The 2025 season officially gets under way during the weekend of January 4-5. Rehearsal will begin at 1:00 PM on Saturday. We will begin in the auditorium for the welcome from the staff, opening announcements, and an overview of the two-day camp. We will conclude all our activities by 4:00 PM on Sunday afternoon. Please check with your school’s director/LVW coordinator for travel plans to and from the camp.
Camp Location:
Fox Valley Lutheran HS
5300 N Meade Street
Appleton, WI 54913
If you are sure you will be marching with LVW this summer, go ahead and REGISTER for the season (This is NOT the same as the RSVP - they are two different forms). We have quite a few members already registered! We want all members registered by February 1st, so this first weekend camp will serve as a great introduction to what LVW can be. So if you’re not quite sure about an LVW commitment, come to the camp and experience the fellowship, friendship, and excitement of LVW!
IMPORTANT - Please RSVP for the camp, even if you are unable to attend January 4-5 but intend to participate in 2025. A link to the RSVP is also located on the LVW homepage.
This RSVP form is intended for Returning LVW Members, Staff/Directors, New LVW Members, and Parent Volunteers. We will need an accurate "head count" for things like meal planning, music, equipment, and so on.
Parents – if you would like to volunteer for the camp, we will have a Sign Up in a separate post on our website. That sign up will be posted within the coming weeks. We will have volunteer spots for kitchen help, overnight chaperons, uniform fitting/measuring, and possibly a few more tasks.
When you arrive at FVL
There will be signs and volunteers directing you where to take your overnight gear, suitcases, instruments, and so on. There will be lots of activity at FVL that weekend and we want to make sure first where everything will go. Students will be sleeping in music rooms and gyms. It can get chilly at night at FVL, so please bring warm sleeping bags and/or blankets!
Meals
For Saturday supper, pack a BAG SUPPER. Saturday evening snack, as well as Sunday breakfast and lunch will be provided by LVW.
Worship Service
We will be attending worship at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Appleton on Saturday evening. We will provide time to change into suitable clothes for this service. The service begins at 5:30 PM. It will be a communion service.
What to Bring
You will need to pack an overnight bag with a change of clothes, overnight gear (Sleeping bag/blanket/pillow/air mattress/etc.), personal items (towel, soap/shampoo, deodorant, etc). We will be sleeping overnight at FVL.
For marching rehearsals, you will need to have comfortable shorts or sweats. Please don’t wear “jeans” for marching/visual rehearsals. You will also need a pair of CLEAN tennis shoes for use on the gym floor.
Don’t forget your instrument! If you will be using an LVW instrument (mellophone, baritone, tuba), you will need to bring your own mouthpiece. Reed players, please make sure you have a few working reeds for the weekend.
You will be given your music and other LVW equipment on Saturday at the start of camp.
Check back to the LVW Website occasionally. There may be more updates before the Camp.
Please tell your friends about this post, especially if they may be new to LVW. We want excellent attendance at this camp!
For Returning and New Members
There is preparatory work that you can do to ensure the 2025 season kicks off strong. Please continue to ready your bodies by exercising, stretching, and finding ways to make your muscles stronger. Even a 1 pound flute gets heavy after holding it up for several minutes (with excellent posture!)
Practice your instrument. Make sure your skills are at the top of their game because you will be challenged by our staff and our music as we push toward excellence.
Know someone who might be interested? Invite them to join you, at least for this first camp. After all, marching band is way better with a friend (not that you won't have 100 or more new friends from around the state within a few months...)
And remember the more important preparation we're all enjoying this season, the advent of the baby Jesus, God's gracious gift to us and the fulfillment of his ancient promises. Say a prayer of thanks for the undeserved physical and spiritual blessings we receive every day, and ask God to help you find ways to use those blessings to his glory.
The LVW Staff can't wait to see you in January!