Because space on the island is limited, admission to Island Camp is determined by lottery.

Each year, we receive far more applications than we can accommodate. To keep the process fair and to support a mix of new and returning campers, applicants are entered into one of two pools:

• New campers

• Returning campers

Applicants are notified of their status in February. Those not initially invited may be placed on a waitlist and offered spots as they become available.

APPLICATION FEE

• $10 non-refundable fee per applicant

• Waived for monthly sustaining Miles of Music donors
  (Set up a monthly donation and we’ll send you a fee-waiver code.)

LOTTERY ACCEPTANCE

All applicants will be notified between February to Mid-March and will receive one of the following:

• An invitation to attend camp, or

• Placement on the waitlist

Waitlisted campers are invited on a rolling basis as spots open.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

January 30
Last day to apply for:

• General Lottery

• Work Trade

• Merit & Community Discounts

February–Mid March
First round of invitations sent

March–May
Invitations extended from the waitlist as spots open

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS

After you’ve accepted a spot and paid your balance:

• Cancel before April 10: Full refund

• April 11 – May 8: 50% refund

• May 9 – May 29: 25% refund

• May 30 or later: No refunds

QUESTIONS?

Email us anytime at milesofmusiccamp@gmail.com

Thank you for the many ways you support this community — with your music, your presence, your generosity, and your care.
Good luck in the lottery, and we hope to see you on the Island soon.

To balance community continuity and access for new campers, we use the following guidelines:

1. THIRD TIME IS A CHARM

If you’ve applied two years in a row without being offered a spot, we’ll prioritize you in the third year. (We track this — but feel free to remind us.)

2. FOURTH YEAR, TIME TO ROTATE

If you’ve attended camp three years in a row, we ask that you consider rotating yourself out for a year.
If you don’t opt out, we’ll rotate you out on your fourth consecutive year.

These guidelines are not absolute — exceptions can be made — but in general, 2–3 consecutive years helps keep the community healthy and open.

If you rotate out, we hope you’ll stay connected through:

• Imperfectionist Song Society

• Online workshops

• Art Shares

• Community gatherings

Please email us if you’re rotating out, applying for a third time, or have questions.

Island Camp takes place on Three Mile Island, an Appalachian Mountain Club facility located on a private, 43-acre rocky woodland island about three miles from a dock south of Meredith, New Hampshire. Like much of New England, this land is on unceded Wabanaki Territory. As a modest effort toward reparations with the Indigenous communities from whom this land was taken, we offer financial support for musicians of Wabanaki descent who are interested in attending Island Camp.

We put a great deal of care into creating the class schedule, but we believe it’s equally important to leave room for rest and time in nature. Campers are encouraged to take afternoons off—or skip class entirely—to wander the island’s walking trails, canoe or kayak along the shoreline, try sailing, or simply spend time on the dock.

Everyone on the island—from campers to instructors, cooks to dishwashers, boat drivers to organizers—is part of the community, with something to learn and something to teach. We look forward to including you.

A NOTE ON PRICING

Island Camp is supported by a mix of tuition, individual donations, and community fundraising. Rather than setting a single fixed price, we use a tiered tuition system so that those who are able to pay more help make it possible for others to attend at a discounted or Work Trade rate.

New for 2026:

• Adult tiered tuition and private cabin rates have increased by $200

• Work Trade, Youth, and Child rates have increased by $50

Thanks to the generosity of campers who choose Supporter tuition — along with our broader donor community — discounted and Work Trade options remain deeply subsidized.

TIERED PRICING

Adult Campers (Ages 15+)

Private Cabin – $2,700
A limited number of private cabins are available (most cabins are double occupancy). If selected in the lottery, we’ll confirm availability and offer alternatives if needed.

Supporter – $2,000
Pays it forward by helping fund discounted and Work Trade tuition for fellow campers.

Standard – $1,700
Closest to the actual cost of the program.

Discounted – $1,200
Supported by community fundraising and donations.

Important: The lottery is completely blind to your tuition choice.
You’ll select your tuition tier only after you’ve been invited and are confirming your spot.

Work Trade (AGES 15+)

$650

A limited number of spots are available for campers who participate in the Work Trade program, which involves 1.5–2 hours of work per day (primarily kitchen support). If all positions are filled, we’ll contact you to see if you’d like to enter the General Lottery at the tiered tuition rates listed above.

[Learn more about Work Trade →]

Youth & Children (attending with a parent/guardian)

Youth (ages 9–14): $825

Child (ages 4–8): $700

MERIT & COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS

In addition to tiered tuition, we offer significant, no-strings-attached discounts

Discounts are available to musicians applying individually or with a buddy who identify with one or more of the following:

• Working Musician

• Musician of Color

• Musician of Wabanaki Descent

• Parent

• Youth

• First-Time Camper

• Community Continuity

WORK TRADE

A limited number of spots are available for campers who participate in the Work Trade program, which involves 1.5–2 hours of work per day (primarily kitchen support). If all positions are filled, we’ll contact you to see if you’d like to enter the General Lottery at the tiered tuition rates listed above.

[Learn more about Merit & Community Discounts and the Work Trade Program →]

Lodging
Most campers stay in a cabin with one roommate. In certain circumstances, cabins can accommodate three people with the addition of a cot (this works especially well for kids). If you’re applying on your own and don’t have a roommate in mind, we’ll thoughtfully match you with someone. A limited number of private cabins are available at a fixed $2700 tuition price.

Typical cabins are 16 feet square and include two single beds, a table and chairs, a closet, a laundry line, and a rocking chair on a front porch overlooking the lake. All cabins are right on the water. While the island does have electricity in shared community spaces, sleeping cabins do not. We recommend bringing a flashlight for nighttime walks and a solar-powered lantern for interior lighting (more details will be included in the camper packing list).

Programming & Activities
Camp tuition includes open access to all classes, workshops, jams, and events, with occasional opportunities to sign up for private lessons (see past schedules below). Evenings feature nightly concerts, dances, and informal jams.

You’ll also have access to canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and walking trails throughout the island. Fishing, tennis, and volleyball are available if you bring your own equipment. Safety guidelines for all activities will be covered during orientation.

Meals & Coffee
Three delicious, nourishing meals are served daily, with these meal plan options available:

• Omnivore (meat or fish at most meals; lunch is vegetarian for all campers)

• Vegetarian

• Vegan

• Gluten-Free

We’re proud of the food at Miles of Music—it’s a true step above the typical “camp kitchen.” Most meals are made from scratch, with high-quality seasonal produce and regional, hormone-free meats sourced through Maine’s North Center Foods. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style, and dinner is served family-style, with homemade desserts each night.

The kitchen does its best to accommodate food allergies, with substitutions available when necessary. However, personalized menus are not possible, so campers with specific dietary needs are encouraged to bring non-perishable snacks.

Self-serve coffee, tea, and water are available 24 hours a day. The Camp Café in the camp store features baristas serving craft coffee beverages for purchase.

All humans ages 4 and up are welcome. We’ve hosted campers as young as 4 and as old as 83, with skill levels ranging from total beginners to seasoned professionals and everyone in between. While we’re talking about age, please note that we are not a kids’ sleepaway camp. We love having kids in our midst — and we provide several classes geared for the young ones — but kids are equally welcome in the all-ages classes if they’re up for it, and parents are ultimately responsible for their own kids at all times. Again, see those sample class schedules to get a sense of what we mean.

At Miles of Music, we value and are actively working on an environment of inclusivity. This includes, but is not limited to, creating a safe and welcoming space for people from a range of backgrounds and perspectives in terms of race/ethnicity, ability, class, gender, sexual orientation, learning style, and country of origin.

We value accessibility and want every camper to have the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves.

Our most important common spaces — including the recreation hall, dining area, main bathrooms, and most classroom spaces — meet basic ADA accessibility requirements. At least one camper cabin is also ADA accessible.

At the same time, our rustic island does present mobility challenges that all campers should be aware of:

• From the dock to the Main House (dining area): a fairly steep, rocky path about 50 yards long

• Paths to most cabins: rocky, uneven trails

• Nighttime visibility: paths are minimally lit and require a flashlight at night

• Some cabins: located 10–15 minutes from the Main House

If you have any questions or want to discuss your particular needs, we encourage you to reach out to us directly — we’re here to help.

The only way to get to the island is by boat. The boats pick up passengers at the boat dock located at 31 Lovejoy Sands Rd, Meredith, NH. If you’re driving, put this in your GPS: Goodhue Boat Company, Meredith, NH 03253.

These boats are small passenger and cargo boats that can hold around 25-30 people. On the 1st day of camp. we have boat drivers on staff who shuttle campers from the dock to the island from 12-4 PM. If you’re accepted and confirmed for camp, we’ll ask you to commit to a specific arrival time.

In case of emergency, the boat drivers on staff can take anyone to shore immediately, but the boat trip itself takes about 10 minutes and the nearest hospital is about a 20 minute drive from the dock. We usually have a nurse or doctor attending camp (as a camper), and they will often volunteer to provide basic First Aid. Please note: Miles of Music cannot provide professional medical or psychiatric services on the island as part of our program. 

If you have any additional access or accessibility needs, questions, or concerns, please email us at milesofmusiccamp@gmailcom.

FLYING TO CAMP

The best airport to fly into is Boston Logan Airport. Another option is the Manchester, NH airport, but we can’t guarantee a ride to the island from there. See below about the shuttle bus that departs from the Boston airport.

SHUTTLE BUS FROM BOSTON

If you’re accepted and confirmed for camp and you are traveling from a long distance, the best option to get to the boat dock on arrival day is to take the shuttle bus we offer from the Boston Logan Airport. It’s $150 round trip ($75 each way). Once accepted, please let our operations director know that you want to take the shuttle.

Shuttle Schedule

Saturday (1st day of camp): the shuttle departs the Boston airport at 11 AM. It makes one 30 min pit-stop in New Hampshire where campers are free to go into the grocery store or liquor store to purchase any food and beverages they’d like to bring to camp. Passengers are then dropped off at the dock around 3-4 PM to catch the last ferry over to the island

Friday (Last day of camp): the shuttle departs the dock located at 31 Lovejoy Sands Rd, Meridith, NH 03253 at 11 AM and drops passengers off at the Boston Logan Airport around 1:45pm

Saturday | Arrive at camp.

Boats pick up campers at the dock at 12noon, 2pm & 4pm. Plan to arrive at the dock 1 hour before boat departure to allow for Covid-testing and unpacking. You'll leave your car for the week in the parking lot at the dock (Lovejoy Sands Road near Meredith, New Hampshire, if you want to map it).

Sunday – Thursday | Camp is in session.

Here is a conceptual outline of how our weekly schedule has looked in the past. Please note that things always change from year to year.

8:30 - 10AM | BREAKFAST & EARLY BIRD CLASSES (For example, Yoga and/or Morning Writing).

10:00 - 11:10AM | MUSICALITY CLASSES

In this block, we ask a group of teachers to think about something that they feel is so exciting or so central to the work they do that they can’t help wanting to share it. Past topics have included using “riffs” in arranging songs, expanding instrumental repertoire, playing and singing traditional ballads, songwriting methods, working with unusual time signatures or rhythms, improvisation techniques, and how to play well with other musicians. Most classes are for all instruments, so you bring whatever instrument you play. We generally offer about four “Musicality” topics, these classes are offered at various levels. That way campers can choose a level that feels right to them.

11:20-12:30PM | Learn your instrument

Pick a class to attend for the week. Now’s your chance to focus on YOUR chosen instrument at your own speed of learning. The list of instruments and styles taught will vary from year to year but will always include guitar, voice, fiddle, banjo, bass, and mandolin. Dance, percussion, keyboards, woodwinds, and cello are commonly offered as well. Please be sure to talk to us if you have a question about class availability for your instrument.

12:30PM - 1:30PM | LUNCH

1:30PM - 2:30PM | AFTERNOON BREAK

This could be a good time to jam, swim, sleep or schedule private lessons on your instrument with one of our Instructors or Guest Artists. They’ll post available teaching times at the beginning of the week. 

2:30PM - 6PM | ELECTIVE #1

A variety of one-time workshops and cumulative classes. You choose!

3:45PM - 4:45PM | Elective #2

A variety of one-time workshops and cumulative classes. You choose!

5 - 6PM | ELECTIVE #3

During this period, we’ll offer a variety of one-time workshops as well as the popular “Band in a Box” class, where campers can sign up to arrange and perform a song with a killer backing band. Workshops could include listening or jamming sessions in various traditional or modern styles, music law, Sacred Harp singing, couples dancing basics, “meet the cello” (or some other instrument you may not have tried before), or sampler versions of other popular classes.

6 - 7PM | SONG SWAPS, JAMS, COCKTAIL & MOCKTAIL HOUR, CHILL TIME

7 - 8PM | DINNER

8 - 9PM | GRAB A SWEATER OR A FLASHLIGHT FROM YOUR CABIN, GET READY FOR EVENING EVENTS

9PM - MIDNIGHT | EVENING AT THE DANCE HALL

Instructor-led bands will get us dancing most nights playing swing and old-time dance music. Dances will be a combo of called/instructed dances and a free-form party. Other evening events will include instructor performances, Live Band Costume Karaoke (pick a song and an instructor band will back you up- everyone wears costumes!), Entertain Us (campers share jokes, skits, and hidden talents), Campfire Sing-Along (with s’mores), etc. When the scheduled activities end, the music is likely to continue till the wee hours.

FRIDAY | DEPART FROM camp.

Boats depart the island between 9am and 12noon.