One Time at Band Camp . . . *

Cewebrity or not, we've already discussed the fact that I'm a dork. I sang in an a cappella group in college, I covet strange tecno-gadgets, I think Dodgeball is a fun way to meet up with people, and I write for not one, but two blogs (this one and Gothamist Food). But there's one more morsel of dorkiness hidden in my past -- I went to and worked at a music and arts camp for about six years. Yep -- band camp. The Aaron Copland Music and Arts Program (or ACMAP, as we all call it) was a county-run music and arts camp in North Salem, NY. You had to audition or submit a portfolio to get in, and we spent a significant portion of our days rehearsing and polishing our crafts -- drama, singing, painting, dancing -- you name it. Like any six-week overnight camp filled with 13 to 18 year olds, it was also a blast. I had many of my "firsts" there, like my first french kiss, and the first time I realized that a friend was not worth losing over a guy. That friend, like many others I made there, are still part of my life to this day, and so it was with great anticipation that I went to our ACMAP reunion this past weekend.

Gary & Jen, a couple who actually met at camp and later got married, held a barbecue at their house up in Westchester. It was wonderful to see so many people, some of whom I hadn't seen in easily a decade, if not more. We came to the shocking realization that, for many of us, our first year at camp was twenty years ago. Twenty years!! Good lord. We got to share stories, engage in revisionist history regarding the stolen van, meet people's kids, and hear through the grapevine where our fellow ACMAP-ers have ended up. Gary and Jen now have a daughter, who is already forbidden from attending overnight camp. "We know what goes on at camp -- she'll never go!"

You can see the rest of the pictures here. And if you're a long-lost ACMAP person -- shoot me an email!

* Blatantly stolen from American Pie. And no, I didn't do that at band camp.

Comments

[Theprodigal]

Hey, Laren. Just looking around for some ACMAP stuff online and found this post. Those were some good summers. It's sad to see what happened to the camp as of the 1990's. Wonder what the area's like now.

Have a great week.