Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

The Jansma family has a deep history with Blue Lake, starting with Tim's parents, who have been close friends with the camp's founders even before they began plans to start a camp. 

Tim was one of the first campers in the summer camp's first season.  He later worked as a counselor, and when he first returned from Italy, he set up a workshop on main camp where campers could drop by to watch a violin being made.  Today, he has the honor of serving on their board.

My personal experience, much later than Tim's (of course, since I am so much younger than he), was as a camper, international camper, counselor and international counselor.  I couldn't stay away from that place!  I loved being with the kind of people who go to Blue Lake.  Sure, the students and counselors there were all artists and musicians, but more than that, they were young people who invested in themselves (as did their parents) and therefore had a lot going for them.  The environment of energy, curiosity and just plain kindness was one that I needed.

The International Program is one that every American should experience.  We should all take two weeks and live with Europeans (or in any foreign nation).  It gave me a chance to see that no matter where you go, people are great!  To be a young person staying with people who don't speak your language makes the shy-type a lot more self assured.  Now as our own children have returned from their international tours, I see they too stand taller and look adults in the eye with confident interest.

We recommend to parents of young musicians to consider Blue Lake, and to college music students to apply for a counselor position.  For more information, check out www.bluelake.org.