Summer Camp for Youth

Registration is open for the 2025 Washington Island Music Festival Summer Camp for Youth

Children’s Music Camp - Maren McNeil, Director

August 4th-8th Ongoing

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. School Commons

Miss Maren leads children ages 6-12 for a week of songs,music games, movement, instruments, and community-building. Campers will experience music featured in the Festival concerts, reinforce musical concepts in a play-based setting, and learn songs to perform at the Concert for Children of All Ages on Wednesday, August 13, at 11:00 a.m.

Cost is $25 per child, $10 per additional child, with a cap of $35 per family.

New this year
Early Childhood Class

Miss Maren leads children ages 0-5, and a caregiver, in a morning class of singing, movement, instruments, stories, and games on Monday, August 11, at Trinity Lutheran Church. With their caregivers’ assistance, children will build on their cognitive skills, as well as musical skills in a nurturing environment.

Cost is $5 per child with a cap of $15 per family.

Classes are divided by age:

8:30-9:00: Children under 1

9:15-9:45: 12-23 months

10:00-10:30: 2 year olds

10:45-11:15: 3 year olds

11:30-12:00: 4 and 5 year olds

*all children must be accompanied by a caregiver

To register contact Maren at maren.mcneil@gmail.com

Maren McNeil is thrilled to return to her hometown for the 2024 Washington Island Music Festival. A native of Washington Island, Maren was involved with the WIMF for many summers as a young camper, Children’s Camp assistant to Kari Gordon, chorus member, and assistant chorus director. Maren graduated from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI in 2015 with a degree in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy. Inspired by two international trips to Namibia and China during her college years, Maren spent her first year post-graduation teaching English and serving the Masombahoaka community in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar through the ELCA’s competitive YAGM program. Upon return to the USA, she taught elementary general music and choir in Germantown and Racine, Wisconsin. Currently, Maren lives in Racine with her husband and daughter, and is building a music program for the Racine Unified Digital and Virtual Learning Program where she teaches virtual elementary and middle school general music.

Kristin Gordon received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education (2014) from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and her Masters in Music Education (2020) from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Her career began in Sharon, Wisconsin where she taught Pre-K through 8th grade general music, directed two choirs, and began a musical theatre program. In 2019 she joined the music staff at Kenosha Unified School District where she teaches K-5 general music, directs the 4th-5th Grade Choir at Prairie Lane Elementary, and is one of the directors for the KUSD Elementary All-City Choir.

Gordon was recognized for excellence in education with The Service Above Self Award from Sharon Community School presented by the Fontana Rotary Club in 2019 and with a KUSD Spark Award in 2023. In 2017 she was a guest clinician for the Freeport School District World Arts Festival Elementary Mass Choir. At Highland Community College, Freeport, Illinois, she served as assistant music director for Summersets 42 & 43. In addition she has adjudicated for IHSA choir contest.

Currently, Gordon plays flute in the Freeport Concert Band and participates in the Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church Choir and Handbell Ensemble. Kristin and her husband, Ben, reside in Racine, Wisconsin.