Every year, elementary school children enjoy The Shedd Institute’s Summer SongFest, one-week music enrichment camps with kid-friendly themes. This year's themes are:
Each camp introduces children to the world of American sounds through song and instrumental music, dance, visual arts, rhythm games, folktales, and much more! Campers will learn about, listen to, and sing a wide range of American songs related to camp themes ("It's Only A Paper Moon", “Freight Train”, “I'm An Old Cowhand”, "When You Wish Upon A Star", "I've Been Working On The Railroad", "Crocodile Rock", and “A Bicycle Built For Two” to name just a few!).
Each morning begins by learning the songs for the week’s theme. They will then get to learn about and play an instrument that has to do with the week’s theme. After a snack the campers will either get a chance to make their very own instrument or get dance instruction based on the theme. The campers end the day with a song circle to prepare them for their performance on Friday:
| 9:30 | – | 10:00 am | Song Circle |
| 10:00 | – | 10:30 am | Daily Instrument |
| 10:30 | – | 10:45 am | -- Snack -- |
| 10:45 | – | 11:30 pm | Arts and Crafts |
| 11:30 am | – | 12:00 pm | Song Circle |
| 12:00 | – | 12:30 pm | -- Lunch Breat -- |
| 12:30 | – | 12:45 pm | Story |
| 12:45 | – | 1:30 pm | Instrument/Bucket Band |
| 1:30 | – | 2:00 pm | Arts and Crafts |
| 2:00 | – | 2:30 pm | Mural |
American Traditions
The fabric of American song tradition has been woven from the cultures of the first Americans and by those who arrived as settlers, refugees, idealists, and fortune seekers. Summer Songfest is a series of 4 one-week music enrichment camps with kid-friendly themes in American music. Each camp is designed to bring elementary school children into the world of American sounds through song and instrumental music, dance, visual arts and folktales. Campers will learn about, listen to, and sing a wide range of American song genres related to camp themes (“You Are My Sunshine”, “Purple People Eater” and “Home On The Range” to name just a few). They will also receive instruction on the ukulele, drums, piano and more; enjoy movement and dance sessions; participate in arts and crafts activities related to each camp’s theme; and view clips and short films intended to enhance their experience of the camp’s musical content. Even more fun awaits campers as they make their own instruments, create stage sets for an end-of-camp show, and enjoy healthy, themed snack.
Campers are invited to sign up for one week of camp or as many as four! Each week, the songs and folktales learned in camp will be recorded for a Songfest 2021 music compilation. Every camper will receive a copy of this cd as a souvenir of their Summer Songfest experience!