Rosedale Christian Choral Camp
“Choral Camp” is a week-long, Christian, classical music camp held in Rosedale, Ohio each summer. Because there are so many students that attend, there are two separate weeks offered for the camp, usually in July.
The price is extremely reasonable for this type of camp and what it has to offer. They do not have a price up yet for this year, so we are unable to give that information at this point.
The camp features a week of music lessons and other fun activiites. And, it is loaded with fun activities! Some of them include: soap slide, shaving cream fight, hay ride, game stations, play, talent show, and the list goes on. They go “all out”, so the events are pretty fun for the students.
The musical style is classical Christian. Students select a “tract” for the week. Their choices are: wood-wind instruments, stringed instruments, voice, or recorder. They have to be in at least fifth grade for voice.
Choral Camp teen volunteers line the hall to welcome parents to the after camp recital.
Students at Choral Camp sign each other’s tee shirts on the last day of camp.
The music lessons are pretty impressive. They are geared toward a performance at the end of the week, which parents generally attend when picking up their students. The performance is a choir with some pieces being done by each of the groups of stringed instruments, wood-winds, vocals, and recorders. I must say, the first year I attended I was “blown away”. Usually “kid choirs” are not nearly that exceptional. But, somehow, every year the performance has that fine quality.
They also give the students lessons on the cultures of other countries. Every year, it is a different country. The students seem to really enjoy that because they get to sample authentic food and play musical instruments from that culture.
The camp is held at Rosedale Bible College in Rosedale, Ohio. Students stay in the college dorms during the camp. Lodging and food are included in the fee.
The food is excellent, being homecooked by parent volunteers in the college kitchen. They do accommodate students on special diets.
Students too old to attend as a camper can volunteer to be counselors. Counselors participate in most of the activities as well.
Parents wanting to attend as a volunteer can also apply. If accepted, they and one child attend the camp free.
The camp starts on Monday morning. But for those parents who are bringing their child from outside the area, the child can stay overnight on Sunday night. They let you know that the camp is unchaperoned until Monday morning and that the students will need to pack any food for Sunday. However, there are staff, counselors, and parent volunteers present on Sunday. They just don’t have any official activities. If your children need to stay over on Sunday night, they need to know that fact. Parents pick their children up on Friday. They attend the student concert around noon, and there is a short session afterward where students say their “good-byes” and eat snacks. Parents can leave early in the afternoon.
The camp is extremely safe. It is located way out in the country, and it is heavily staffed by both camp staff and college staff. Some of the camp staff are from Garrett County, as Cherry Glade Mennonite Church in Accident is heavily involved in the camp, and many children from this area attend.
The camp is run by the Conservative Mennonite Conference, but it is open to children in all denominations.
It is an excellent camp, and I, as a Christian homeschooling parent highly recommend it.
For more information go to https://rosedale.edu/choral-camp/. Rosedale is affiliated with Cherry Glade Mennonite Church in Grantsville, Maryland.