As another summer comes to a close, we're reflecting on the youth creativity, curiosity, and community overflowing in Youth on Record’s studio this June and July.

This year, we welcomed dozens of students for Animation Camp, High School Podcast Camp, and three sessions of Middle School Summer Camp giving Denver-area youth free opportunities to explore music, media arts, storytelling, and creative technology alongside professional teaching artists. Check out photos of this exploration below!

This was the fourth summer of Middle School Music Camp, where campers learned the fundamentals of music, played in acoustic and electric ensembles, created original beats, and explored arts electives. Throughout the week, students built confidence while making music with new friends, culminating in a Friday showcase for family and friends featuring their own takes on songs by artists like Avril Lavigne, Fleetwood Mac, and The White Stripes.

For many students, the experience was just as much about the people as the music. But don’t take our word for it:

• 94% of campers agreed or strongly agreed that they “felt welcomed and included at camp.”
• 94% of campers agreed or strongly agreed that they “felt supported by the teaching artists and counselors.”
• 92% of campers agreed or strongly agreed that they “felt like I belonged in the camp community.”
• 90% of campers agreed or strongly agreed that they “learned new skills related to music or production.”

One camper shared that their favorite part of camp was "Electric ensemble because it felt like we were actually a band," while another loved "playing the drums and making friends." A camp band from Session 2 even kept the momentum going by reuniting to perform together at our July Open Mic.

At Youth on Record, our free summer camps are about more than learning creative skills; they're about building community, nurturing confidence, and giving young people the tools to tell their stories through music and media. We also intentionally integrate mental health and wellness into each camp, through our organization-wide mental health and wellness initiative. 

We can't wait to welcome even more young artists back to the studio this fall through field trips, open mics, studio booking, and enrichment classes for middle and high schools students. 

Stay tuned for the full fall schedule or reach out to programs@youthonrecord.org with questions.