Girls, non binary, transgender and gender expansive youth ages 8-14 will form bands to write and perform original songs at Girls Rock Bloomington Summer Camp from July 18-22 with a showcase performance on July 23. The day camp will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gayle Karch Cook Center in Maxwell Hall.
The performance will be open to the public. They will perform a Girls Rock Bloomington camp song and the songs they will write with their bands during the week.
This is the fourth year of the summer camp. Amy Oelsner, founder and director of Girls Rock Bloomington, said they are over halfway fully registered and have fewer than 10 spots left. Participants can be registered online.
Oelsner said GRB is looking for around 20 volunteers for the camp. There will be instrument instructors that will teach classes, workshop leaders who run hour-long themed workshops and band coaches who help the bands write a song together.
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Kid Wranglers help with lunch and group activities. Roadies will help with setup and break down of the gear and any technical difficulties. Photographers and videographers will help to document the camp. Oelsner said volunteer opportunities will be available on the organization’s Instagram page soon.
During the summer camp, the attendees will participate in group activities and conversations before breaking off into instrument classes. They will choose between guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals in their application.
While the campers eat lunch, local musicians will perform and answer questions. Past performances included Erin Tobey, Push Pop and DJ MADDØG, Oelsner said.
After lunch, there will be a different themed workshop each day. Oelsner said one of the planned workshops is a partnership with WFHB where the kids will learn how to be radio DJs.
The kids will then break off into bands of 3-5 members with a band coach. Throughout the week, they will write an original song together that will be performed at the showcase on July 23.
“The camp is so important just to create a safe and inclusive space for them to have a platform for their inner voices and to create a very supportive environment for one another,” Oelsner said.
Natalia Almanza, GRB Volunteer Coordinator and Social Media Manager, will volunteer as a vocal coach and band coach at the camp. Almanza is also the Internal Program & Operations Coordinator for Indiana University Arts & Humanities Council and has been forming an exciting partnership between the council and GRB, she said.
“Girls Rock is so special because it is focused on rock and this idea of forming a band which in the world can be a little tough to navigate as a girl, trans, or non binary youth,” Almanza said.
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Jae Gasana, volunteer and young adult advisor, led a workshop about stage presence in a previous summer camp and plans to volunteer again this year.
“If you are anxious, it's okay,” Gasana said. “Because once you are able to channel your anxiety into something special — like music and performing and working with other people — it's amazing.”
Gasana said the attendees have made zines, buttons and album art and participated in photoshoots in previous summer camps.
Gasana started writing music at 12 years old after buying a book about Taylor Swift. After seeing a flier for battle of the bands in high school, Gasana said they and their friends formed a band, Punk Rock Cuties. Gasana is also a lead vocalist in another band called Deity Complex, which they do most of the songwriting for.
Gasana said it was discouraging to not see people like them in the music scene, and they want to help kids realize that it’s okay to share their music with others.
“(Campers) don't see other kids that look like them doing music or doing art,” Gasana said. “But when you get a kid out of their shell, they can literally do anything.”
