Musician's afternoon practice session
My favorite thing is watching people discover their creativity
PETALUMA, Calif. (PRWEB) July 31, 2019
In 1992, the California Coast Music Camp (CCMC) began a partnership with United Camps, Conefrences & Retreats (UCCR) that continues today. The music camp, which welcomes up to 125 musicians for 2 weeks each summer at a UCCR camp facility, began their California camps in 1992 at Monte Toyon in Aptos. After a few years they moved to Camp Gualala, a camp that was managed by UCCR at the time, for 16 years. When Camp Gualala was sold, the musicians moved to the Community of the Great Commission, a UCCR camp in the Sierra foothills.
Janet Peterson, who directs many music camps each year throughout the west, says, “My favorite thing is watching people discover their creativity, to take the time for themselves to actually do it. It’s great to come to a site where people take care of you. You can spend time with yourself. Will people really enjoy making music? Will they feel good about themselves? Absolutely!”
The camp has a staff of teachers and assistants numbering about 40 plus 85 students each week . Classes happen throughout the day. Evenings are for special events such as teacher and student concerts and a dance. Staff arrive a few days early to set up the many screen tents and chairs for outdoor classrooms around the large camp. Participants can take a break from classes by taking a walk through the forest or enjoying a swim in the pool.
“The camp experience is powerful… We spend so much time in isolation, behind our computers and such. We used to spend way more time in social community. What we’ve got here is that you feel someone cares about you,” continues Peterson.
The CCMC music camp attracts a variety of musicians which include violinists, guitarists, celloists, banjo and ukulele players and more. The skill level is from beginners to advanced, so there are opportunities for everyone.
The partnership between CCMC and UCCR is significant due to the longevity of the relationship. “Camp programs like CCMC are exactly the kind of groups UCCR enjoys long-term relationships with. The benefits for the sites and the participants alike embody real mutuality. They really are able to utilize the site and enjoy the wonders and peacefulness of the outdoors,” says Tina Heck, UCCR Director of Reservations and Communications.
“We look forward to many more years of hearing the music through the trees from CCMC musicians. We would love to have more music camps like this at our other sites across the country. All of our camps and retreats are really ideal settings for gatherings like this,” continues Heck.
Music camp coordinators can call UCCR directly at 800-678-5102 to explore opportunities for UCCR to host your next musicians gathering, workshop, or camp experience.
UCCR, a non-profit cooperative formed in 1970, manages 13 camps, conference and retreat centers throughout the United States. For a list of all facilities available to rent visit UCCR.org
