2024 ISLAND CAMP | PRICING & APPLICATION PROCESS

Table of Contents

TuitioN
Application Process
COVID-19 HEALTH POLICY
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Cancellation and Refunds

The most beautiful and the most challenging thing about our camp is that space on the island is limited. We generally have around 2-3 times as many applicants as we have the ability to admit. We hold a lottery to choose who gets invited first. We draw names randomly from two groups — new and returning campers (because we strive for a mix of both). People who don’t get chosen in right away are added to a waiting list and we continue to invite people from that list right up until camp starts.  

In pursuit of our goal of making Miles of Music financially accessible to all who want to attend, we use a Tiered Tuition System for adult campers. If you’re accepted in the lottery, you’ll then have the option to choose a tuition rate of either $1000, $1500, $1800 or a private cabin at $2500. Please note that the actual cost of the program is around $1500 per person. If you’re able to pay that amount, this is what we suggest.

In 2023 we instituted new Rotation Guidelines for all attendees in an effort to intentionally honor a balance of continuity and newness in our community. Read more about that below. 

tuition options for 2024:

ADULT (Age 15+) – TIERED TUITION (CHOOSE ONE)**:

• Private Cabin: $2500
  We have a limited number of private cabins (most cabins are double occupancy). If you’re interested, you’ll have an opportunity to let us know in the “Cabins” section of the application. If you’re accepted in the lottery, we’ll either offer you a private cabin or — if we don’t have any left — we’ll ask if you’d like to be in a double occupancy cabin instead at one of the tiered rates below.

• Supporter: $1,800
  Your additional contribution will help support the discounted rate for a fellow camper.

• Standard: $1,500
  This is closest to the actual cost of the program.

• Discounted: $1,000
  The money we raise in our various community fundraisers support this discounted rate for all who choose it.

  **Again, our Lottery process is completely blind of your choice of tuition tier. If your name is selected in the lottery, you'll choose a tuition tier when you pay your balance.

WORK TRADE DISCOUNT RATE: $600
We have a limited number of jobs for campers who are willing to do 1.5-2 hours/day of work in the kitchen or wherever we might need it. If you’re interested, select Work Trade as your registration type in your application. If we don’t have a job for you, we’ll reach out and ask if you’d like to be in the Lottery instead. You can read more about the work trade program here.

YOUTH (9-14) – ATTENDING W/ PARENT OR GUARDIAN: $775

CHILD (4-8) – ATTENDING W/ PARENT OR GUARDIAN: $650

Just as in prior years, we will use a lottery system for admissions. Here’s how the lottery works…

If you apply by the deadline, your name will be put into a hat and then drawn at random. We use two hats — one for returning campers and one for new campers, because we want a mix of both.

There will be a $10 non-refundable application fee for each person who applies — unless you’re a monthly sustaining Miles of Music donor, in which case we will waive the application fee! (To become a monthly sustaining donor, click here to set up your monthly recurring donation, and we’ll send you a discount code within 24 hours so you can apply without an application fee).

All applicants and applicant groups/families will receive an email in February letting you know one of two things: 

1. You’ve been accepted into camp, OR

2. We’ve put your name on a waiting list. 

If you’ve been placed on the waiting list, we’ll let you know on a rolling basis if a spot has opened up for you at camp.

New!! (Please Read) Rotation Guidelines for the Lottery

As you can imagine, our camp lottery is a challenge to administer. It’s always heartbreaking when a long-time camper doesn’t get admitted through the lottery. And it’s equally heartbreaking when new people who we know would love the experience don’t get to come check it out. 

We’re working on a consistent and transparent set of Rotation Guidelines to help us all share the space and the opportunities more intentionally. For now, we’ve come up with two simple ideas that will guide our lottery and admissions work.  

The Third Time is a Charm…

If you have applied for the lottery twice in a row without being offered a space at camp, we will do our best to give you top priority in the third year. We have a way of keeping track of these things, but don’t hesitate to bring it to our attention if you know this describes you.

…or The Fourth Time and You’re Gone!

If this would be your third year in a row attending camp, consider making a choice to rotate yourself out by not applying through the lottery. If you do this, please send us a note to let us know that’s your choice, and we will keep track of your name for a fresh start in following year’s lottery. If you opt not to rotate yourself out we will rotate you out on your fourth consecutive year. 

Neither of these guidelines are absolutely set in stone. There are reasons why it might be important for a camper to attend for a third time in a particular year, for instance. But in general, we would like to move forward with the idea that two to three years in a row is the right number before we step out temporarily to make space for someone else.

For those who choose to rotate out, we hope that you’ll stay connected to the Miles of Music community off the island – through the Imperfectionist Song Society, an online workshop, a community Art Share, our Facebook group, or one of the many informal community gatherings that seem to crop up around concerts and dances where alumni happen to gather. And then we hope you’ll come back soon!

Thank you for understanding. Please notify us of your intent to rotate out or send any other feedback by email at milesofmusiccamp@gmail.com.

TUITION ASSISTANCE & OTHER WAYS TO APPLY

MERIT & COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS – In addition to the tiered tuition system, we offer a number of significant, no-strings-attached discounts through a separate application process. This year’s Merit & Community Discounts will support musicians – applying as individuals or with a buddy – who identify with one or more of these categories:

• Working Musician

• Musician of Color

• Musician of Wabanaki Descent

• Parent

• Youth

• First Timer’s Discount

• Community Continuity

To learn more about how to support or apply for these discounts, click one of the links below.

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we are committed to creating a safe experience for all Miles of Music campers, instructors, and staff. With that in mind, we recommend that all campers, instructors, and staff be vaccinated to the level recommended for their age range by the CDC at the time of camp attendance. You can find current recommendations here.

For 2024, we will no longer require proof of vaccination to attend Island Camp. Our Covid testing protocol will be communicated with all campers and staff one month before camp. If you confirm your spot at camp, you will agree to follow this protocol.

January 31st – Last day to register and apply for General Lottery, Work Trade, and Merit & Community Discounts.

Late February to Early March – First round of invitations extended for all (General Lottery, Work Trade Lottery, Merit & Community Discounts by Application)

March-May – Invitations extended to waitlist campers as we receive cancellations.

If you’ve been offered a spot at camp, we’ll let you know when you need to pay your balance in order to confirm your spot. After you’ve confirmed, you may still cancel and receive a refund of varying amounts, depending on when you request the cancellation: 

• Cancel before April 12 – Full tuition refund

• Cancel between April 12 and May 10 – 50% refund.

• Cancel between May 10 and May 28 – 25% refund.

• Cancel on or after May 29 – Sorry, we’ll be on the island getting ready for camp by this point! No refunds will be possible.

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Questions? Please reach out to us any time at milesofmusiccamp@gmail.com

Thank you all for the many ways you continue to give to our community – whether with your time, energy, talents, financial resources, or all of the above.  Good luck in the Lottery and we expect to see you all on the Island one day soon.