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Health & Fitness

Day 1: Ferndale Golden Eagle Marching Band at Interlochen for Band Camp

The Ferndale Golden Eagle Marching Band has arrived at Interlochen and are starting our week of band camp. Check out what happens each day!

Day 1: We’re here!

Monday morning the band gathered at 7:30 am to load the buses, semi, and cube truck to head off to Interlochen. After a few stops, and a broken-down bus, we all had arrived by 3:00 p.m. Upon arrival, the chaperones and students got right to work unloading all of the equipment, instruments, and luggage. Around 3:45 p.m. we had a meeting with everybody – students, staff, and chaperones to start off our week.

After the meeting the kids went straight to work on the field reviewing marching basics. This was a straight hour and a half of marching, but it’s nothing compared to the nine hours of rehearsal a day they will have every day through Saturday.

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The adults of the group spent this time organizing cabins. This usually involves making sure there is enough furniture for all the kids in each cabin (beds, shelves, etc.). It has been known to be a little competitive, but I think it worked out well this year! Many of us adults have learned over the years that having a bike at camp is the way to go. I think I saw at least eight bikes get off-loaded from the semi-truck this afternoon (we have more room since we aren’t using large props this year!), and that doesn’t even include my family. Thankfully Kieran is old enough that I can carry him around in my bike, which I only started doing last year myself (I was not about to get everywhere by only walking while really pregnant). 

We try our best to makes ourselves comfortable in our home away from home, as some of us have been here many times. It’s a very tiring week, so any little bit helps. Ben Moy, the assistant director, has even gotten to the point to put two beds together and plop and air mattress on top in the name of “comfort.” I must admit that I brought my mini fridge this year (in the name of the baby!); and it’s the first time I’ve done that. One big bonus the camp has provided this year is wireless Internet in the cabins! Yay! I thought I would have to trek down to main camp at night to upload my blog and pictures.

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Right now some of the kids are at Pirate’s Cove, a mini amusement type park outside of Traverse City. There they get to play mini golf, ride go-karts, and go on a water slide, among other things. I’ve gone, and I must say that it’s pretty cool. This is the only opportunity they have until Sunday to leave the camp and do something during the evening block. Every other day this week this time period is devoted to rehearsal.

There will be some staff meetings tonight around the fire as we all get on the same page about rehearsals for the next few days. Elon and Ben are in one now with the other “caption heads.” Those are the people that are in charge of different areas – marching, music, percussion, and guard. Once they have a plan, we will all know how each hour will be used for the rest of the week.

At the sound of laughing kids and ping-pong balls, I will settle in for the night. The kids and staff have so much energy now, which will diminish as each day goes by. I’ve set a fan next to Kieran’s bed, so I’m hoping Reveille won’t wake him up at 6:15 a.m. tomorrow morning, as we all need as much sleep as we can get!

 



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