Band Camp Packet - Click Here to Print
Dispense Medication Form
Photo Tour of Band Camp in Xenia - Click Here

Band Camp is the first two weeks of August each year and can be one of the most fun parts of Marching Band. Most years the first week will be home band camp based at Mason High School. The second week will be away band camp at a location within an hour of Mason but far enough away that the students are away from home for the week and bond with their fellow band members in a “living together” as family environment. This forges the band together as a unit very rapidly.

Band Camp is a time for the students to get to know one another, learn or perfect their marching fundamentals, learn and memorize the music, learn the drill (the designed show), and start to put together the best performance that they can as a single unified team. It can be a very intense, physically demanding, and at times frustrating for the students but ultimately the rewards are worth it.

If a student misses any of band camp, they can have a difficult time catching up and feeling like a part of the group. Therefore, all students are asked to set aside those 2 weeks of their summer and devote it to band/guard - no working, babysitting, or vacation. Family vacations should be scheduled so your student won’t miss any of the band camp activities/practices.

This is also a wonderful opportunity for you, as parents, to volunteer to help and as a side benefit get to know other band parents. Parents provide invaluable services during band camp being the “go-fors”, first aiders, water suppliers, equipment movers, chauffeurs, watch over the building during free time (keep the students from going wild), surrogate moms and dads, a friendly face for a stressed out marcher, and a support to the directors.

Away Camp is held at the Athletes in Action Conference Center in Xenia, Ohio. Students are bused to away camp but parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from the home camp site, making sure your student brings a sack lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, and whatever else they need (i.e. sunglasses, hat, bug spray etc) to camp each day so they are comfortable. The band will provide them with a 3 ring binder for their music and a drill book. A parent information packet will be provided to keep parents well informed and help their students be prepared.