Welcome to the family!
​In 2002, the Walker Family began an evolving tradition of sharing their love of intergenerational music-making by creating The Walker Family Band Music Camp. After two decades of developing the camp and building a network of support within the camp community of families, friends, and musicians, Traditional Roots Community Camps, Inc., a registered nonprofit, was formed to ensure a lasting future.
Traditional Roots Community Camps, in partnership with the Blowing Rock Conference...our beautiful, serene mountain home...continues The Walker Family Band family camp experience with fresh excitement as the Bluebird Family Fiddle Camp!
Bluebird Family Fiddle Camp celebrates a variety of musical and dance traditions including Celtic, Old Time, Blues, Jazz, Contra Dance, and more! We welcome musicians of all ages and levels; families, students, and studio and orchestra groups. The Walker family, Bluebird faculty, and the wonderful stewards and staff of the Blowing Rock Conference Center, encourage you to bring along your fiddle, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, penny whistle, ukulele, harp, dulcimer, percussion instruments, and of course, your dancing shoes and join our family camp community in Blowing Rock this summer.
We promote the “whole family” camp experience and follow an ethos of tradition, family, inclusivity, and acceptance. The BFF Camp promotes intergenerational music making and learning. Families and fellow campers attend classes, workshops, and events to learn together and make the musical and personal connections that are so important to sustain folk and traditional music.
The faculty, who are recognized leaders in music education and folk and traditional music, create meaningful enrichment opportunities for both total beginners and advanced players.
The camp, in one form or the other, has been hosted by the Blowing Rock Conference Center (BRCC), since the original camp opened in 2002. Located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, the BRCC is steeped in natural beauty and regional tradition. Families can reserve hotel-style lodging, or enjoy more campy dormitory style lodging at an affordable cost that is also appealing to young-adults or studio groups. Delicious meals are prepared and served in BRCC's spacious dining room throughout camp week. Beyond the expansive grounds of the BRCC lie ample recreational opportunities for your family to discover in Blowing Rock and the surrounding Highland region.
Classes are divided between non-music and music activities with beginner, intermediate, and advanced level instruction. Campers can choose classes across categories, including single instrument, multi-instrumental ensembles of diverse genres, dance, music appreciation and arts. Following classes, campers join up for meadow games, Yoga, a walk in the woods, or taking in the view. Evening activities include all-camp nightly jam-sessions, enjoying performances from The Walker Family Band, camp fires, and the now-famous Techno Contra-dance evening.
In addition to music classes for all instruments in many genres, we offer lots of activities and programs for family members who don't play an instrument!
Singing
Dance
Daily Nature Hikes
Yoga
Campfire
Arts Classes
Concerts
Music History
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Blowing Rock is a resort area with lots to do and plenty of excursions awaiting just minutes off campus.
You are welcome here.
In the Walker tradition, Bluebird Family Fiddle Camp encourages musicians of all ages and stages, levels and varied musical interests. We are proud to offer diverse classes where each individual is met with love and respect; we all grow through our acceptance and inclusion of others. Bluebird and BRCC staff are grateful to share our camp home with your family each summer in joy and gratitude!
