While other young campers spend their days swimming, hiking or paddling, more than 100 youngsters in Montgomery County are using part of their summers learning to rock.
For the second time, one of the nation’s most interesting — and perhaps loudest — camps is back in Rockville. Camp Jam, which was started by guitarist Jeff Carlisi of the rock band .38 Special, is in town this week and next.
Youths ages 7 to 17 will spend their days taking instrument-specific instruction, learning basic engineering and production, and participating in a concert as part of bands with other campers.
Really, though, the main goal is teaching collaboration, Carlisi told The Examiner.
“It’s the ultimate team-building experience, more so even than team sports,” he said. “When you take the stage, you count to four and the game begins. But if anyone on that team drops the ball, you’re done.”
Named for the gun cartridge once popular among police departments, .38 Special thrived during the 1970s and ’80s with such Southern rock hits as “Hold On Loosely.”
Well before joining that group, Carlisi said, he always was a member of one band or another.
But up to 90 percent of Camp Jam participants are what the longtime rocker refers to as “bedroom players” who gain a sense of self-esteem from the five-day camp experience.
For $400 to $525 per week, depending on age, the children and teens can get skills and performance expertise from instructors and special rock-star guests, such as Rolling Stone keyboardist Chuck Leavell.
Camp Jam’s first location nationally was Atlanta. In the four years since, the camp has spread to 15 cities, which camp directors selected based on population and interest from youngsters.
Next up is a plan is to expand the summer camp into year-round after-school music programs across the country.
Carlisi said he’ll try this out in Georgia first and, if it works, spread the program to other areas, including Montgomery County.
WANNA ROCK?
For information, go to www.campjam.com.
