Floyd Youth Get Together Camp
JuNE 12 to June 16, 2027 (Tentative)
The Handmade Music School is excited to announce the 5th Annual Floyd Youth Get Together Camp for kids aged 7 – 13. This amazing 5-day traditional music and dance summer camp will take place Monday, June 15 to Friday June 19, 2026.
Our Youth Get Together Camp is geared towards 7 – 13 year old students of all levels. The Youth Get Together Camp is for students who are either beginning their musical journey or looking to take their music to the next level and are looking to discover the joy and community found in the local music and dance traditions.
Registration Coming in Spring 2027!
About the Camp
The Youth Get Together camp features fun music and dance learning experiences, music jams, dances, games, and Appalachian arts and outdoor activities that are connected to our local traditions. All activities are led by a dynamic group of Handmade Music School teachers hand-picked to ensure an inspirational week of music-making and community-building!
The camp takes place at the Floyd Event Center which 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 Youth Get Together camp experience the community and joy found in our Southwest Virginia music and dance traditions.
Tuition & Other Information
Tuition for The Floyd Youth Get Together Camp is $320. Each additional sibling will receive a 10% discount.
The camp includes a special Handmade Music School Youth Get Together 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 and available.
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.
EXTENDED DAY tuition is $375
We’re excited to offer an extended day option for campers 10 and older! Campers will be invited to bring a packed lunch to enjoy at 1pm after younger campers leave, and then we will continue learning and building community until 3pm Monday through Thursday. The camp day on Friday will conclude at 1pm for all campers.
Please note that we cannot offer childcare for children under the age of 10 at this time, so if you have children spanning these age groups, you will need to determine alternate plans for younger children.
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 phone by calling (540) 745-4434. Please mention lodging code #21969 to reserve your room for June 14 to June 19, 2026. Unreserved rooms released to the general public on May 25th. 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 Youth Get Together Camp. We need a minimum of 15 registered campers in order for the camp to happen. Please note that if we do not meet our goal of at least 15 registered campers, the Youth Get Together 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 program 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 Youth Get Together 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).
Teachers for our next camp will 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 HMS 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 1:00 and 1:15pm, or 3:00 and 3:15pm for the extended day. Please do not arrive later than 1:15pm (or 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. Parents are welcome to stay and have lunch at Floyd EcoVillage after camp each day.
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.
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.