“GR!DSM is an organization that has been a gateway to amazing opportunities for me. It got me into songwriting, introduced me to some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, helped me with my confidence and I’ve learned how to work with people different than me. GR!DSM is my family and I’m forever grateful for everything it’s done for me.”
“When my daughter was in the showcase, there was a whole new smile on her face.. one I haven’t seen in 11 years! Thank you Girls Rock!Des Moines”
“What we do at GR!DSM is neither magic nor make believe; we simply foster belief in oneself.”
GR!DSM SUMMER ROCK CAMP
Summer 2019 @Franklin Jr. High
Girls Rock! Des Moines’ Summer Rock Camp is a two-week-long empowering music program that offers band formation and rehearsal, individual instrument instruction, educational workshops and classes, visiting artist performances, and an exciting showcase at the end of camp.
Our program is open to any cis-girl, gender-expansive, nonbinary, or trans youth between the ages of 8-18.
No musical experience needed!
Financial support is always available!
User Registration Is Officially Open on CampBrain!!
Great news! We have upgraded our enrollment system to a streamlined software called CampBrain.
With CampBrain you can create a login to build & manage multiple campers’ information, once; next year, click a few boxes and you are all signed up for camp! With CampBrain you can make payments, check balances, upload documents securely, order extra t-shirts with your rocker's logo, and enjoy the ease of all camp information being accessible 24/7, in one spot.
Want to help pick our 2024 Camp cover songs? Drop your picks into our “YOU PICK” playlist!
2024 Camp Dates
Registration for 2024 Camps Opens in January
Rock Camp 1
June Rock Camp: 6/10 - 6/21
June Rock Camp Showcase: 6/23
GR!T Records Creative Technologies Camp 1
Rock Camp 2
July Rock Camp: 7/8 - 7/19
July Rock Camp Showcase: 7/21
GR!T Records Creative Technologies Camp 2
Camp Hours
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Early Drop-off begins at 8 am
Late Pick-up ends at 5 pm
Registration Deadlines
The application for each session will close at 11:59 PM on these dates. If you register after these dates, you will be waitlisted until we can confirm your spot(s).
Registration Deadlines for 2024 Camps!
June Rock Camp: June 2nd
July Rock Camp: June 30th
What do we offer at Camp?
Rockers will form bands on their first day of camp! Following band formation, they will collaborate & write one original tune, and learn a curated cover tune. Bands will be mentored by at least one band coach and have support from a band manager. Rockers also have the opportunity to learn from our workshops ranging from Audio Engineering to Songwriting, and the Herstory of Women & Folx in Music.
Tuition for Rock Band Camp covers:
Individual Instrument Instruction (20-minute lessons, 7 days)
Full Band Clinics (2)
Band coaching (45 minutes x 2 times a day x 10 days)
Workshops and Classes (5 classes, 26 total sessions)
Visiting artists
Showcase
Lunch, snacks, and beverages
Lunchtime Performances From Regional Bands
Camper's Band Logo T-shirts
Recording, Mixing, and Production of our Camp Album
Professional Band Photos
Swag Bag (bag, stickers, notebook, water bottle, patches, pen, etc.)
2022 Camp Schedule - Workshops and classes changed annually
Please commit to the full schedule!
Rock band camp is a 10-day, all-day, music program. Please be sure to review the schedule to ensure you are able to commit to the full schedule. We program every minute of the schedule with purpose and absence is disruptive to both your experience and that of your bandmates.
Orientation
Before camp, there will be a mandatory orientation for guardians and campers. Orientation offers a look into the two weeks, and allows youth to try instruments, and an opportunity for staff to place rockers into bands. This orientation will be announced in our welcome packet after you fully register. This will be an opportunity to ask questions, try out different instruments, and learn more about the work GRDSM does year-round.
Where Is Camp?
Our headquarters for all things GR⚡️DSM!
Windsor Presbyterian at the corner of 63rd & University - GRDSM utilizes the Jacoby Education Wing, on the North end of the building.
Instrument Assignments
We wish to give every camper their first or second choice, however, some years certain instruments are way more popular than others, which means we have to do a little extra work to make it all fit! We want to create a balanced and instrument-diverse camp! So, if you are a returning rocker, give yourself a little push to try out something new! Or, let the Fates decide… meaning we’ll pick an instrument for you to rock out on.
You cannot change your instrument preferences after you send in your application or during the camp session.
Rockers
Band Camp Space is limited to 48 participants per band camp. We offer six instrument groups (Aux, Guitar, Bass, Keys, Vocals, and Drums) and divide participants evenly between the six instrument groups to form 8 bands, by age.
Registration opens in January
Camper Application Process:
All registrations are processed through CampBrain
Create a user profile on Campbrain today, and register with a couple of clicks tomorrow!
Pay-what-you-can Sliding Scale & Application Fee
Everyone gets to participate in camp, period!
In our 10+ years of camps, we have never turned anyone away due to a lack of funds, and we never will.
The majority of your camp tuition goes directly to paying camp staff a living wage.
Tuition for Summer Band Camp is on a sliding scale ($1 - $1600) and based upon ones annual household income.
There is a $25, non-refundable, application fee. If you need assistance with this fee, email Director@girlsrockdsm.org
What is a sliding scale?
A sliding scale is a tool to ensure folks have equal access to experiences, regardless of financial resources. We ask for your active participation in deciding your contribution. If a sliding scale is implemented effectively, everyone pays a similar percentage of their income(s) for tuition. This way, the cost of our camps is not pocket change for some folks and a big commitment for other folks. While GR!DSM is a small organization, and your tuition contributes essential funds to support our youth programming, we make sliding scale a priority because we acknowledge that we live in a world of differing privileges and income disparities. (Shout out to GRP (http://girlsrockphilly.org) and GRCB (https://www.grcboston.org/) for developing thoughtful and descriptive language around the benefits of the sliding scale tuition model) At the same time, please be generous in paying what you can — we rely heavily on tuition to run our programs and ensure they are accessible for all.
Sliding scale tiers are guideposts, not absolutes.
Suggested tuition rates are based upon the median income of Greater Des Moines residents, and market research of Girls Rock organizations in the Midwest and specialty music camps within Iowa and Greater Des Moines.
As always, we will work with every single family on what tuition cost works for them.
GRDSM will request income verification documents through our new, secure, CampBrain registration software. "Income verification serves to establish how much someone is earning for the purpose of verifying if they have the capacity to pay for something." We have implemented this approach to provide greater consistency, transparency, and accessibility to financial support for camps, to better reflect our mission, vision, and values, and further align with our Girls Rock Camp Alliance community and our collective "Points Of Unity."
Approved income verification documents include the first page of your most recent tax return, pay stubs, w2 form, 10-99, employer letter, unemployment documentation, disability insurance, pension distribution statement and court-ordered payments. If you are unable or would prefer not to provide one of these documents, you may fill out an income verification form comparable to a free/reduced lunch form.
If you prefer not to submit documentation, we ask that you pay the full $1600 tuition tier rate. Any amount over $800 is a tax-deductible donation that will continue to help GR!DSM thrive!
Payment plans are available and information will be available through the CampBrain registration process.
All tuitions are due one week or 7 days prior to the start of your camp.
If you have questions or need support in this process, please contact our Executive Director, Rachel Gulick at Director@girlsrockdsm.org.
Cancellation Policy: Girls Rock! Des Moines understands that life can surprise us. If for any reason you decide to cancel your registration, a $50 cancellation fee will apply.
GR!DSM will fully refund your Summer Camp Tuition cost if you cancel your attendance 30 days prior to the beginning of the camp you registered for.
If cancellation happens after 30 days prior, no refund will be provided.
Camp Showcase
Rockers will take center stage with their bands in this exciting performance opportunity and conclusion to camp.
Details subject to change.
When:
June Camp Showcase: Sunday, June 23rd
July Camp Showcase: Sunday, July 21st
Where: TBD
Doors: TBD
Showtime: TBD
“Girls Rock!Des Moines helped me find people who I felt like I shared something important with. All of a sudden I wasn’t alone anymore, I had 40 new friends and 10 new adults who loved and cared about me. GR!DSM gave me a home.”
“I’m new to Des Moines, but can attest to the power that rock camp has had - and continues to have - on me. Rock camp nurtures; teaches, and nudges us to take a chance at becoming better in every way. It is part school; part sisterhood, and part safe place. I am so lucky to have found rock camp! ”
“I love Girls Rock ‘cause it’s so positive and it’s so happy and punk rock indie. I feel like I belong at Girls Rock DSM and it means the world to me! ”