It’s never too early to start planning for the annual Southern Girls Rock Camp, which is accepting applications now for both volunteer instructors and campers for its 16th year at MTSU.

Managed by the Murfreesboro-based nonprofit group Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, the day camp is set July 23-28 for girls and nonconforming youth ages 10 to 17. Its mission is to create a positive, self-affirming place for girls to express and empower themselves through music and associated creative activities.

You can watch a recap video of last year’s camp above.

A sign of encouragement rests in front of an amplifier on MTSU’s Hinton Hall stage at the 2017 Southern Girls Rock Camp. The 2018 camp is set July 23-28. (photo submitted)

Jess Hawthorne, YEAH’s outreach director, said the camp’s traditional association with MTSU is one of its strongest drawing points, helping to attract both volunteers and campers over the years.

“Almost all of our volunteers have attended MTSU or graduated from there,” Hawthorne said. “Our campers go to camp and then they feel like MTSU is their home away from home.”

Some volunteers are drawn to the camp from out of state, noted Hawthorne, a 2003 MTSU alumna who majored in music business with an entrepreneurship minor.

Jess Hawthorne

“We do have some that come from New York,” she said. “We have some that come down from Philly, just down for the week, to participate.”

The standard workshops in guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion and voice are again part of the 2018 camp. New offerings include a ukulele workshop and a workshop where campers can build their own working guitar pedals.

Hawthorne also hinted that some premier performers may be in attendance.

“We do have some really talented local musicians and some coming from out of state to … do a performance for the kids,” Hawthorne said.

No musical experience is necessary to participate in the Southern Girls Rock Camp. Tuition is $320 per camper, and scholarships are available. Scholarship information is available here. Volunteer application information is available here.

Registration information for campers is available here. For more information, email office@yeahrocks.org or visit http://southerngirlsrockcamp.com.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)