Campers of all ages embrace music
By a quiet creek in Amherst, N.Y., Alex Eadie, the Senior Director of Advancement at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo (JCC), can hear the faint sound of bells and chimes as he walks up the path by the creek into the Irving M. Shuman Campground.
This 20-acre site is host to Camp Centerland, one of the largest summer day camps in Western New York and a top-200 summer camp in the United States, as named by Newsweek magazine in 2024. Serving children ages 5 to 15, Camp Centerland serves up a host of activities, including swimming, archery, sports, crafts, and now music, which appeals to all campers, no matter their age.
Nature’s Tune
The JCC and Camp Centerland are part of an ever-growing community, and its leaders recently realized the need to expand the offerings for campers. The leadership team identified how it can add more elements for all children to enjoy, and today, outdoor music-making is available at the new Music Garden.
The children who attended camp in summer 2024 were able to explore different outdoor instruments, as well as the traditional offerings in the camp’s music program. The Music Pavilion (called the Shirah in Hebrew) is now surrounded by a garden of instruments, with some inspired by nature.
Reflecting the natural surroundings of the campground, such as the wooded areas, trails, and creeks, Percussion Play’s Flowers and Petal Drums are situated in the garden and provide a colorful focal point to engage campers of all ages without the need for adult supervision.
Eadie knew that Percussion Play’s “Inspired by Nature” ensemble would be a big hit with campers. He says, “We knew when we saw the petal drums that they would fit perfectly in the Music Garden, and the little children would be excited by them. We then looked at other options and added in the Cavatina—something our older kids are loving—they get to play recognizable tunes!” Percussion Play’s instruments were chosen for their durability, appeal, and consistently high customer ratings. “We knew that we would be getting a high-quality product, and it has been a huge hit with our campers,” he says.
Percussion Play works closely with camps to create experiences that campers of all ages can enjoy. Alex Cook, the company’s Camps Specialist, says, “We are finding more and more camps are looking to create activities that every camper can enjoy, no matter their age or ability. Music is universal. It fuels the imagination and generates energy! Making music outdoors naturally encourages group play, engaging campers in a new way while boosting their confidence. The beauty of our instruments is that they can stay outside all year-round, be played without supervision, in all weather conditions, which helps camps utilize their key resource—the great outdoors!”
Camp Centerland also added chimes and two sets of Rainbow Bongos to round out the ensemble, so this summer the camp looks forward to hearing a variety of sounds. From the beat of drums to the gentle ringing of chimes, there’s something every camper can enjoy.