About

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp offers 12-day residential summer sessions for students in Grades 5–12 at its 1,600-acre campus in the Manistee National Forest. For 2026, the program is divided into four sessions: Session 1 (June 24–July 5) and Session 2 (July 8–July 19) for high schoolers, and Session 3 (July 22–Aug 2) and Session 4 (Aug 5–Aug 16) for intermediate and junior campers. Students major in disciplines such as Band, Orchestra, Theater, Art, Dance, or Creative Writing, with the option to add a daily "Minor" class in a different artistic area.

Admission is open to students based on their 2025–2026 school grade. While general admission is first-come, first-served, Advanced Programs (like the Masterworks or Camerata ensembles) require a video audition submitted by February 28, 2026. Tuition for 2026 ranges from $1,875 to $1,975, which covers all instruction, shared cabin housing, and meals. All students are required to wear the official Blue Lake uniform during the day. Need-based and merit scholarships are available, with early application recommended as funding is awarded on a rolling basis.

Instruction centers on a rigorous daily schedule of rehearsals, technique classes, and masterclasses led by a faculty of professional artists and educators. Students at Camp Bernstein follow a schedule tailored for less experienced musicians (Grades 5–8), while Central Camp offers high-intensity training for advanced students. Every session culminates in public performances or exhibitions at venues like the Stewart Shell.

Blue Lake’s unique "radio-free" environment encourages students to disconnect from digital distractions and focus on artistic community. Participants live in rustic cabins, fostering a peer network of artists from across the globe.