It's finally upon us!  The rescheduled Band Camp is a go, and having looked at the forecast, although there may be a tiny bit of precipitation, we should have a great weekend!  Here are our final itinerary details ...

Friday, May 3, 2019
8:15 AM - All students at the school (you may need to drive their equipment in)

• Suitcases and Sleeping Bags go on the stage first

8:33 AM - Marching with Grade 7 Band Class
9:31 AM - Loading Bus to ready for departure

• All students help load music stands and percussion equipment into the bus

10:15 AM - Bus Departs NDC, eat bag lunch on the bus
12:45 PM - Arrival at Pioneer Camp

• Go Through Orientation.
• Deliver our belongings to our assigned rooms
• Set up Band Shell

1:30 PM - 4 different activities, students will be told what activities they are doing during band class.
3:00 PM - Snack
3:30 PM - Second set of 4 different activities
5:00 PM - Full Band Setup and Rehearsal
6:00 PM - Supper and Cleanup
7:00 PM - Predator and Prey Game
8:00 PM - Campfire or List B Practice
9:30 PM - Snack
10:00 PM - Evening Liturgy, settle in rooms
10:30 PM - Quiet in Camp

Saturday, May 4, 2019
8:00 AM - Breakfast and Cleanup
9:00 AM - Clinic Session 1 (guest experts on our instruments)
10:30 AM - Clinic Session 2
12:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Final set of 4 different activities
2:30 PM - Snack
3:00 PM - Full Band Workshop
5:00 PM - Final Facility Cleanup, Load the Bus
6:00 PM - Departure from Pioneer Ranch Camp, stopping somewhere along the way for supper
9:30 PM - Expected return time at NDC

• Instrument (in good working order) with extra reeds/oil/maintenance supplies
  • Percussionists will need to bring all their mallets, including for bells, xylophone and vibes
• Music Folder
  • Sound Innovations Book
  • List B and/or C Pieces
• Sleeping Bag (good to -4 degrees)
• Pillow
• ALL WINTER CLOTHES, including snow pants, toques, mittens, scarves, winter coats and boots.
  • NOT OPTIONAL.  Kids found not to have these clothes will not be coming on the trip, and there are no refunds at this point.  They will be asked to show this at school on Friday.
• 3 changes of clothes, just in case one of those changes gets wet
• Pajamas
• BAG LUNCH, as we will be eating a bag lunch for our first meal once we arrive at camp.
• Debit Card/Prepaid VISA/Cash for supper on Saturday night

It's been a few years since I've done this trip, and I'm looking forward to it all!  A special thank you to our chaperones Sheena Bamlett, Sabrina Draper, Bryn Hermanski and Graham Osborne.  We are also looking for one additional chaperone to ensure we meet the numbers the camp asks us for, so if you can help out, please email me immediately so I can make sure there is enough food for you!  Without you wonderful volunteers, our trip would not be possible, and I know they will love this trip!  Extra Chaperone information provided by the Pioneer Camp Staff is available here.
See you all Friday!

The Gift of Music Society and the Foothills Philharmonic Society are looking for volunteers, and they've requested Notre Dame Collegiate students!

Our community outreach is very important, and is something that we at Notre Dame Collegiate are very proud of.  As we approach the time when Mr. Windsor seeks support from community organizations for such things as NDC Music Jackets or other sponsorships, our community outreach becomes very important for their consideration as well.  It is also possible that through this community outreach we can develop a relationship with these organizations to the benefit of our students, for example by building relationships between our student strings players and Foothills Philharmonic members!

The Gift of Music Society is happy to accept volunteers of any age, while the Foothills Philharmonic Society is looking predominantly for high school students.  Notre Dame Collegiate always lends our timpani to the Foothills Philharmonic Society, so it would be wonderful to have some students with an awareness of our timpani to help.  We also have some very capable Grade 9s who can help out with the tasks the Foothills Philharmonic Society may need.

Please review the following dates, and volunteer your students for what you can.  If your student can volunteer, please let Mr. Windsor know.

April 27, 2019 - Gift of Music Concert (Young Musicians Extraordinaire, with ice cream!)

• Ushers, CD Sales, and similar help - 4 volunteers - URGENTLY NEEDED

May 3, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Concert (Request Grade 11 and 12 students)

• Ushers, Front of House Support
• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)

May 8, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Dress Rehearsal

• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)

May 10-11, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Concerts in High River and Okotoks

• Ushers, Front of House Support
• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)

May 22, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Dress Rehearsal

• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)

May 24-25, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Concerts in High River and Okotoks

• Ushers, Front of House Support
• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)

June 8, 2019 - Foothills Philharmonic Society - Concert

• Ushers, Front of House Support
• Stagehands (moving equipment on and off the stage)