Colt Cadets May Rehearsal And Pre-Tour Information
May 15, 2017
The May drill camp weekend for the 2017 Colt Cadets will be held May 19 - 21 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Dubuque, Iowa. For all camp attendees, the cost of this weekend is $25. This fee is collected at each camp and covers your meals and overnight housing. This fee does not apply to summer fees. You can pay your camp fees in advance through the Colts Mall. Everyone can save a great deal of time at check in by also paying in advance.
CLICK HERE for a Google map to the facility.
Registration and unloading will begin on Friday at 6:00 PM, and rehearsal starts at 7:30 PM. The weekend will conclude around 3:00 PM on Sunday. The camp will be capped off with an outdoor performance (weather permitting) at 1:00 PM on Sunday. If it rains, we will be inside the main gym. Exact locations will be listed on the schedule for the weekend. Schedules will be on the check in table throughout the weekend.
Parents are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and sleep in a classroom at the facility. We also have arrangements for discounted rates at the Hampton Inn in Dubuque. The Hampton Inn is a great sponsor of the Colts! To take advantage of these rates, please call the Hampton Inn directly at 563.690.2005 and ask for the front desk. Tell them you are with the Colts.
Always check colts.org before leaving for camp for any last-minute updates! Please RSVP now with your plans!
NOTICE: The Member Handbook and car wash information will be distributed soon. The member handbook will answer most of your questions about what to pack, what to bring, logistics and the like, especially for new members and new parents. We will email the information to all members and parents. Everyone needs to read the handbook in its entirety! The information will also be printable online on the Member Documents web page. All members will be asked to submit a signed acknowledgment of the member handbook.
Members, please double check with your parents to ensure they are checking the web site and getting all of the information we provide as well! A great way to say updated with everything Colts related is to sign up for our email list. Please bring your own spandex for uniform fittings at this event. We will be doing uniform fittings at this camp.
HINTS FOR MAY REHEARSAL
- Bring clothes for any weather (snow, rain or heat wave). You may be outside for much of the weekend, working on drill and music. Don’t forget cold weather gear. You just never know. Right now there is no rain scheduled, but Iowa weather can change at the last minute.
- Two pairs of comfortable tennis shoes (no high tops). One pair is for wet and mud that will be taken off before entering the school if it rains or is wet outdoors.
- Athletic braces for any previous injuries or weaknesses. You will be on your feet a lot this weekend, so protect yourself against injury.
- Other helpful items: extra socks, sunscreen, lip protection (DCT) with sunscreen, hat or bandanna, sunglasses, a smile, backpack (field bag) and water bottle or jug.
PARKING
Parking is available in the parking lot of the school. Please park in the parking lot behind the school. If you get lost, you can look for the big
red Colt Cadets trailer.
RSVP, MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT, AND MEDICAL FORM
Please
RSVP
regardless of your plans for this camp, so we can keep up to date with your plans. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to bring your signed
membership agreement! Also remember remaining paperwork needed. You can also access the
Colts Medical History Form and
Physical Examination Form online on our
Member Documents Page. Please email david@colts.org if you have any
questions regarding any of our forms. The medical forms only need to be submitted once per year unless information changes. The
RSVP
should be submitted by all students.
Paying in advance can also speed up your check in process. You can pay your camp fees in advance through the Colts Mall. You can also make payments toward your summer tour fees by selecting Colt Cadets Summer Member Fees and selecting the quantity to update the amount.
WHAT TO BRING
Students stay overnight in the gym on the floor, as you will all summer. Bring changes of clothes, shower supplies, towel, sleeping bag and
pillow, comfortable clothes for rehearsal (no jeans please), and tennis shoes (no high tops, please). Many students will bring an inflatable
mattress with a battery-powered air pump. Please bring a binder with plastic sleeves for your music and any hand-outs. Please remember to bring a
white t-shirt for the Sunday afternoon performance.
Brass: Please bring a binder for music, and gloves. Instruments will be provided for the weekend.
Color Guard: Bring lightweight, workout clothing for rehearsals (no jeans), black pants or shorts and a black shirt for Sunday's performance, your own rifle and/or sabre (if you can), and knee pads (if you like). There is no need to purchase any special equipment for rehearsals. You will wear your audition t-shirt for most rehearsal segments through the weekend.
Percussion: Please bring your own sticks or mallets, practice pad, and a binder for music. We will provide all instruments for camps. We will evaluate you individually, and as a part of the group. Please wear the audition t-shirt for the Sunday afternoon performance.
PARENTS
An informational meeting for parents will be held Friday evening at 8:45 pm in a location to be announced. Bring all of your questions! Schedules
will be available at the check in table with locations for everything going on throughout the weekend.
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the weekend. Parental support is what makes the Colt Cadets successful, and you are needed to give the kids the incredible Colt Cadets experience we are known for. Also, this is the best way for you to find out about our program, meet the other parents, and get comfortable with what this is all about. You will find a very welcoming and exciting opportunity here.
Parents will cook and serve the meals throughout the weekend, coordinate sewing projects, and assist with some repair work. We always have things to do for anyone willing to lend a hand.
Parents are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and sleep in a classroom at the school, or you can find a discounted rate at the Hampton Inn here in Dubuque. Please call the hotel directly at 563.690.2005 and ask for the Colts Drum Corps rate.
Parents are encouraged to sign onto the email mailing list to receive Colts information via email.
All parents and volunteers are Colts Boosters! Plan on joining us Saturday morning, before or after breakfast (approximately 8:30 am), to divide for Saturday projects. If you arrive at a random time, the kitchen and check in tables are good places to start with questions about where you can help.
SUMMER CHECK IN
Check in for the summer will be on Saturday, June 10, in conjunction with our annual car wash fundraiser. Full details are still being sorted out
and will be announced following the May camp. We ask that parents will help by signing up to supervise a car wash location and help provide
transportation of students to their car wash locations to begin at 9:00 AM.
To arrange alternate plans, please notify us by email at david@colts.org or call 563.582.4872. You can also help fellow members by offering a ride in your vehicle. You can let us know if you have extra room or if need a ride on your RSVP.
AUGUST AIRLINE PLANS
For those who will be flying home after finals, please note: You should purchase a plane ticket home no earlier than 6:00 AM on Sunday, August 13, from the Indianapolis Airport (IND). We will run a bus from the stadium to the Indianapolis Airport after finals early Sunday morning. A fun-filled overnight at the airport awaits you with about 2,000 other corps members!
PERSONAL UNIFORM PARTS
These parts have been added to your bill and will be emailed with your statement. The parts will be handed out after Car Wash. Each brass and
battery member receives a plume, member shirt, and marching shoes (brass/cymbals/DM also receive gloves). Prices for Brass/Percussion/DM will be
$50. Guard members pay $75 for personal uniform parts that will be supplied, including shoes, under uniform garments and other necessary personal
items.
CAR WASH, JUNE 10, 2017
This is a critical project for us, and the only fundraiser for which we expect everyone's participation. We ask that you collect a minimum of 20
pledges or donations, with a total potential value of $175. If you start now and get one per day, you'll have close to 30. If you wait until the
last day, you'll have a problem. Please make sure your sheets are legible! You can access the pledge sheet and instructions on the
Member Documents page.
The vast majority (90%+) of Colts and Cadets do a great job, but we do remind you that this is a requirement of your membership, agreed to in your membership agreement. The car wash will be held Saturday, June 10 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
As in all facets of membership, we need people who are committed to the success of the Colts. When everyone does their share, we can make more than $45,000 in our one-day event!
Please plan, so that you can do your share. It's important to all of us, and it beats having to sell cookie dough, magazines, candy, pizzas and whatever else. Our one and only fundraiser for members does the same thing as many small ones.
The money raised from this project helps with tour expenses, especially food and fuel.
As a guideline, set a goal of an average value of $10 per pledge or donation. If someone asks the value of a penny per car, the typical pledge of a penny per car total will end up being around $8. If we wash 750 cars across approximately 20 locations, that amounts to $7.50 per pledge. Some pledges will be more, some less. Remember, although you may collect money in advance, you are not required to. You do not need to collect pledges. After the car wash, we will mail letters from the office to the commitments you received for you. We then collect these payments through the office by mail. We prefer to not bill for anything less than $5. Please keep in mind the total goal to raise $175 personally. Twenty donations of a dollar each is not satisfactory.
We ask that parents will help by signing up to supervise a car wash location and help provide transportation of students to their car wash locations to begin at 9:00 AM.
SUMMER TOUR HELP!
We are scheduling summer volunteers. Check your schedules and let us know. Remember, we can be very creative in getting you in and out of tour.
Cooks, Van Drivers, and/or Those Who Sew email david@colts.org.
DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HOTEL & TICKETS
Finals Week is August 10 - 12 in Indinapolis, Indiana. There are still great seats and great rooms available for the best week of the summer!
Please note that the Colts WILL perform August 10 and 11, but are not guaranteed a spot in finals on August 12. Plan accordingly. We have seats
available for all three shows. You can purchase your tickets online at the
Colts Mall. If you need assistance, you can contact
the Colts Office at office@colts.org.
The Colt Cadets have their prelims and finals in Michigan City on Monday and Tuesday and will also be performing in prelims on Thursday in Lucas Oil Stadium. The top 15 corps at Thursday prelims will be shown live at Star Cinema theaters throughout the country beginning at 5:00 pm. Go to www.dci.org to find the location nearest you. If you can't make it to Indianapolis, this is the next best thing!
Hotel accomadations are available at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Indianapolis. Please call the 2017 Drum Corps Housing bureau at 317.262.8191 to book your room(s). Make sure to mention that you are with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and provide the code DCICOLTS2017 for a discounted rate. You may also reserve your rooms online. Reservations must be made by June 27, 2017. Any unsold rooms will be released to the public at that time.
COLTS WISH LIST FOR IN-KIND DONATIONS
Your time on tour with us!
Cereal
Medium weight plastic silverware
Gift certificates for fuel and office supply
An RV
Coffee - definitely caffeinated!
Paper towels
Fresh Fruits or Vegetables
Did we mention, a week on tour with us!
For a detailed list, CLICK HERE
COLTS OFFICE
2300 Twin Valley Drive
Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone 563.582.4872
Fax 1.844.347.5323
David Alford, Colt Cadets Director
david@colts.org
Cell: 773.308.6710
Andrew Eaton, Colt Cadets Assistant Director
andreweaton@gmail.com
Cell: 317.402.3290
Vicki MacFarlane, Director
vicki@colts.org
Cell: 563.564.9016
Jason Schubert, Colts Tour Director
jason@colts.org
Cell: 630-666-7489
Jeff MacFarlane, Executive Director
jeff@colts.org
Cell: 563.599.8553
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