Noozhawk’s Summer Camp Guide is officially here, making it easier than ever to plan an unforgettable summer for your child!
To help parents explore the wide variety of camps available in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of insightful interviews with representatives from local programs for this year’s comprehensive ParentNooz Summer Camp Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Katie Szopa, Programs Manager at Santa Barbara Education Foundation, to learn more about the exciting camp opportunities they’re offering this summer.
Santa Barbara Education Foundation
Question: What is the name of your camp or program, and what is its primary focus?
Answer: The Santa Barbara Education Foundation runs four diverse summer music camps to serve the young musicians in our community by providing accessible and engaging programs to foster the love of music.
Our Nick Rail Summer Band Camp (NRSBC), founded by Nick Rail in 1989, provides an enriching summer music experience supporting continuing and new musical instrument learners. Now in its 36th year, NRSBC is co-directed by music educators Liz Caruso and Stephen Hughes and staffed by professional musicians and educators.
Programming includes one hour of concert band and one hour of sectional instruction and the entire three-week session concludes with a community performance for friends and family. Students of all ability levels are welcome to attend and the camp is open to incoming 4-12th grade students.
Instrument instruction is offered for flutes, clarinets, trumpets, saxophone, low brass and percussion. This summer, professional saxophonist and composer, Lito Hernandez, joins us as a guest teacher.
Our Summer String Camp welcomes incoming students in 4-9th grade on violin, viola, cello or bass, all levels. String students gain technical skills on their instrument, increased note reading facility, and composition instruction in a fun, supportive environment.
Players are divided by level into ensemble groups where they practice their instruments together, culminating with an end of camp performance. This camp is led by music educators Devon Nelson and Susannah Hoffman. Each summer a professional musician joins the camp as a guest teacher.
Our Drumline Camp offers participants an opportunity to expand their understanding of the elements of music performance, rhythm reading, and develop proper playing technique. Campers explore all the different types of percussion instruments used in large percussion ensembles, including snare, marching tenor, bass, hand percussion, and melodic percussion.
This camp is for incoming 6-9th grade students, with all skill levels welcome. Professional musician and educator Charlie Ortega, leads this dynamic drumline program. A perfect introduction to students interested in marching band drumline and pit.
Our Sound Waves Movement and Music Camp is based on The Orff Approach, a developmental approach used in music education. It combines music, movement, drama, and speech into lessons that are like a child’s world of play. Students learn music like they acquire language and these foundational skills transfer directly to learning to play instruments when they are older.
At this camp, led by music educators Liz Caruso and Sarah Gatehouse, students will participate in singing, improvising, moving, and making music in a child-centered, creative ways. This camp is for incoming 1-3rd grade students.
Q: How long have you been running the program? Do you have any professional accreditations or certifications?
A: The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) has been administering the Nick Rail Summer Band Camp since 2016, the Summer String camp since 2018, Drumline Camp since 2019 and the Sound Waves Music and Movement Camp since 2023. All of our camps are led by professional, certificated music educators who teach in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Goleta Union School District and Santa Barbara City College.
In addition to the summer music camps, SBEF runs the Keep the Beat program (raises funds for SBUSD music teachers for instruments, accessories and coaches) and SBEF is the funding partner for BRAVO! the free after school band program for 5-6th grade students.
Q: What specific goals or objectives will participants be working towards during their time at the camp?
A: Dependent on the skill level of the campers, they will work towards the goals set for them by their instructors at the start of camp. Beginners will learn how to read notes and hold their instrument properly and learn to play basic music.
Intermediate and Advanced campers will finesse their skills and learn more challenging songs and techniques. Another goal is to expose the campers to various genres of music and music history.
The objective is to deepen the campers’ love and appreciation for music and to enjoy the experience of playing in a group ensemble with new people. Having fun and making new connections!
Q: What is the typical age range of campers who attend your programs?
A: The Nick Rail Summer Band Camp is introducing a new high school level this summer, so the eligibility requirements are for incoming 4-12th grade students. The Summer String Camp is open to incoming 4-9th grade students. The Drumline Camp is open to incoming 6-9th grade students. The Sound Waves Music and Movement Camp is open to incoming 1-3rd grade students.
Q: Do you offer full day and 1/2 day options?
A: Our camps offer 1/2 day options.
Q: What are your policies regarding staff background checks, training, and the child-to-staff ratio? How do you ensure the safety and well-being of campers?
A: All of our staff undergo background checks and complete mandatory reporter training. The child to staff ratio differs at the camps, but we have teaching assistants working with the lead teachers to support larger groups.
We work with the school site principals where the camps are held to ensure the safety of the campers on their campuses and our lead teachers all work in SBUSD and have been extensively trained in SEL support and emergency issues.
Q: What is the cost of attending your camp, and do you offer any financial assistance or scholarships?
A: We keep our camps as affordable as possible to keep them accessible. Scholarships are available to all who qualify and the cost of tuition with a scholarship is $50 per student for the whole camp.
Here are the full-tuition prices:
The Nick Rail Summer Band Camp- $175 per student
Summer String Camp- $250 per student
Drumline Camp- $250 per student
Sound Waves Music and Movement Camp- $175 per student
Q: Is there anything you would like to share about your program that was not already mentioned above?
A: Our summer music camps are well-established and campers will be learning from our esteemed local music educators. These programs are productive, fun and inclusive and we see campers return year after year until they age out and then become volunteer teaching assistants!
Campers in elementary schools form bonds with campers from other schools and then find themselves together in their junior high or high school band or playing in an outside ensemble.
The majority of our campers continue to play at the secondary level. Our camps are a great place to prevent summer learning loss for those who cannot afford expensive summer music camps or private music lessons. Please consider one of our camps for your child!
Click here to learn more about Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Summer Camps!