Youth song camp expands reach

The Sisters Folk Festival's sixth annual Americana Song Academy for Youth brought students from across the West to town last weekend to spark their creativity and hone the craft of songwriting and performance.

Twenty-five high school students in Americana Project programs from Sisters, Eugene, Bend, and Colorado gathered for a weekend of song instruction, song sharing, and community building.

What made this year's camp special were four students from the Pagosa Springs Colorado Americana Project due to generous support from Sisters resident Cris Converse.

"Student interaction between the different programs offers a chance for connection and hope that lets the kids see there's a broader picture and a chance to make something more of the world," Converse said.

Converse has been a supporter of the camp for the past four years in honor of her brother, the late Doug Sokol.

The experience was a significant one for the visiting students.

"The community of Sisters was so great to us. From the moment we landed I knew there was a special vibe to this place. The students did such a great job making us feel welcome; it feels a lot like home," said Laith Scherer, of the Colorado program.

Brad Tisdel, executive director of the Sisters Folk Festival and co-founder of the Americana Project, said, "Bringing these different programs and communities together gave us faith that the Americana Project is expanding and growing in incredibly powerful ways. This camp in particular empowers students to be more kind, and that kids are kids, no matter where you go."

Tisdel said that bringing the different programs together is something he has wanted to pursue for a long time.

"The Colorado program is just as strong as our program here in Sisters, and it's critical that our students remain aware that across the country students just like them are pursuing music and songwriting," he said. "I'm certain that the kids from Sisters made lifelong friends from Colorado this weekend."

Students gathered on Friday at Sisters Art Works for an evening of introduction and performing their music in small groups with other campers. On Saturday the camp spent most of their time in small classes known as "breakout sessions." Local musicians and songwriters instruct the breakout sessions, which provide a unique way for students to interact with members of the community.

The culmination of the camp is a private performance for the entire camp, held at The Barn in Sisters. Students, many for the first time, are offered the opportunity to perform live in front of their peers in a simulated venue environment. The safe nature of the performance allows for students to feel very comfortable in a live performance setting.

One student summed up feelings about the impact of the experience: "This camp is all about love. I felt so comfortable playing music up there, and I can't wait to come back again next year."

Editor's note: Travis Ehrenstrom is the assistant director of the Sisters Folk Festival. He was a standout participant in Sisters High School's Americana Project.