About Camp Granada

Camp Granada is a summer music day camp for elementary students, offered by Forte Forest at The Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, TN. Camp Granada is open to public, private, and home-schooled students age 5 (having completed kindergarten) through 11 (having completed 5th grade).

Mission Statement: The mission of Camp Granada is to provide the highest quality summer music day-camp experience in a child-centered environment that encourages participation, stimulates creativity, and focuses on fun. We do not strive to turn young children into Beethovens or Mozarts. It is simply our desire to increase each child’s awareness and enjoyment of music, and to instill in each child a desire to continue musical involvement for a lifetime.

Curriculum

The Camp Granada curriculum integrates arts and classroom objectives into a music curriculum that fosters creativity and musical exploration. Activities include singing, playing instruments, movement, listening, music literacy, and summer-camp style games and activities that continue to expose students to content and skills from the day’s lessons. The week concludes with a student performance of the music and skills that have been developed through the week.

Approximate Daily Schedule
8:45 – 9:00   Pre-Session
9:00 – 9:20   Welcome Session
9:30 – 10:10 Break Out Session 1
10:20 – 11:00 Break Out Session 2
11:10 – 11:50 Break Out Session 3
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 1:00   Camper Showcase
1:00 – 1:45   Game Time
1:45 – 2:00   Coda Session
2:00   Dismissal

Pre-Session: Organized board games, card games, coloring sheets, or other low-key activities to welcome children to camp, and allow for interaction among campers and between campers and staff.

Break-Out Sessions: The primary instructional sessions where most music content is learned, and students rehearse materials for the Closing Ceremony. Campers are divided by age-group and rotate through two to three stations: Basics (instruments and music concepts); Connections (arts, crafts, movement); and Singing.

Camper Showcase: Many children are involved in piano, voice, dance, or other lessons. The Camper Showcase is an optional opportunity for campers to perform for their friends in a low-stress, no-competition environment. Camp staff or guest artists are also encouraged to perform.

Afternoon Game Time: Afternoon games are kinesthetic and energetic, and incorporate musical skills and concepts from the morning lessons. Campers are grouped by teams where each team has an equal number of younger and older campers. Teams earn points through sportsmanship and winning games.

Coda Session: A time for any announcements campers may need to know for the following day. Campers should also clean-up, gather personal items, and prepare for dismissal.

Additional Schedule Information

Check-in: (Monday: 8:30 am) Camp doors open earlier than normal to allow for opening day check-in. Parents complete a check-in form and are introduced to their child’s team leader. Parents may play games with their child until the start of camp.

Closing Ceremony: (Friday, 1:00 pm) The camp week concludes with a sharing time for campers to demonstrate what they have learned through the week with friends and family. At the end of the performance, the final team points are revealed and the winning team receives its prize.

Camp Traditions

Like all camps, Camp Granada has its traditions that children remember throughout their lives. Although camp traditions are not vital to the success of the program, they do contribute to the camp-like atmosphere of the program and generate a sense of authenticity for all who participate.

Campers are placed on teams that compete for points throughout the week. Points are earned by winning afternoon games, but primarily serve as a way to encourage good behavior and excellent character. Although points are earned through team competition, this aspect of Camp Granada is not in any way to be emphasized over learning.

• Team Points are usually awarded for any number of reasons, but usually include
• The first team to get quiet when asked
• First team to line-up for activities
• The team whose table looks the cleanest after lunch
• Teams who demonstrate the most team spirit during games (even when their team is losing)
• A team member who demonstrates integrity, character, or respect to another team member or team leader.

Our Camp Mascot is Cecil. Like an elf-on-the-shelf concept, Cecil sneaks around all day looking for campers with good attitudes, character, sportsmanship, and respect. Each morning, Cecil praises a camper that was “caught” the previous day demonstrating one of these attributes, and that camper’s team is awarded extra character points.