have a negative tone to it. For better or worse, she's my mini-me: very independent and internally motivated, and will self-entertain with no problems. She'll also talk non-stop for 12-18 hours if the situation warrants .

My wife got a few texts at church that she's having a good time between classes, practice, and social stuff. They run them 730a-9p basically non-stop.

And, mndsm, sorry to dissapoint . On the plus side, I discovered by accident that a 90lb kid trying to move a string bass down a hallway packed with people and fragile wood objects is hysterical . Those things are ginormous; I don't know about getting one of those into a wagon.

I could probably get a string bass into most of the cars i own...but 5 door hatches and wagons are life for me.

In reply to Stealthtercel:

I suspect this will be the case. It looked like at least 50-60% were repeat campers based on a show of hands at the pre-camp meeting.

@mndsm, I may have over-estimated height based on the size of the kids trying to transport them. I guess they're ~6' tall, which would fit in the 9-5 wagon. Definitely not something you'll be riding to school on your bike like a violin, though . Maybe with a trailer...

Just dropped my oldest at Georgia Tech for a three week camp. She's been away before but never this far. Another Deuceling is with my in-laws. Being down to only two kids is weird.

While I was autocrossing yesterday, Tiger Mom was dropping off her younger (my stepdaughter) at band, errrr MUSIC camp at a local university as well. We get her back Friday, she's staying in the dorms and the whole nine yards.

We put the care package in the mail this morning.....

So we have proof of life :

(Purple shirt, just left of the conductor)

They run it a bit like boot camp; it's actually tough to get her to answer a text, which I guess is a good thing, and indicative that she's having fun.

In reply to mazdeuce:

Wow. that's a long time!

It is, and we were going off the assumption that she could get wifi (to message from her iPod) or some computer time and contact us so I didn't leave her with my phone. Lack of contact thus far indicates that she's probably cut off for the whole time.

My assumption is that losing a student would be kind of a big deal to the program so they have a vested interest in keeping her safe so we'll just have to talk to her when Mrs. Deuce picks her up. She's been away at one week camps three times before without contact so I should be used to it, but I'm not.

Just pretend it's 1985 and the kids don't have computers. Maybe you'll get a letter.

mazdeuce wrote: It is, and we were going off the assumption that she could get wifi (to message from her iPod) or some computer time and contact us so I didn't leave her with my phone. Lack of contact thus far indicates that she's probably cut off for the whole time. My assumption is that losing a student would be kind of a big deal to the program so they have a vested interest in keeping her safe so we'll just have to talk to her when Mrs. Deuce picks her up. She's been away at one week camps three times before without contact so I should be used to it, but I'm not.

FYI, I work five minutes west of GT and live 40 minutes south of the city so if something comes up send me an email at sgwoerner at gmail dot com.

Steve

In reply to mazdeuce:

Wow, no wifi at a college? Bummer. My wife would have to be darted if she had no contact for 3 weeks .

At my daughter's camp, the run them very, very busy, and are very strict with time in the dorms at night. They get back at 930, and lights out/devices powered down at 10 We get a text or two a day, and I was able to talk to her a couple minutes this morning before she went to breakfast.

Token pic from yesterday's FB upload. Her section-mate looks like he should be in football as well. He's 10, and at least 5'11-6' . :

Mazdeuce, did you establish comms with your daughter yet?

Well, we picked mine up this afternoon . She apparently had the time of her life, and is already planning to go back next year and move up an orchestra. I'm calling it a success!

So, pictures:

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Notice glow sticks on bows, reason for which will become apparent shortly :

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Lights go down a bit further, making my pictures even more blurry:

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And, fade to black:

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They played the Star Wars theme, complete with a lightsaber duel in front of the stage. Very, very cool.

And an obligatory picture afterwards with flowers; it was somewhat bright outside:

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Interesting footnote - we had our wedding pictures taken on the same staircase back, uh, a few years ago.