Session 2 - Volume 2 | July 22, 2022
A Note from the Camp Director
Parents, Campers, Friends: It’s hard to believe camp is almost two-thirds over! I am truly amazed at the progress the children have made in such a short period of time. Beginning instrumentalists have gotten far past the basics and are playing more and more complicated music each day. The dances look phenomenal! Every morning, at 9:30, we start off camp with our all-camp sing-a-long. The campers are singing Tomorrow, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Bear Necessities, Do-Re-Mi, the Camp Levine Song and many others, as you will read about below. Camp will close with two performances, next Friday. While there will be no live audience, the shows will be recorded and sent to families. Please let us know if your camper plans to miss the last day, so we can adjust as necessary.

Mr. Jason
MD Site Director
Notes from Mary Cat
Dear Camp Families,
I can’t believe that we’re already at the end of the second week of camp! We are having so much fun that time just flies by. Here are a few reminders as we look forward to week 3.
 
Lunches/Backpacks: Your child should only be bringing their lunch box (containing a lunch, snack, and mask) and water bottle to camp. Please do not send a bookbag or other items as space is at a premium and our lost & found is growing.
 
Instruments: Parent of Campers in 3rd grade and up, campers bring their focus instruments to and from camp daily. Feel free to encourage your camper to practice and show you what they’ve learned!

The Parent Portal has exciting new updates. You can check it out by clicking the highlighted link below.
Password: camplevine2022!
 
All-Camp & Musical Theatre Performances
All-Camp Performances are this Friday.
Due to COVID-19 precautions and space occupancy, families and friends are not invited this year. Campers will be performing for their camp community. Performances will be recorded and shared with families.
All campers should wear their Camp Levine t-shirts for both days.

Performance Videos: We want you to be able to enjoy your camper’s performance in the safety and comfort of your home. All camp families will be emailed a link to their site & session's performance video as soon as it is available. It may take us awhile to edit and send them, but they will be on their way as soon as we complete them!

Attendance: Please email camp@levinemusic.org if your camper will be missing any days next week. It is important to for us take this into account while we are planning the rehearsal and performance.

Re on a holiday: That smiling sun on the back of the dashboard paddle is our camp mascot, Re. Re wants to go on a holiday! Re would love to join you at one of your favorite landmarks, help with a summer activity, or travel with you on vacation!
You can use Re on your dashboard sign to take and send a picture of "Re On a Holiday" to us at camp@levinemusic.org or just post it on Facebook and tag Camp Levine #reonaholiday.


The Parent Portal will continue to be updated as camp progresses. This includes the parent handbook, car line maps, teacher bios, contact info, health form links, camp photos, and more. 
Password: camplevine2022!

Happy Friday,
Mary Cat Gill
Site Director of Camp Levine
Levine’s Trusted Weekly Newsletter
 News, Updates, and Everything Camp Levine
By: Camp Levine Newsletter Journalist Carter
Week 2. Session 2. Volume 2. Group: Scores
Hello again, dear Levine family!

This week, the weather was very hot, and it has kicked us off to a hot start. We have all had tons of fun here at Camp Levine this week!

This week, I have interviewed people for the newsletter. This includes apprentices, kids, and teachers, and I captured everything in my notebook that I am going to bring to camp every day this week. So, here are some of my interviews:

Question: What has been your favorite part of today?
Teen apprentices: "I liked seeing you campers finish your popcorn craft, in art." "Eating lunch was my favorite part of today."
From campers: "Drama and Music" and "Sports & Games" were the hits of the day!

Question: What instrument do you play outside of Camp Levine?
Teen apprentices: "I play the classical guitar." "I play the trumpet." "I play the piano, and I do pencil tapping (a percussion instrument)."
Campers: I play the guitar and keyboard, at home. "I play the cello and piano, outside of Levine."
"I do not play any instruments, outside of Camp Levine." "Another camper: I play the trombone."

Question: Have you been at Camp Levine ever before, or is this your first time? If you have been here before, then what and how many years have you been here?
Teen apprentices: "I have been an apprentice here 3 times before, in 2017, 2018, and 2019." "This is my 6th year at Camp Levine." "This is my first year at Camp Levine, and I am new."
Campers: "This is my 2nd year at Camp Levine." "This is my first year at Camp Levine, and I am new."
"This is my 7th year at Camp Levine, and I am not new to it." "This is my first year at Camp Levine, and I am new." "This is my 2nd year at Camp Levine, and we probably saw each other at camp another year before covid- 19."

 Question: Were you nervous on your first day of Camp Levine? If you were, then who or what made you feel better?
Teen apprentices: "Yes, on the first day I was nervous, but you campers were very kind and welcoming, and you made me feel better!"
"Yes, I was nervous on my first day, but other teen apprentices in this group made me feel better."
"I was not nervous on my first day."
Campers: "No, I didn’t feel nervous."
"No, on the first day I was not nervous, because I have been here for 7 years, I am not new to the drill, and I know that there is nothing to fear of, on the first day."
"I was slightly nervous on my first day, and I did not know anyone, but eventually some of my friends made me feel better."
"No, I was not nervous on my first day."
"I was nervous on my first day, and four other campers made me feel better."

Question: Name 1 new thing that you learned at camp.
A camper: "I learned how to play the guitar and piano, here at camp."

So, those were some of the interviews that I did with people this week. I wanted to change it up a bit, and a lot of people got to have the chance to be interviewed for this newsletter! I am very thankful for everyone’s time, and without you, I could not have written this newsletter.

Now, please let me talk about some of the news this week. So, in cello, we are learning how to play the song called “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter. All people who play cello in Scores, are encouraged to practice this song at home a lot, whenever you can.

In dance, we are dancing to “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat”. We all must remember to practice this dance at home, as it will be one of the main songs we are performing in the performance, right after part of our script.

In aftercare, some kids helped build a cup tower. Mrs. Ally brought in some colorful cups and tealights, and I helped other kids build a domino foundation, and then put in lights and wow, it glowed in color! That is one of my favorite parts of this week, and I’m sure that it is a lot of other kids’ favorite part of this week, too!

So, this has been a very fun week! I will write the next newsletter next week, so be on the lookout for it. It will be published Friday, August 5th, 2022.

Until then!
Camp Group Updates
Scores
The Scores momentum from the first week carried them into their second week of camp. This week, they began a tournament in games, inched closer to mastery with their dance to “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat,” began learning a slew of new songs in voice, turned paper into popcorn, cameras, and more in art, began learning songs on their focus instruments, and brainstormed ideas for their play in drama. The campers have shown their enthusiasm and capability each day without fail, and we can’t wait to see what else they manage to create from songs and art projects to friendships and everything in between.
Popcorns
This week at camp our little kernels had a blast making vintage cameras and painting Casita from "Encanto". Popping with energy, they played tug of war, capture the flag, and made giant bubbles at snack time. They performed many drum circles (one with an audience!) and are on the path to perfection when it comes to their performance of "New York, New York". We're so excited to see what the last week of camp will hold!
Stars & Film Reels
The Stars & Film Reels had a great second week at Camp Levine! Campers participated in several fun activities that included singing and movement. They also learned new songs that are going to be performed for the end of camp performance. Despite the rainy and hot weather, they had a couple chances to go outside to do sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Overall, the Stars & Film Reels are shining at getting into the groove of camp in their second week here at Camp Levine.
Oscars
The teen apprentices were so happy to be able to spend another week with the Oscars. We saw deeper friendships form between the campers, and the excitement and eagerness to be at Levine camp increased on the daily. This week in camp, the Oscars participated in several art projects. They made old film cameras, movie theatre popcorn (using yellow and white tissue paper as the popcorn itself) and lastly but certainly not least, the Oscars used watercolor pallets to paint the house from Disney’s Encanto. In dance and chorus the campers continued to practice their routine/songs. In chorus, the Oscars are singing some classics such as Singin in the Rain from the movie Singin in the Rain and New York New York from On the Town. They are continuing to rotate through instruments in their sampler period. In the Oscars’ other classes such as drama, music, and sports and games, the campers are continuing to have fun and given the opportunity to let out tons of energy. We are all so excited to spend one more week with our campers and see how many stickers they all have at the end of camp!
Soundtracks
The Soundtracks have been really rocking the red carpet during the second week of Camp Levine! They’ve learned new songs like “Candyman” and “Everybody wants to be a Cat”! They got to make an old-fashioned video recorder and paper popcorn in art class. In drama class, they were able to walk the red carpet and glamorize the “paparazzi.” In their instrument classes, they’ve been learning pieces like “The Candyman” and a song from Charlie Brown. They continue to get better every day! They also were able to play the bells to enhance “A Million Dreams” and have been competing in a tournament style sports with the group, “The Blue Tigers” winning the latest point in 4-square. Though the time at Camp Levine seems to be creeping towards the end, the soundtracks have had so much fun and will continue to be exciting for the last week!
Focus Instruments
Next Steps
If the Camp Levine experience has revealed a budding musician, I hope you will consider Levine’s many ‘school year’ opportunities. Whether you’re interested in private lessons or a group learning experience, I’m sure Levine has something for your child. And maybe for you, too, since many of our students are adults!
You can find a list of camper age-appropriate classes and lessons on the parent portal under "next steps."
Password: camplevine2022!

We hope you will take us up on a $50 discount to join any weekly private lessons or yearlong group class over $250. You can use the coupon code CMPL22 at checkout anytime before September 5th!
Camp Levine | Levine Music | 202-686-8000x1041 | camp@levinemusic.org | levinemusic.org/camp