Summer is a time for fun and discovering new experiences, and CHS band students are no strangers to dedication and excitement when it comes to summer band camp. However, this August, CHS band director and teacher Alison Roberts may be on maternity leave by the time camp comes around. She discusses her plans, staying optimistic about the transition.
“My plan is to be at band camp in some capacity. My due date is August 20th, so I might be at band camp—I'm hoping to be there for probably partial days, so I, like, might be there in the morning or the afternoon or some combination,” Roberts said.
While Roberts hopes to remain involved from August 3rd to 7th, some students still express uncertainty towards the schedule. Especially for returning students, the amount of productivity and preparation during camp is a main concern.
“I’m a little bit worried about what that’s going to mean for our show, and how productive we are, but we’ll probably be fine,” sophomore Baxlea Leininger said.
Along with concerns about productivity during camp, other students have mixed feelings towards the change of pace. For those who have previously attended, the upcoming season may also bring up a bit of stress.
“I’m scared because I’ve never had a band camp without Mrs. Roberts, and I’m not entirely sure what to expect,” sophomore Isabella Young said.
Despite the uncertainty among students, Freshman Kathryn Dunn thinks that band camp is an opportunity for students to connect with those around them who are in different grades and stays positive towards the transition.
“Mrs. Roberts is part of why it's so fun, but it'll be good because I'm sure the other teachers will step up into her space,” Dunn said.
Roberts reassures her students that even though this change may take time to adapt to, additional staff members or another director will help lead the camp if Roberts is not able to attend.
“Ms. Steklac will be there the whole day, so she will have a much larger role in camp than usual. Usually, she's kind of the problem solver behind the scenes, but she'll have more of a front seat role,” Roberts said. “And then, hopefully, I can find someone who is my long-term sub who will do some of the instruction as well.”
While the change is mainly on the minds of Roberts and her students, Roberts thinks that, regardless of whether she is able to attend, band camp will remain the incredible opportunity that it is. She hopes that students will remember band camp throughout their experience in band and continue to connect with each other and grow their community, even outside of band camp.
“It’s a time to really set the scene for what our band will be like for the rest of the year, like making sure that we form strong bonds with each other. Our students really feel like they're in a family, so a lot of it is community building and goal setting,” Roberts said.
