Summer Camp Registration Begins NOW

Posted on March 1, 2017 by havilahrand

Hey everybody! It’s getting to be that time when folks start making their summer plans so I’m ready to take registration for our 2017 summer camp season. Last year we were selling out of spots by mid March so I recommend registering as soon as you are able. I’ve posted an update schedule below and there is a registration button on the right hand side bar that you can click on. Please download and/or print your own version of the document before typing info on it. This way it stays blank for everyone to use. You may also pay your $50 deposit using the paypal link or mailing to Havilah Rand 1500 Lakeway Drive Bellingham, WA 98229.

This is going to be our best summer yet and I can hardly wait to meet all of our young songwriters and hear what we create. Thanks and see you soon!!

“As the director of our arts education program I coordinate many camps each summer. Rarely have I seen a camp so engaging for the kids involved. Each day of camp I would see kids sitting alone or in groups working on writing their songs. Havilah was great with the kids and came prepared with all the equipment she needed to record camper’s songs. This camp was a hit and I’m excited about having Havilah back to teach again next summer.” – Director of Arts Education, Vashon Center for the Arts

Young Songwriter Summer Camp Schedule 2017

April 29th Private Songwriting Workshop in Los Angeles. Email havilahrand@gmail.com if you’d like more info and to register.

May 8 – 10 Parkrose Middle School in Portland, OR. Havilah will lead a songwriting workshop through the SUN program guitar class. Contact them directly if you would like to participate.

June 3-5 Private Songwriting Workshop on Whidbey Island, WA. 10am – 3pm ages 7 – 12. Contact Havilah at havilahrand@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

June 12 – 15 Methow Young Songwriter Summer Camp at the Methow Valley Community School. 10am – 3pm ages 7 – 13 $225. Register through the document on the sidebar or email havilahrand@gmail.com.

June 26 – 30 Whidbey Island, WA hosted by Full Moon Rising Camp. Contact Full Moon Rising Camp directly to register.

July 10 – 13 Vashon Island, WA. Contact our hosts Vashon Center for the Arts to register.

July 17 – 20 Bellingham, WA. We are back at Camp Cody in Fairhaven complete with swimming pond and treehouse!! We are also lucky to have Johann Wagner as a guest teacher. 10am – 3pm ages 7 – 13 $265 (partial scholarships available). Register through the document on the sidebar or email havilahrand@gmail.com.

July 24 – 28 Seattle, WA presented through Bertschi School. Contact them directly to register.

August 1 – 4 Ferndale, WA. Hosted at a private location on a beautiful farm! 10am – 3pm ages 7 – 13 $265 (partial scholarships available).Register through the document on the sidebar or email havilahrand@gmail.com to learn more!

August 17 – 20 and 21 – 24 Southington, CT hosted by Southington Community Cultural Arts Center. Please contact our hosts directly to register and learn more.

“My kids, who were initially both reluctant participants, absolutely LOVED the Songwriter Camp. I am so impressed with the creativity you inspired in them, how you showed them that they can take everyday events and turn them into songs, and how songwriting is an organic process. They also loved the silly fun elements like swimming and observing humans in their natural habitats. I hope you’ll offer the camp again next June!” – Methow Arts Alliance Director and Parent

“You did an incredible job bringing out her creativity. I was in awe of the song you composed together. I am making a CD to come out by October 1st, and I want to include her song.” – Recording Artist and Grandparent

Freedom To Be Ourselves

Posted on August 6, 2015 by havilahrand

The 2015 Young Songwriting Summer Camps were an unprecedented success. Thirty kids and over sixty songs were written using inspiration found in nature, urban adventures, artistic explorations and connection with one another. We witnessed kids paralyzed with anxiety upon arrival singing and creating with wild abandon within days. We had several campers who were experiencing a fair amount of turbulence in their personal lives and were able to process their feelings through their lyrics as well as connection with other campers and mentors.

Its been truly amazing to watch these workshops and camps take on a life of their own with a minimal amount of guidance and support from adult mentors. I believe the most important thing we provide is a sense of safety and freedom when it comes to self expression. The goal is to write songs but as is the case with all artistic endeavors, it is the journey and not so much the destination that really matters. Parents and campers alike have used words such as “transformational” to describe their experience at songwriting camp. We believe that children are innately non judgmental, creative and have a natural ability to open their hearts and minds to new experiences. Infusing a sense of fun, curiosity and freedom into an activity that requires a great amount of vulnerability and courage ensures that this experience will carry over into many other aspects of their lives. It is our mission to show kids that life is an adventure that requires open-mindedness, an acceptance of uniqueness in ourselves and in others and the ability to express ourselves from the most authentic place possible. In this way, we are able to find true happiness and share our gift with the world.

Songwriting Camps and Workshops are mobile and adaptable to many settings and situations such as homeschool communities, after school programs, academic enrichment, private one on one coaching and more. Contact Havilah at havilahrand@gmail.com to explore the possibilities.

Has your child been a participant in a Young Songwriters Camp or Workshop or do you have any thoughts you’d like to share? In order to continue building and improving our programs we need testimonials!! Please give us some feedback on how your child benefitted from this unique experience. Thank you in advance!!

Young Songwriter Summer Camp Encores!!

Posted on July 16, 2015 by havilahrand

The Bellingham camp was another huge success with three wonderful songwriters creating a 12 song CD!! We recorded sounds of nature, explored our urban and natural surroundings and found inspiration through our new friendships and experiences together. The CD release concert at The Honeymoon was so fun and there is lots of great footage I’m still trying to gather so stay tuned!