Camp Electric
A Contemporary Christian Music Camp
This one is a little expensive, but if you have homeschoolers who love music, we can recommend Camp Electric. Camp Electric is a week-long, Christian rock-n-roll, music camp run by famed Christian music artist, Toby Mac.
There are classes, group sessions, opportunities to show off or practice music skills, and a concert every night by a top-name, Christian music artist. Classes and group sessions are taught by professionals in the music industry that have a strong Christian faith.
Students select a particular tract when they sign up. Tracts include: guitar, keys, drums, bass, vocals, songwriting, dj producing, sound/audio, film, or creative content. Then, throughout the week, students attend classes and group sessions to help them learn more about their chosen tract.
The camp is strongly Christian, and they encourage students to follow Jesus Christ and stay strong in their faith. And they take it seriously.
The camp is held two times in Nashville, TN, each summer, at Trevecca University campus. Our daughter has attended for quite a few years now, and we can highly recommend the camp. It is chaperoned, and, although there are students there from all over the country, and world, I have never felt that the camp was unsafe.
One Big Family in Christ
Parents can sign up to Chaperone, and there are discounts for three or more students. Additionally, once a student attends the first time, they can come back the following year at the reduced alumni rate. They do offer a monthly payment plan, which if you are not overly wealthy, like our family, you are probably going to need.
Meals and rooms are provided for the students, which is included in the cost. The food is excellent, there is a huge selection, and it is all-you-can-eat at every meal.
The camp encourages alumni to think of themselves as a big family in Christ, and they work to encourage that “family feel”. Toby Mac started the camp as a means of encouraging teens in their walk with Christ and helping teens who may be present at the camp, who come from broken homes, understand the meaning of a family that loves them.
The celebrities that participate are not all Christian artists, but they have been screened to assertain that they have a strong Christian committment. They all volunteer their time to work with the students, and one of the requirements for them to be at camp is that they have to be “approachable” to the students. That means that their classes are very personal, and they often “hang around” with the students and talk to them.
My daughter’s first year, she got to “jam” with Toddy Funk, who was just wandering around with the students telling them how much Jesus loves them. Another year, she got to be in a music video with Hollyn. There is quite a line up of artists at the camp, and Toby Mac always gives a concert for the youth unless something very unusual comes up. If you have ever been to a Toby Mac concert, you know that his shows are high-powered and professional. Most venues are unable to book him because of the costs and equipment needs associated with the show. So, generally, you see him at a large amphitheater. However, he does the same kind of show for the camp students, but very personal. One year, I was acting as a security guard a few feet from the stage, when he leapt from on top of a huge speaker, face-first, into the crowd of students, who were more than ready to catch him (because they do it every year, and it’s a tradition.) He also signs autographs or poses for a picture with every single student.
There are so many activities during the week, that it would take quite a few pages to outline them all. So, it would be better if you just visit the website at: www.campelectric.com
Again, the camp is a little on the expensive side, but it is definitely worth it, if you can afford it. It runs from $650-$850 per student for the week, depending upon when you register. I do know that they do give out some scholarships for families that are lower income. For more information about scholarships, please contact Camp Electric.