What is the SWAG Team?
The SWAG Team is a volunteer group of dedicated individuals passionate about music education and service to others – no band, color guard, or previous camp experience required. Since 1980, SWAGs have served as counselors, instructional assistants, role models, support systems, cheerleaders, and dozens of other roles to the thousands of participants in all areas of Camp. Servant Leadership is the heart of the SWAG Team; the program is designed so that SWAGs are the living embodiment of the leadership lessons taught at Camp.
SWAGs are “super camp counselors” – a camp counselor but so much more. The SWAG Team is always where the Campers are – meals, daily sessions, dorms at night, evening concerts, and everywhere in between so that participants are always safe and can find a trusted face nearby whenever something is needed. During the Leadership Weekend Experience, SWAGs will also act as “Small Group Leaders, ”facilitating leadership lessons and games for all students at Camp and building relationships with the campers. The primary responsibility of the SWAGs are to serve the participants so anything that is needed in a rehearsal, at night, during a meal, or truly anything in-between is taken care of to ensure all participants have a positively life-changing experience.
There are only two requirements for being a part of the SWAG Team:
- The SWAG Team is required to be on the campus of Ball State beginning the Thursday before the Leadership Weekend Experience and must remain on campus until Sunday morning following Final Performances at the end of the Full Week of Camp. No exceptions.
- Applicants must have graduated at least one full calendar year from the start of Camp; you must be at least a year out of high school
After that, it is all about YOU, your character, and your willingness to serve others; you do not have to be a music major, band director, color guard instructor, or have come to Camp before. Most of the SWAG team are NON-music majors and NOT band directors in their daily lives, but they are excited and passionate about caring for students! Applicants who have not been on the Team before are required to submit two letters of recommendation and complete a short video essay describing what servant leadership means to them.
The SWAG Team’s unswerving dedication and contagious enthusiasm is heart of the Music for All Summer Camp
Applications open December 1 and close March 1 annually.
Come be a part of the legacy and let this summer be the one that changes everything!
Directors’ Academy Assistants (DAA)
Music for All has a talented team of educators that work directly with our Director and Collegiate divisions at camp. These select individuals work side by side with some of the best clinicians in the country. The Directors’ Academy Assistant Team is SWAG-like in the servant-leader orientation and intent of the group, however, the entirety of the program is geared toward the director participants at the Bands of America Summer Camp, collaborating with Music for All staff on logistics and assisting clinicians with their on-site set up of workshops and sessions.
Directors’ Academy Assistants are responsible for assisting clinicians with session set up and tear down, management of the two Director Bands, assistance with clinician transportation and many other logistics. This group has no student supervision responsibilities, but will be mingling with clinicians and directors both professionally and in social settings. All Directors’ Academy Assistant applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
Attendance and participation on BSU campus will be expected from 6:00 p.m. Sunday, prior to the full week of camp to the following Sunday for Directors’ Academy Assistants.