Camp Life

The FSU Summer Music Camps strive not only to provide a rich musical experience for our students, but a comfortable and safe social environment as well. This includes dormitory residences, recreational activities, counselor support, and other services.

A resident staff of counselors will supervise the students during their stay at all times. There is an average ratio of 12 students per counselor. Counselors are primarily upper-level undergraduate and graduate music students at FSU.

For information on what to pack, money for activities & snacks, and other camp life details, please read through the camp handbook.

Safety

The FSU Summer Music Camps has your child’s safety in mind at every juncture of our camp. All instructional, administration & counselor staff members have had a background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Southgate Campus Centre is not only manned 24 hours by our staff, but is also secured by a 24 hour security desk. The FSU campus is equipped with state of the art emergency notification and response systems. Students are chaperoned at all times and are not permitted to travel around campus unless accompanied by staff. Only with written parental permission are campers permitted to be signed out by adults other then themselves. Under no other circumstances may campers leave the designated camp areas. Overnight students who drive themselves to camp are required to turn in their keys upon check in and are not permitted to drive during the duration of camp.

Housing, Roommates & Extra Nights

Though students have the option of attending the camps as a day camper, most students are overnight campers who will be housed at the Southgate Campus Centre. Southgate is an air-conditioned, private residence hall just a five-minute walk from the FSU College of Music. Each room houses four (4) students and is complete with a full bath. Males and Females are separated by floor. Coin operated laundry facilities are available in the dorm and a camp store will be available for additional purchases.

Roommates:
Students may request ONE roommate (this is a change from past years) of the same sex. Both students must request each other using the roommate request forms that will be mailed to you in your registration packet (Form G). Every effort will be made to fulfill roommate requests, but no roommate assignments are guaranteed. If no roommate request is made, students will be housed with campers of the same or similar age. Once assignments are made, no changes are permitted. Males & Females may not room together under any circumstance - even if they are siblings.

Day Campers:
Students electing to stay at home or with relatives are considered Day Campers and pay only tuition. Day Campers may purchase meals ($6.00/meal) at the Southgate Campus Centre. Day Campers are required to attend all performances and classes during the day and evenings. Recreational activities in the evening are not required but Day Campers are welcome to participate if they choose.

Extra Nights:
Students attending two consecutive camps or needing to spend an additional night prior to the start of their camp or after their camp has ended, have the option of spending the extra night in the Southgate Dorm. The cost for the extra night is $40.00 which includes supervision and three meals. To reserve an additional room night, please complete the Extra Housing Form found in the Forms section of this website or in the registration packet.

Dining

Included in the cost of housing are three meals per day. The dining hall is located on the first floor of the Southgate Campus Centre.

Sample Dining Hall Menus:

Breakfast:
French Toast Sticks
Sausage Links
Corned Beef Hash
Grits/Cheese Grits
Biscuits/Croissants/Bagels
Cereal

Lunch:
Chicken Mozzarella
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Confetti Yellow Rice
Cut Green Beans
Sliced Carrots
Parmesan Breadsticks

Dinner
Baked Ham
Southern Fried Chicken
Au Gratin Potatoes
Parsley White Rice
Broccoli
Blackeyed Peas
Corn Bread

Plus:
Made-to-order breakfast
40+ item salad bar
Hot grill specialties
Self-serve deli
Specialty sandwiches
Soups, fruits and vegetables
Dessert bar

Students are expected to go to all meals. With the heavy schedule of music camps, a balanced diet is essential for good health. Meal cards will be distributed to students after they check in at the dorm. The meal plan begins with dinner on registration day.

Day Campers are responsible for their own lunch. They may bring their own lunch to the College of Music, or they may eat at the Southgate Campus Centre. Meal tickets may be purchased at the dining office for $6.00 per meal.

Recreation

Evening and weekend recreation activities provide campers with the opportunity to socialize and relax with their fellow musicians. Activities include ice cream socials, movie nights, karaoke, attendance at faculty concerts, swimming, field trips to Wakulla Springs, IMAX movies and more.

Overnight campers are required to attend evening activities. Day campers are only required to attend musical rehearsals and performances in the evening, but they are welcome to attend any recreational activity if they wish.

Health Care & Insurance

FSU requires that all students must provide proof of insurance to participate in our camps and a medical information form must be on file for all campers. If you have a history of special medical needs or take daily medications, please be sure to notate this on your medical form and to inform the music camp office.

For minor aliments, our camp office at the Southgate Campus Centre is equipped wit basic first aid equipment, standard medications (Tylenol, antacids, antihistamines, etc) bunk beds and other health care necessities.

The FSU campus health center (The Thagard Health Center) is fully equipped to meet the needs to the students and has a full staff of doctors and nurses. The Health Center is open 8:00am-4:00pm Monday through Friday.

Emergency health services are available after hours and on weekends at local hospitals and emergency care facilities.

Campers should bring an adequate supply of any prescription medications which they will need while at Camp. Camp counselors will administer prescription medications as well as all common medications as specified by the parent on your medical form.

Florida State University contracts for insurance for all camps that take place at the University, including the Summer Music Camps. Student tuition will include LIMITED EXCESS accident and/or health insurance which will cover the student while on the FSU property. Insurance does not cover campers while traveling to and from Tallahassee.

This is LIMITED, EXCESS insurance. If the camper has a personal accident and health insurance, the camper's personal insurance is considered the primary coverage and the camp insurance would only pay benefits not paid by the primary insurer.

Parents, please note: If you have primary insurance on your children, you should abide by the rules of your primary insurance. That is, if you belong to an HMO and the HMO requires all treatment at the HMO facility or approval to use an emergency facility, you must comply with all regulations to ensure that the primary insurance will pay as is appropriate. If there is insurance in place, excess insurance will not pay if the primary insurance benefits were denied because rules were circumvented. Please contact the camp office if more information is needed.

Disability Assistance

The Florida State University College of Music & Southgate Campus Centre are all accessible to persons with disabilities. For assistance in registering or to make an accommodation for participation, please contact 850-644-9934 at least ten week days prior to the start of the program.