WHICH CAMP TO CHOOSE?
Families of all ages and musical abilities are welcome at both Jam Camp on the River and Jam Camp on the Island. Both Jam Camps are in beautiful locations with plenty for you and your family to explore, and both camps will have similar schedules focusing on: jamming, instrument instruction, song writing, musical theater, and cultural workshops. Factors that will help you choose which camp is the best for your family will be 1) geographical location, 2) instruments you play or wish to learn, 3) safety, and 4) comfort.
Geographical Location
Whether you live in the Lower Mainland, on the Coast, in the Kootenay, Okanagan, or Thompson Valleys, Northern BC, or out of province- you will need to choose for yourself how long you want your road trip to be.
Instruments You Play or Wish to Learn
There will be acoustic instruments of all kinds at both camps, but if you wish to play or learn an electric instrument that requires being plugged into a power source, you will need to choose Jam Camp on the River, as Jam Camp on the Island will not have access to plug-ins.
Safety
At Jam Camp parents need to be 100% responsible for their children's safety at all times. Both sites are great for campers of all ages, the only difference is the rivers they are on. We tend to spend a lot of our time- both instructional time AND free time near these rivers, so it's good to know what you're getting yourself into.
Jam Camp on the River
The Shuswap River is large and swift. The majority of the riverfront at the camp has a strong current and slippery rocks. This makes for a ton of fun for older campers and experienced swimmers. Many afternoons are spent floating down the river and jumping off big rocks. There is one section of the river which is gentle and safer for younger children. It is a short 5 min walk from the center of camp. However, it is ESSENTIAL that young children are never left alone near the river. Parents MUST supervise their children AT ALL TIMES at Jam Camp on the River.
Jam Camp on the Island
The Browns River is gentle and meandering. In August the water level is often quite low, however there is still a nice swimming hole close to the campsites for taking dips and enjoying yourself in the refreshing water. Children still must be supervised around the water by their parents at all times, but there is less of a safety risk at the Browns River then there is at the Shuswap River.
Comfort
Jam Camp is full of fun and excitement, and sometimes, Jam Campers have a hard time putting their instruments down for the night. The littlest Jam Campers will insist that they don't need to go to sleep at all, and this can sometimes be challenging for parents when the older Jam Campers are still rocking out around the campfire. In the past we have often implemented "quiet time" so that everyone is able to get the rest they need. You can also choose to set up your personal campsite further away from other families or common areas so that you are not disturbed by noise at night. Above all, Jam Campers are encouraged to be respectful to their neighbors so that everyone can get the rest they need and everyone can be happy campers!
For the past few years, the largest population at Jam Camp on the River (besides parents) have been the 16-26 year old crew. They are a lively and incredibly creative group, and we are so blessed to have them as part of the Jam Camp family. Families with younger children have often commented on how much they value having their younger children surrounded by such positive, older role models. The 16-26 year old crew in turn have developed a strong bond with both the younger children and their parents alike, and this has resulted in one big, happy family full of diversity.
This year at Jam Camp on the River we are tempted to do away with the "quiet time" and just let people govern their evening noise levels on their own while respecting their neighbors. This will likely mean that closer to the Hall and Campfire there will be music and singing into the late hours of the night. The feedback that we have gotten from many alumni families with younger children is: that doesn't matter to us! If it does matter to you, it might be wise to choose Jam Camp on the Island, where music making will be all acoustic, and a quiet time of 10pm - 8am will likely exist, potentially with a campfire set far away from tent sites for late night acoustic playing and quiet singing.
Regardless of your choice, we will try to make Jam Camp as comfortable for you and your family as possible. No matter which camp you end up at, Jam Camp is dedicated to being inclusive to Jammers of all ages, ability, race, religion, socioeconomic status, and gender. It's all about the LOVE, people!!
