My two lovely teenage girls are in their second week of high school band camp. This is usually an all-day affair, five days a week, a Saturday parade, for two weeks.
It is incredibly arduous this year. Our first week, the temperatures pushed passed 95 degrees. I am amazed at how well most of the kids do. They begin at 7:30 in the morning. They have a schedule they follow each day that roughly moves them through a variety of activities such as full band practice, charts - which is the choreography of the show and is usually done outside on the asphalt parking lot, section practice, and a segment called movement where the kids learn how to carry and move their bodies gracefully.
A few parents are usually cooking away from 8 to 2 in the kitchen for the daily lunch, some pounding away in the props garage, and then there is me with a few others who have been cleaning out the very smelly uniform room and fitting and altering uniforms for 87 kids.
After 5 pm, the kids still have energy, amazingly. Most nights there are activities planned such as a tailgate party, a talent show, a dance, or a game of capture the flag. These activities allow the kids to get to know each other outside the structure of the day.
I'm always awed by these kids and what they're capable of. Where DOES this idea of "band geek" come from?? These kids are fit, talented, articulate, funny, compassionate, loyal, hard working and ethical.
I'm proud of my "geeky" girls.
