Girls Camp

2009 Camp Update!Girls Rock! Chicago’s 2009 summer camp will be held August 3rd-9th at Pritzker Elementary School (2009 W Schiller St), in the Wicker Park neighborhood.

***Due to overwhelming response and enthusiasm, we are no longer accepting applications for camp.  ACCEPTANCE LETTERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN SENT OUT.  We appreciate your patience and expect acceptance letters to be sent shortly.  If you are currently on our wait list, you will receive an email if the status of your application changes.****

Camp Information

Girls Rock! Chicago provides campers with more than a musical education. Through workshops, games and other activities, we teach our campers how to be independent, strong women, ready to pursue their musical interests with a solid foundation behind them.

A Typical Day at Camp

A typical day at camp includes instrument lessons, band practice, two workshops on musically related interests and two games designed to help them work together and have fun. The 2009 Camp Schedule (Adobe PDF, 41k) provides a good example of the schedule of a typical camp day.

End of Camp Show and Recording

Additionally, the weekend after camp offers campers a chance to perform and record the music they wrote and played throughout the week. Saturday afternoon Girls Rock! Chicago hosts an End-of-Camp Extravaganza which is open to the public. Last year’s extravaganza was held at the Metro. On Sunday, campers are invited to record in a professional recording studio. The recordings are mixed and released on a CD made available to campers and the general public.

Instrument Availability

Girls are welcome to bring their own bass or guitar, however, we provide campers with all the equipment they need, including guitars, basses, amps, straps, picks, sticks and drum kits.

Counselors

Our counselors are screened and selected from volunteers with backgrounds in education, music and art. Our workshop counselors are often working professionals in their discipline, such as Christen Carter, owner of Busy Beaver Buttons and Erin Debenport, Tour Manager and Merchandise Specialist for Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. Our camper-counselor ratio stands strong at 3:1, meaning campers get plenty of individual attention and assistance when they need it.

Music Resources

We are also building a music and literature library for campers to expand their knowledge of female musicians and bands. All campers are welcome to listen to CDs throughout the week, as well as borrow and read any books available, during the afternoon free period, as well as before and after camp.

Tuition

Full tuition for one week of camp is $400, however, campers are welcome to attend camp regardless of their ability to pay. We offer several financial aid packages and scholarships to subsidize the cost of camp for interested families. Girls Rock! Chicago offers before and after care, from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at no additional cost. We also offer free lunch for any interested campers; simply sign up for it on the application.