Floyd Youth Get Together Teen Week Camp
June 28 to July 2, 2027 (Tentative)
The Handmade Music School is excited to announce the 2nd Annual “Teen Week” Floyd Youth Get Together Camp for kids aged 14 – 18. This amazing 5-day traditional music and dance summer camp takes place Monday, June 29 – Friday, July 3, 2026 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with additional evening activities each night!
Our “Teen Week” Camp is for all skill levels and students who are looking to take a deep dive into music and dance traditions. Please reach out to us at info@handmademusicschool.org with questions about determining your students’ skill level and best placement at our camps. We will help you place your child in the most rewarding experience for them.
Registration Coming in Spring 2027!
About the Camp
The “Teen Week” camp features hands on intensive music and dance learning experiences, group jamming, repertoire building, deep dive thematic workshops, performances, square dances and lots and lots of fun. All activities are led by a dynamic group of Handmade Music School teachers and guest performers hand-picked to ensure an inspirational week of music-making and building community!
The camp takes place at the Floyd Event Center, with many bonus activities taking place at The Floyd Country Store and Floyd Small Town Summer. The Floyd Event Center is part of the Floyd EcoVillage, a facility that features a beautiful and secluded setting on 75 private acres just a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the charming town center of Floyd. There is lodging onsite for families coming from farther away wanting to make a week of it. Camping, cabins, and lodge rooms are available at the Floyd EcoVillage.
Our goal is to ensure that kids coming to our “Teen Week” Youth Get Together camp experience the community and joy found in our Southwest Virginia music and dance traditions.
Tuition
Tuition for the Teen Week Camp is $400. Each additional sibling will receive a 10% discount
The camp includes a special Handmade Music School Teen Week T-Shirt, snacks, and all learning materials are provided. Camp participants will need to bring their instruments, however instruments may be provided by Handmade Music School if requested.
Tuition is due 30 days before the first day of camp. Contact us to discuss a payment plan or make alternative arrangements, and see below for our scholarship information.
Lodging
On-site lodging is available at the Floyd EcoVillage for students and their families, including camping, cabins, and bermed lodge rooms. Reservations can be made by calling (540) 745-4434. Please mention lodging code #21971 to reserve your room for Sunday, June 27th – Friday, July 3rd. Unreserved rooms released to the general public on May 20th. View the EcoVillage Pricing Sheet.
Scholarships
Families may apply for financial support through the Handmade Music School’s Share the Music Scholarship Program. Scholarships can cover up to 50% of the fee. In some cases we can provide a full scholarship, based on need and availability of funds.
Payment Options
Tuition is due 30 days before the first day of camp. Contact us to discuss a payment plan.
You are welcome to pay for Handmade Music School lessons, camps, workshops, and other events using credit card, cash, or check. Credit card payments will include a 3% processing fee by the credit card companies, and is the only option available in the ’self-booking’ method of our online registration system. To pay using cash or check, or with questions about payment options, please reach out to Leigh in our office. Call her at 540-745-2110 or email her at leigh@handmademusicschool.org.
MINIMUM ATTENDANCE
There is a minimum requirement for our Teen Week Camp. We need a minimum of 10 registered campers in order for the camp to happen. Please note that if we do not meet our goal of at least 10 registered campers, the Teen Week camp may be cancelled.
Cancellation Policy
Registration fees are fully refundable if cancellation is made 14 days before the program registration is closed. If cancellation is made after registration is closed, only 50% of the registration fee will be refunded. Registration will end 14 days prior to the first day of camp. (In case of emergency, refund policy can be discussed with Handmade Music School faculty).
If you have questions about our registration, costs, or discounts please contact info@handmademusicschool.org.
Teachers & Staff
Our Instructors have a long affiliation with the Handmade Music School as well as being long-standing and caring members of the Floyd musical community. The Handmade Music School is extremely careful when considering who will be teaching at our Teen Week Camp. All of our instructors are experienced teachers, mentors (and some parents) who have been involved in our traditional music and dance community and have produced and worked for youth music programs for many years. All of our teachers are required to go through our safety procedures before hired. This includes:
- Qualified to teach music and dance curriculum and produce activities that are fun for the children while offering educational value
- A background check
- Mandatory HMS teacher meetings that include program training, policy updates, and emergency preparedness training
- Certain teachers are certified in First Aid & CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
2026 Teachers to be announced soon!
Schedule
Daily Schedule
Daily programming, enrichment time, and class periods include Appalachian dance opportunities, singing, rhythm practice, immersive Appalachian music and dance history, visiting musicians, group jamming and instruction, and outdoor play on the beautiful grounds of the Floyd EcoVillage. The week wraps up with a final performance. Click below to see a sample camp schedule from 2025:
Snack Break
Snacks are provided by the Handmade Music School but you are more than welcome to have your student pack a snack, especially if they have allergies. We recommend students bring their own water bottle but we do have water available at the EcoVillage.
Policies & Procedures
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Policy
Drop-off and pick-up will take place in front of the EcoVillage. Please park in the parking lot in front of the EcoVillage Event Center. Parents/guardians are asked to walk your student(s) into the main lobby of the Event Center. (Please do not send your student in without the accompaniment of an adult chaperone.) A Handmade Music School staff person will check your student(s) in for the day.
Pick-up: Parents/guardians are asked to come inside to the Event Center to pick up their child between 3:00pm and 3:15pm. Please do not arrive later than 3:15pm. If there is an unexpected reason to be late, please call (540) 745-2110 and let a Handmade Music School staff person know. Students and families are welcome to stay and jam in designated areas around the Floyd EcoVillage after 3:00pm.
All students must be signed out by a parent/guardian. If someone is there to pick up your student(s) and they are not listed on the “allowed pick-up” section of your registration form, we will call the main parent/guardian contact we are given for approval. Your child will not be allowed to leave before we can get a signature, we require this signature as a safety precaution for our students. If your student(s) are driving to the Teen Week camp, please specify this in your registration form giving permission.
Contact With Student
If you need to contact your student at any time throughout the day, or drop something off to them, please call 540-745-2110 to alert a Handmade Music School staff person.
Please make sure that all individuals that have permission to pick your child up are listed under “allowed pick-up” on your registration form. We will not allow your child to leave until we have parent/guardian approval. If there is anyone who is not allowed to pick up your student, please list this in the “NOT allowed to pick up” area on the registration form AND notify us so we have that information ahead of time.
Handmade Music School Behavior Policy
If the student interrupts the program due to bad behavior (screaming, name calling, not following instructions, not respecting the space, etc.) the following steps will be taken:
- A staff member will speak to the parent/guardian(s) about the situation. This will be considered the first warning.
- If the behavior continues a second warning will be given. Our staff will work with the student and parent/guardian(s) to create a plan to help the student be more successful in the program.
- If the behavior continues, a student may be asked to leave the program.
Injury or Emergency Procedures
If the student’s parent/guardian cannot be reached and the program staff have followed the emergency procedures below, the parent/guardian agrees to assume all expenses for moving and medically treating this student.
- In a life threatening emergency ONLY, 911 will be called first.
- In a non-life threatening emergency, the program coordinator will call home. If there is no answer the parent or guardians employment will be called or the emergency contact given. The director will administer First Aid as needed.
- If none of the above answers, the program coordinator will call an ambulance if necessary to transport the child to a local medical facility.
- Based upon the medical judgment of the attending physician, the child may be admitted to a medical facility.
- The program coordinator will continue to call the parents, guardians or physician until someone is reached. Please make sure you provide correct emergency contact information
CLOSURES AND INCLEMENT WEATHER
The Handmade Youth Stringband Program follows the Floyd County school schedule for closures due to inclement weather. During summer months HMS may determine that conditions are unsafe and make adjustments to the camp schedule, such as starting later or a full cancellation of the daily activities. Parents and guardians will be notified immediately.
ILLNESS GENERAL STATEMENT
If your child is sick please keep them home from HMS programming. If a student notifies an instructor that they are not feeling well, the parent will be notified to pick up their child.