Band Camp 2024 - The tell tale heart

 Band camp is back.  And this year it was a warm one.  Temperatures were in the mid to high 80s with a lot of humidity.  But the team worked hard and got a lot done.

The girls, in particular this one, loved the theme days.  This is Sadie's Tell Tale Heart outfit.  You can see Aubrey in her 80's workout outfit above.

Getting ready for the run through of a couple of the acts

Act 1

Act 3

Still a lot of things to fill in, but it is always impressive what they are able to get done in just 5 days.

I'm really excited for this year's theme.  Mr. Batsch has learned from the success of the Winter Guard that a show with a story is more engaging for the audience so he let Kelly lead on this one and I think it is going to be the right decision.

Evening in the City

 Mindy and Claire returned from their cruise while Band Camp was in full swing, so on Saturday we decided to go into the city and walk the High Line and to check out "Little Island" which opened in 2021 but we have yet to see.

Some artwork in Hudson Yards

The Vessel (which is still closed after it was used for as a location for multiple suicides)

The High Line has artwork installations throughout and a lot of gardens

View from the top of Little Island

Underside of Little Island

We finished at Black Tap in SoHo and Claire enjoyed one of their over the top shakes

Claire and Mindy visit the Bahamas

Claire is about to turn 12, so we decided that it made sense for Mindy and Claire to do her 12 year old trip before the school year, so we didn't end up with a situation like Sadie where she went on her trip 9 months after her birthday.  Claire chose to go on a cruise to the bahamas.

They had time before boarding the ship to tour Miami a bit so they checked their bags at a business that holds bags for travelers (for a fee of course).

Claire left her charger in NJ so they stopped at the Apple Store in Miami

Hanging in Miami

Chickens were all over the place

Waiting to board the boat

Checking out the view from the balcony of their room.

First dinner.

On the boat to Princess Cay Island

Look at how clear that water is.

Sand Castle

The only time Mindy beat Claire at corn hole

Learning how to make towel animals

The Port Nassau

Going to the island

At the beach in Nassau

Riding the boat past a bunch of famous peoples' homes

The ships at the port.  Their boat is in the middle.

Atlantis Hotel

This is the Symphony of the Seas (not their boat) one of the largest cruise ships on the seas.

They were asked to move seats so the staff could accommodate another family in their assigned seats.  The staff was so appreciative they were treated to extra food and drinks for free.

Claire ate this shrimp cocktail every night of the trip.

Back in Miami, they went on busy tour before going to airport.

Goodbye boat

Really cool graffiti artwork

They had a great time on this bus tour checking out Miami

They had such a wonderful trip.  Other than their neighbor room enjoying marijuana the whole trip, everything else went great.

And they brought back Dude a Miami United jersey.