Trad Camp 2023 - Day 5
The last day…but not the end!
Was last week a dream!? We’re still feeling the glow of a wonderful Trad Camp and especially the final showcase where we got to witness and cheer on the hard work of all the campers and instructors this week.
On our final day we welcomed special guest Joanne Garton of Montpelier who spent time with several classes teaching Cape Breton step dancing and fiddle tunes, and also performing for the lunchtime concert. Much of the day was spent preparing for our big showcase, BUT given the heat index we did have to take a break outside and eat some popsicles. We’re so grateful to our neighbors at the Ronald McDonald House who generously let us use their fenced in yard next door to the camp venue as our outdoor play and snack space for the week.
The day culminated in a wonderful showcase with performances from many of the classes who had been working hard all week. We heard fiddle tunes, songs, ukuleles and kazoos, watched the debut of a brand new morris dance and an English clog dance routine, and the grand finale was the unveiling of the cranky show we worked on all week long. Kids drew the artwork to illustrate the song “Rame Donc,” a “voyageur” song from Québec, which Ian learned from his mom, Franco American musician and activist Martha Pellerin. The voyageurs (translation: “travelers”) were French Canadians who transported furs and trade goods by canoe at the peak of the North American fur trade.
Campers shared memories on the last day of camp:
click to enlarge
