Last update: July 2, 2026.
Hello all swing camp participants. The camp is coming up in a few days!
We have about 30 confirmed attendees from Edmonton, Calgary, and various other locations. We have a good mix of instruments so we’ll be able to split into several jams according to level and interest. There are quite a few guitar players, a couple of violins and a mandolin, two or three accordions, two ukuleles, one clarinet, a couple of melodica, a sax and some basses. We have three jam locations: a central gazebo, one beginner-level gazebo, and one back in the trees for whatever. We can split up according to skill level or music interest. Or start your own jam anywhere. If you can, please bring a gazebo in case we need sun shade and/or rain protection.
Directions
Directions have been emailed privately to registered workshop participants only. I will be setting up some signs at key intersections to help navigate. They might not be up until 1 or 2 PM though.
Site Map
Practical Stuff
Water/SaniDump/Toilets: If you need potable water for your trailer before arriving at camp, and dumping afterwards, you can check www.sanidumps.com. For those on the road from the north, there is a good free sani station in Lacombe at Michener Park: Michener Park (Dump Station #1964) (sanidumps.com).
We will have have two portapotties on site. If you have an RV, use that to minimize the load.
Electricity: There is electricity on site (at Brenda’s house), but not enough to power everybody’s trailers without tripping breakers. Also, this is Brenda’s personal power bill so let’s go easy on it. I will set up my trailer on power and have some power bars available at my trailer for charging devices. Otherwise, don’t plan on using much for electricity.
Internet: There is cellular coverage at the site but it’s a little weak. I will bring a WiFi setup, connected through Brenda’s internet connection so we will have some WiFi access throughout the campsite. This is Brenda’s connection so be easy on the content. We’ll use this mostly for sharing charts and files, but please don’t stream too much or you’ll bog down the connection. I’ll provide login information on site.
Food: This is an informal jam camp so we don’t have any vendors on site. So please bring whatever you need for yourself. There are some restaurants in nearby towns: Bowden about 15 minutes away, Olds about 20 minutes away.
We are planning to order supper for the instructors on Saturday night. If you want to get in on an order for the Saturday supper, we will put in an order from the Tasty Thai restaurant in Olds by about 1 PM Saturday, to pick it up by about 5 PM Saturday night. Please bring some cash to pay for that in advance: it’ll be about $25 depending on your items, and add in a couple extra dollars for the restaurant tip and gas money for people picking it up.
Cash: You won’t need much on site. But if you want t-shirts or a food order, please bring some cash.
T-shirts: We may still have a few t-shirts left over from last year. The price is $30 each. Please bring cash for those.
Charts: Please bring whatever charts you think you need: electronic or paper. iReal Pro on tablet devices works really great. I have a few paper jam binders as well.
Waiver: This camp is growing so we figured we should have a simple waiver for people to sign. Please connect with Brenda when you arrive to sign the waiver.
Schedule
This is a fairly informal camp so the schedule might change a bit, but here’s the plan.
Friday Arrival
Your host Brenda is on site. Kevin will be at the site by noon or so. If you’re here early, we’ll be setting up camp, gazebos and other logistics so we won’t have much time to chat until later. It’s best to arrive between about 2 PM and 5 PM. There will be an introductory meeting at the main jam gazebo (Jam 2 on the map) at 7 PM.
Saturday
Workshops at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Supper at 5:00 PM. Jamming all day.
Sunday
Jamming until people trickle away. I will be on site until about 5:00 PM.
Detailed Schedule here: Alberta Swing Camp 2026 – Schedule
See you on the weekend! Kevin.
