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Jan. 15 is the Priority Application Deadline for Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy. Programs fill quickly—submit your app today!
Camp Life: Intermediate Division
Cabin Life
Your cabin will be your "home base" while you're at Interlochen—not that you'll spend much time there! Your Camp "family" will consist of 12 to 14 other passionate young artists and two counselors.
Each day begins with reveille and line-up at 6:45 a.m. After completing your cabin chores, you'll head off to breakfast with your bunkmates—and then it's off to your arts classes. You'll return to your cabin after lunch for rest hour—a one-hour break that allows you to write letters, do some journaling, read a book, or grab a quick nap. Then it's off to more arts adventures for the afternoon, then dinner with your friends, and an evening of activities or arts presentations. Each day ends with call to quarters at 9 p.m., followed by bunk talk, Taps, and lights out.
Dining
As an Intermediate student, you'll eat your meals in either Lochaven or Pinecrest Dining Hall. Both offer a varied menu that is nutritious, kid-friendly, and allergy-conscious. We also always offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options at every meal.
The Uniform
Whenever you leave your division, you'll don the traditional blue-on-blue Camp uniform, worn at Interlochen since 1928. The uniform unites us visually and identifies you as a member of our vibrant, creative community. Although the uniform is simple, it's flexible—we encourage you to customize your look with your choice of navy-blue bottoms and colorful accessories.
Activities and Traditions
Your art is only one component of your Interlochen Arts Camp experience. Outside the classroom, you'll find plenty of time for fun, friendship, and relaxation.
Camp traditions start with First Gathering and continue all summer. As an intermediate student, you can watch—or even perform in—"Collage," our annual interdisciplinary showcase. You may also attend "Les Préludes," our traditional end-of-summer performance. Start planning for our talent show: "I-Idol" is one of the highlights of the summer for camp students.
Our recreation staff offer a variety of crafts, games, and activities for intermediate students. At the craft shop, you can learn to make a friendship bracelet, stamp a leather belt, or polish Petoskey stones. Favorite recreational activities include ping-pong, tennis, basketball, and soccer. You might even become the tetherball champion of your cabin! You can also take a dip at one of our two waterfronts, each of which is staffed by a team of certified lifeguards. Each week, you will participate in a "cabin night," an opportunity for you and your cabinmates to grow closer while enjoying a fun activity or cooking over an open fire.
In your free time, the possibilities are endless. You can go to a Monday night mixer, get ice cream with your friends at the Melody Freeze, or attend one of the 450 student, faculty, and guest performances that take place each summer. On Monday afternoons, when there are no classes, we offer field trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Whether you choose to hike the dunes, paddle the Platte River, or just enjoy the Lake Michigan beaches, Sleeping Bear Dunes is a terrific place to relax for the week ahead. Or you might enjoy on-campus activities such as Messtival, Cardboard Boat Races, or Capture the Flag.
Taking Care
Your cabin is located just minutes away from one of Interlochen's three health centers. These facilities are staffed during the day (one 24 hours per day), 7 days per week by a dedicated team of health care providers. In addition to administering daily medications, our medical staff are here to handle any little emergencies that might occur—from bee stings to summer colds to poison ivy. And should a bigger emergency arise, Interlochen is 15 minutes away from Munson Medical Center, a class II trauma center.
The Interlochen campus is also watched over by our Campus Safety team. They roam the campus 24/7, provide a watchful eye over our gated main entrance, and are always ready to assist in the event of an emergency. Interlochen maintains a thorough Site Emergency Plan and is able to utilize a variety of emergency alert systems to keep our campus informed and safe. Our safety officers will also help you find your way around campus or look for your misplaced music folder.