Girls Rock n Roll Retreat

She Rock She Rock is proud to present our 18th year of Girls Rock n Roll Retreat (GRRR) in 2024!

At Girls Rock n Roll Retreat, participants...

*Express themselves creatively through music, form a band, collaboratively write a song and put on a big concert!

*Create community, where they support each other and learn to work together!

*Engage with positive role models and receive support for their creative endeavors!

*Are nurtured in a supportive, inclusive space where they can develop their self-confidence and rock out!

*Can help create social change to help achieve a more positive image of girls and gender-expansive youth in the media, our culture and the world!

GIRLS ROCK N ROLL RETREAT 2024 Dates
GRRR Session I: July 15-19 for ages 9-12
GRRR Session II: July 22-26 for ages 13-16
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Please make sure to read over all FAQS below before registering!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Girls Rock n Roll Retreat?  
Started in 2007, the Girls Rock n Roll Retreat (GRRR) is an annual day camp (9am-4:30pm daily) that offers 5 days of music lessons, playing in a band, art classes, exciting workshops all culminating in two Friday night showcase concerts for girls, trans and nonbinary youth ages 9-16.  Our camp is offered to participants who play or want to learn electric guitar, electric bass, drums, vocals, or keyboards. We accept campers of all levels on each instrument, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!    

Camp workshops include songwriting, activism, body confidence, self-defense, stage presence, band art, and of course instrument and band practice. Our teachers are all professional musicians from right here in the Twin Cities music scene.  At the end of five days, our campers will have: formed a band, written original music, created logos and merchandise for their band, improved their instrumental skills and will have performed two concerts for friends and family on Friday evening!

What are the hours of camp?
Camp runs Monday-Thursday from 9am-4:30pm, and Friday 9am-8pm.

Where is camp held?
Camp will be at Bryn Mawr Elementary School which is located at 252 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55405.  The Friday night showcases will be at the James Ballentine Uptown VFW which is located at 2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408.  Campers will be taking a bus from the school to the venue on Friday, so parents/guardians will pick them up at the venue at 8pm.

How much does it cost for my camper to attend?
Did you know the full actual cost of your camper to attend Girls Rock n Roll Retreat is over $1,000 per week? That includes qualified music coaches, camp counselors, camp administrators, band equipment, instrument rental, art supplies, building rental fees, media and transportation. In order to ensure income is not a barrier for all kids who want to jam, She Rock normally steps up to pay at least 70% of each camper's actual costs, regardless of family income.

However, like many small nonprofit organizations, She Rock has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and now more than ever we could really use your help to give young rockers access to our unique summer camp experience. If your family is able, we encourage you to step up for your camper and their friends!

  • LET'S ROCK! tuition package. $2,000. Includes the actual cost of your camper and 1 additional camper to attend Girls Rock n Roll Retreat for 1 week. The 2nd camper will be selected by She Rock’s Fairness Fund Scholarship Program, based on poverty guidelines. A wonderful benefit for you selecting this option is that $1550 will be counted as a tax deductible donation (we will mail you a receipt). 
  • I ROCK! tuition package. $1,000. Includes the actual cost of your camper to attend Girls Rock N Roll Retreat for 1 week. A wonderful benefit for you selecting this option is that $550 will be counted as a tax deductible donation (we will mail you the receipt). 
  • ROCK ME! tuition package. $450. Includes the standard cost of your camper to attend Girls Rock n Roll Retreat for 1 week.  As the actual cost is $1,000, this means She Rock will be paying $550 for your camper to attend. 
  • Before and After Camp Care. $75. Includes Before and After Camp care for your child, so you have flexibility to drop them off between 7:30am-8:30am and pick them up between 4:30pm-5:30pm

Are there financial aid/scholarship options? 
Yes! However, there are limited funds available for scholarship. Priority will be given to folks who demonstrate financial need, first-time applicants, and families who come from marginalized and under-represented backgrounds. Fill out the FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION here.  Please do not fill out a registration form until you have heard from us that your financial aid form has been approved.

Who can come to camp?
Girls Rock n Roll Retrear is offered to girls, nonbinary and trans youth, ages 9-16, who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of girls and women in music. We recognize and acknowledge the intersection of race and gender identities and it is our hope that we can provide programming that is inclusive and accessible. No prior musical experience is necessary!

What if my child doesn’t have access to transportation? 
If campers and families feel comfortable and safe, She Rock encourages biking, walking and public transportation. We do our best to select central locations close to bus lines. We also have a carpool list of all families interested in carpooling that we send out a few weeks prior to camp.

What if my child is a beginner or has never played an instrument before? 
We got you covered! We do our best to remove barriers so that ALL campers can attend. We accept all levels of players, beginners-advanced and we have plenty of instruments to borrow! There is no musical experience necessary to join GRRR. Teachers will show them the basics of how to play the instrument and help pair them with other campers with similar backgrounds/interests. 

What if my child doesn’t have an instrument?
We provide drums, keyboards, PA systems, microphones, and music stands for the campers to use.  We also have plenty of loaner electric guitars and basses that campers can borrow for the week if they don't own one. We have a form that the camper and guardian must fill out at camp prior to borrowing an instrument, and you will do that Monday morning during check in.

What should my camper bring?
Make sure to wear comfortable clothes! Remember to bring a water bottle (with camper name labeled on it), notebook/pens/pencils and a bag lunch (there is a refrigerator that we can store lunches in).

What instruments are campers able to learn?
We focus on rock band instruments at camp: Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Keyboards and Vocals. 

Can my camper learn/play an instrument in addition to vocals? 
No. In the spirit of simplicity for music coaches, campers who select vocals will be able to focus on learning just vocals. This means during all classes and band practice, they will be able to develop their skills with singing, vocal confidence, and stage presence. If your vocalist camper is interested in taking instrument lessons outside of GRRR, we encourage them to sign up for music lessons.

Why aren’t there any GRRR sessions in St. Paul? Why do the camp locations keep moving from year to year?
Since 2022, She Rock is excited to have secured a community education partnership with Minneapolis Public Schools. As She Rock does not own a building/space to host GRRR, we depend on community partners that are both able to host GRRR and meet all of our building and affordability needs (e.g. Air conditioning, 11+ classrooms, cafeteria, privacy/security, central location near bus lines, sponsored/donated space, etc.). Click here to see all of our building requirement needs. So far we have only found a space in Minneapolis that is available and meets all our needs. If you have a strong connection to or leadership role within a community space in St. Paul that would meet our needs, we are always grateful for recommendations and we would love to be back in St Paul next year! Feel free to send us these recommendations along for future consideration and exploration. 

How quickly does the registration fill up before I will be added to the wait list?
Registration is first-come, first-served and tends to fill up VERY quickly. Please consider having your camper sign up for a different instrument if their first choice is no longer available. If all spots are filled, please sign up for the WAIT LIST.

What if my camper only has an acoustic guitar.  Can they play it at camp?
Guitar and bass players MUST use electric instruments (they can be acoustic electric, but not just acoustic- they need to have a pickup in them to be heard over the drummers!).  We have plenty of electric guitars to loan out if you don't have one! Also, if you need advice in regards to purchasing an instrument, we can help with that too. E-mail jenny@sherocksherock.com with further inquiries.

Do guitarists and bassists have to bring their own amps?
No, we provide amps, drum sets, microphones, keyboards, music stands, and P.A.s for the campers to use.  We also have plenty of guitars and basses to borrow if your camper doesn’t have one of their own!

Can my camper request to be put into a band with a friend who is also signing up?
Our goal at GRRR is to encourage campers to make new friends and promote musical growth. In order to accomplish this, there is a chance that friends and siblings will be parted.  We strive to put the bands together based on three factors: the camper's experience level, their age and their musical interests.  There will still be plenty of time for friends to hang out during workshops, lunchtime, and other activities each day!

If my camper has some time conflicts during the week of camp (unpredictable/unmanageable transportation schedule, sports, vacation, etc), can they still attend?
We ask campers to fully commit to being at camp for the entire week which is 9am-4:30pm Mon-Thurs and 9am-8pm Friday, which includes the grand finale of the entire week; the 2 Friday night showcase concerts! This attendance commitment includes reliable camper transportation and timely parental/guardian drop-off and pick-up schedule. When campers are put into bands, and much like any other kind of team, they all count on each other to be at all their band rehearsals and both the final concerts (3 & 6pm Friday), which is the culmination of the entire week of camp. If one band member is missing or is late for daily rehearsals, it makes it difficult for the rest of the band to move forward, and we feel that is not fair to their bandmates. If your camper would potentially need to miss any part of camp, we kindly ask that you wait until next year when they can attend the whole time.

Do you offer before and after-camp care?
Yes, this year we are able to offer a one-time $75 care fee paid at registration. Campers need to arrive between 8:30am and 9am (Mon-Fri) and be picked up at 4:30pm (Mon-Thurs). However, for parents who have work/traffic schedule time constraints and need to drop off their camper between 7:30am-8:30am and/or pick them up between 4:30pm-5:30pm, there will be a GRRR staff member available to provide care for your child. We do this in an effort to make this camp accessible to all youth who want to attend camp. Before and after care costs $75 per camper. This fee is waived for low-income campers with successfully-approved financial aid applications.

If I need to cancel prior to camp, does GRRR offer a refund?
In the event you need to cancel, you must notify us by June 1st to receive a refund (less a $25.00 deposit).  No refunds will be available after June 1st, but if a situation arises where a cancellation needs to be made, the tuition price can be considered a donation to She Rock She Rock and we can write you a tax-deduction receipt.

What does a typical day at GRRR look like? 
Most days we start with a camp assembly to prepare campers for the day. After that, campers will go to small group instrument instruction. During instrument instruction, campers will learn different cover songs and learn how to write and perform their own songs. In the afternoons, there are usually some music/social activism workshops and/or fun art activities. The rest of the day consists of band rehearsal where campers will be collaboratively writing an original song with their bandmates and the day is finished off with a closing assembly. 

How do the campers get to the showcase concert venue on Friday afternoon?
We will be taking a bus!  Parents/Guardians will pick up your camper from the showcase concert venue, AFTER the shows are over on Friday by 8pm.

Are your camp and showcase locations ADA accessible/friendly? 
Yes! 

Are there volunteer or teaching opportunities for GRRR?
Yes! Email tracy@sherocksherock.com for more info!

REGISTER FOR GRRR

If you need to apply for Financial Aid, please fill out the application below INSTEAD of registering.  

Registration questions?  Contact jenny@sherocksherock.com