Summer Camps, Conferences Bring Thousands to Campus
Summer camp and conference season has arrived. Between 4,500 and 5,000 students — musicians, athletes, cheerleaders and others — will visit the Alma College campus during the summer months, says Tammy Rees, manager of auxiliary services.
“We look at every camper as a prospective Alma College student,” says Rees. “Many of them are getting their first impression of college life and Alma College, and some perhaps have never stepped foot on a college campus before. Our goal is to do all we can to provide them a positive experience.”
Music Camps
Alma College’s music department sponsors two percussion camps, directed by Dave Zerbe, director of bands and the percussion studio.
Percussion Camps: June 17-23 and June 24-30
The Percussion Concert Camp takes place June 17-23 and will feature a community outdoor concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 on the Chapel lawn, sponsored by the Gratiot County Evening in the Park series. The College also will host an ice cream social before the performance. The Percussion Marching Camp takes place June 24-30.
In addition to the Alma College camps, four high schools will hold band and choir camps on Alma’s campus. Typically sponsored by the schools’ local choir and band boosters, the camps enable the ensembles to prepare for the upcoming performance season.
The Grand Ledge High School Choir returns to campus for a second year July 16-20. School band camps at Alma College include Ovid-Elsie High School July 16-21, Wyoming/Rogers High School July 30-Aug. 3 and Dakota High School Aug. 6-10.
Science and Leadership Camps
More than 40 pre-college freshmen have been accepted for the annual ASPIRE summer research opportunity July 7-14. ASPIRE is the research experience for incoming science and mathematics students through the PRISM, or Positive Routes into Science and Mathematics, program. Students work alongside faculty and undergraduate research assistants on “hands-on” science and mathematics research.
ASPIRE Research Experience: July 7-14
The annual Alma College High School Leadership Academy takes place July 8-14, sponsored by the Center for Responsible Leadership with support from The Dow Chemical Company. High school juniors explore issues that affect local, state, national and international communities during their weeklong stay.
Alma College also will host the MGOCSM North American Leadership Conference July 25-28. More than 150 students and adults, including two bishops, will attend the conference sponsored by the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement of North America. Alma College is the former home of Bishop Thomas Makarios, professor of religious studies from 1983-2008 and the founder and past leader of the U.S.-Canada Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church of India. A figurative sculpture commemorating Bishop Markarios’ legacy was dedicated on the Alma College campus in May 2009.
Cheerleading Camps
For the 26th consecutive year, Alma College is the site for Champion Cheerleading’s summer camps. Champion Cheerleading, based in Howell, will sponsor 10 camp sessions, ranging from two to four days each, beginning June 22.
Champion Cheerleading offers stunt, classic, “beast,” coaches and private camps. In all, more than 3,000 high school cheerleaders will converge on Alma’s campus.
“The cheerleaders work on their stunt techniques like tumbling, jumps, pyramids, formations and choreographed movements,” says Rees. “There is lots of emphasis on teamwork.”
Recognizing the growing popularity of competitive cheer at the high school level, Alma College has added competitive cheer to its athletics program. Michelle Sabourin, hired in February, will develop the program that will compete competitively for the first time in 2012-13.
Sports Camps
Several new sports camps — some day camps and others that take place over three to four days — have been added to the summer schedule. Camps vary in focus and age level, ranging from elite camps to general skills development. They include girls, boys, junior varsity and varsity men’s basketball and women’s basketball camps and shootouts; and camps for football, wrestling, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, softball and volleyball.
High School Football All-star Game
More than 130 participants and staff will be housed at Alma College during the week leading up to the 32nd East-West All-Star Football Game that will be played at 4 p.m. June 30 at Bahlke Field. Sponsored by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, the game will be televised by Fox Sports Detroit. More than 7,000 spectators are expected.
Josh Brehm
Serving as one of the honorary coaches for the game is former Scot and Gagliardi Trophy winner Josh Brehm, who played in the 2002 all-star game.
The game features 88 of the best Michigan high school players — 44 on each team — as selected by a statewide group of MHSFCA member coaches. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the gate on game day.
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Posted: Thu, May 24th, 2012 at 8:27AM
