JarrettFest Summer JAM Camp
For the second year in a row, Blue Ridge Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) and the Cashiers Historical Society (CHS) collaborated to host the JarrettFest Summer JAM Camp on the CHS campus. Children aged seven to 17 gathered to share the joy of music, play games, and create crafts.
“What’s unique about our camp,” says Jennifer McKee, JAM Program Director, “is that children can experiment with a variety of stringed instruments in a fun and nurturing setting to discover the one they enjoy most.”
While JAM provided musical instruments and top-notch local instructors, the Cashiers Historical Society provided their campus, meals, and additional programming for the three-day camp. “It’s a marriage made in heaven,” says McKee.
Lindsay Hostetler, the Director of Operations & Visitor Experience at CHS, added, “This collaboration between CHS and Blue Ridge JAM is a natural and valued partnership. Music represents a rich part of the shared cultural heritage of the Cashiers Valley area. Watching campers spend three days exploring, learning, and growing on CHS’s campus was a highlight of our summer programming. The rooms of our historic buildings rang with the sounds of young musicians on the banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin.”
Every camper participated in music lessons each day, as well as arts and crafts classes from local artisans, activities rooted in local history from the staff at Cashiers Historical Society, and group games and activities to foster community. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and The Bascom facilitated progressive craft activities, which allowed the campers to dive into projects that took several days to complete. They presented their projects, including bamboo rain sticks, wind chimes, and etched glass in an art show on the final day of JAM Camp. The week ended with a concert on CHS campus.
JarrettFest JAM Camp and its sister event, the JarrettFest Music Festival in August, are named in honor of the late Jarrett Davis, who was instrumental in helping to get the Blue Ridge JAM chapter started in 2016.