We’re Gonna Have Fun at Camp Jam (CAMP JAM!)
Camp Jam was by far one of the best experiences of my internship. Seeing the passionate dedication of the volunteers and the effect that they had on the kiddos’ growth over the week was incredible. The change I saw in the kids’ behavior, engagement, and attitudes from the first day to just the third day was amazing. On the first day, the kids were getting used to the space and the schedule, and they were not engaging too much with each other. By the third day, three of the younger kiddos were forming conga lines during songs, shaking hands and high fiving each other with no prompting, and asking good conversation questions.
I was able to lead some of the younger groups’ music therapy time, and it was such a joy. We did some social interaction songs, shaker songs for attention and following directions, etc. It was a different experience for me, as my typical schedule includes adult and older adult groups, and individual sessions with kids. Blending those skills into doing a group with kids was really interesting, and I’m thankful to have had that experience.
Each day of camp, there is a featured guest musician who comes and plays a set for the kiddos to dance, sing, and interact to. The guest musicians that I was able to see were wonderful. A few staff members and I got a bit excited when Steve Denyes did his “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain,” because we all either currently use or have used his version in our sessions. The heart that he has for sharing music with children was a beautiful thing to witness. The kids loved all of his songs, and they were singing along and interacting with each other throughout his whole set. You can watch Steve’s live performance from camp here: https://www.facebook.com/themusictherapycenter/videos/10156409528450102/. You can also check out his band here: https://www.hullabalooband.com/.
If you ever have the chance to get involved with a Camp Jam program, you won’t regret it! Whether you are a high school or college student thinking about music therapy, a musician with a love for serving others, or you just love working with kids, Camp Jam is the place to volunteer. If you have kiddos with special needs, this camp is truly a place of growth, belonging, and fun, and might be a great choice to keep in mind for your plans next summer. If you are interested, you can sign up to volunteer here: http://www.themusictherapycenter.com/volunteer-services/.
Darby
