Area 11 Ringers Camp

   June 8-12, 2025 – Snow Mountain Ranch, Granby, CO

We’ve COMBINED our Young Ringers Camp AND our Adult Ringers Camp into ONE extraordinary camp for everyone of all ages (10+)!

This 5-day, 4-night event takes place in the beautiful and refreshing Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Be prepared to do plenty of ringing, participate in outdoor activities, and spend time with an amazing group of handbell musicians!

We are excited to announce that Sandra Eithun and Mitchell Eithun
will be our clinicians for Area 11 Ringers Camp 2025!

Sandra Eithun

SANDRA EITHUN, M.M.Ed–is a graduate of Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI, with an emphasis in the Kodály teaching method, keyboard, and flute. She is currently on the faculty of Valley Troubadours of Appleton and at Holy Family Conservatory of Music in Manitowoc, WI, leading the handbell program for both schools. She served as Director of Music Ministry, handbell director, children’s choir director, organist and choral accompanist at First Congregational United Church of Christ in New London, WI, from 1992-2021. She directed the Silver Lake College Handbell Ensemble from 2009-2020, is an active member of the Handbell Musicians of America and has served on their Area VII Board of Directors. She has been commissioned to write music for many events and for numerous individual handbell ensembles. Most recently, she received the honor of being given the esteemed Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award for the 2020 Week of Handbells in Bay View, MI.

She has over 600 pieces for handbells in publication as well as several sacred keyboard books and teaching collections for the incorporation of handbells in the music classroom. In 2013, Sandra had the honor of working alongside Doc Severinsen and the Fox Valley Symphony to include handbells in his holiday show, Jingle Bell Doc, at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, WI. Sandra’s compositions have been recently featured on the PBS Christmas special, Holiday Handbells, as well as concerts by noted groups across the country including The Raliegh Ringers and The Bells on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. She continues to work as a handbell clinician and conductor at numerous festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She is married to Scott, has four grown children, four grandchildren and currently resides in Appleton, WI.

 

Mitchell Eithun

 
Mitchell Eithun is a church musician, composer and mathematician. He has over sixty published pieces of handbell music and has received commissions from community and church handbell ensembles. Mitchell is interested in developing innovative handbell rehearsal techniques and writing about the history of church music. He is the founding director of Bell Durham, a community handbell ensemble in Durham, NC.
Mitchell is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. Mitchell holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science and a minor in Music from Ripon College (Ripon, WI) and an M.S. in Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering from Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI). Mitchell previously served as handbell director at the First Presbyterian Church of Holt, digital ministry intern at University Lutheran Church and pastoral intern at Campus Edge Fellowship.
Mitchell is an associate member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and a member of Handbell Musicians of America. In his spare time, he enjoys learning the carillon and traveling to new places.

Lodging and Meals are separate. Please see the Lodging and Meals tab for more information.

Non-Refundable Registration Fees for RINGERS:

Early Bird Ringing Registration (by December 31, 2024) $250 per person
Regular Ringing Registration (after January 1, 2025) $300 per person
Full Registration Fees due by April 30, 2025.

This fee does include your t-shirt.  You must purchase your own music ahead of time. 

Ringing Registration Fees are Non-Refundable! Payment must be paid by check or PayPal (@Area11Handbells)

If you have extenuating circumstances, please email the Camp Director. The Board may consider a partial refund.

Register Here

There are two lodging options. Adult Ringers will stay at the Indian Peaks Lodge (Hotel Style – 2 Queen Beds). Youth/Chaperones will stay at the Silver Sage Lodge (2 Bunk Beds and 1 Double Bed for Chaperones). All Room Rates include 5-days and 4-nights with 11 meals total.
  • Youth Ringing Registrants in Silver Sage Lodge: $275 per person (4 youth will be lodged together with one chaperone)
  • Chaperones/Guests in Silver Sage Lodge: $350 per person 
  • Adult Ringer in Indian Peaks: $550 per person (2 adults per room. Please contact [email protected] for options)

Registration Fees are not included in room rates.  See Registration tab for more information.

Registration is not complete until Payment is received. 
 
Ringers can pay by Check or Paypal. All checks need to be received by the Registration Deadline: APRIL 30, 2025.
 
Paypal: Please send your designated amount to @area11handbells or by clicking this link.
 
Check: Please make checks payable to “Area XI AGEHR” or “Area XI American Guild of English Handbell Ringers”.
Mail to Anne Kleve-Camp Director, 14706 Williams St, Thornton CO 80602

General Schedule

  • Rehearsals and Workshops each day
  • Camp activities and free-time throughout the week
  • Concert Wednesday afternoon
Sunday Schedule 

3:30-5:30   Check in and equiptment set up (Pick up name tags)

5:30-6:30   Dinner

6:30-8:00   Massed Rehearsal

8:00-9:15   Get to Know You Games

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Monday Schedule

8:00-8:30    Morning R & R

8:30-9:00    Choir 1 Rehearsal – Mitchell

9:00-9:30    Choir 2 Rehearsal – Mitchell

9:30-10:30   Workshop with Sandy (More with Less)

10:30-12:00  Massed Rehearsal

Noon – 1:30  Lunch

1:00-1:30     Flat on Your Back Time (FOYB)

1:45-3:00   Summer Tubing Hill

3:00-5:00   Free Time / Outdoor Games

5:00-6:00   Dinner

6:00-7:00   Workshop with Mitchell (Linning Out)

7:00-8:00  Massed Rehearsal

 

 
Tuesday Schedule  / Silly Socks Day

7:00-8:00   Breakfast

8:00-8:30   Morning R & R

8:30-9:00   Choir 2 Rehearsal – Mitchell

9:00-9:30   Choir 1 Rehearsal – Mitchell

9:30-10:30  Workshop with Sandy (Revisiting Techniques)

10:30-12:00  Massed Rehearsal

Noon-1:00   Lunch

1:00-1:30  Flat On Your Back Time (FOYB)

1:30-3:00  Group Hike

3:00-4:00  Free Time

4:00-4:45  Swimming / Pool (optional)

5:00-6:00  Dinner

6:00-7:00   Workshop with Mitchell (Playing in the Hocket)

7:00-8:00  Massed Rehearsal
Wednesday Schedule / Camp T-Shirt Day

7:00-8:00   Breakfast

8:00-8:30   Morning R & R

8:30-9:30   Workshop with Sandy (Handbell Charades)

9:30-11:00  Massed Rehearsal

11:00-12:00 Workshop with Mitchell (This…Is… Jeopardy)

Noon- 1:00  Lunch

1:00-2:00   Flat On Your Back Time (FOYB)

2:00-2:30  Group Photos

2:30-3:00  Rehearsal (Mitchell)

3:00-4:00  Massed Rehearsal

4:00-5:00  Free Time

5:00-6:00  Dinner

6:00-6:30  Preparation for Concert

6:30-7:30  Concert

7:30-8:00  Pack Up Equipment

8:00-9:30   Campfire   – Commons 1
Thursday Schedule

7:00-8:00    Breakfast

8:00-9:00    Pack up and Load Vehicles

9:00-10:00  Closing / Looking to the Future

10:00-10:30 On the Road Again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
General Information / Notes

Meal Times

Breakfast 7:00-9:00

Lunch  11:30-1:00

Dinner  5:00-7:00

 

Tubing Hill

Monday the 9th at 2pm

 

Campfire

Wednesday the 11th

 

 

Concert

Wednesday the 11th 6:30-7:30

 

 

 

 

Coppers (Levels 1+ and 2) or Bronze (Levels 3 and 4+)

Ringers are responsible for purchasing their own music AHEAD of time!

 

Bronze (Levels 3 and 4+):

I Will Lift Mine Eyes Unto the Hills (sacred-Psalm Lv 2 Moklebust):
https://www.handbellworld.com/music/MusicPiece.cfm?Piece=12252

Song of the Flowers (secular-chinese folk tune Lv 4- Mazimas Ko):
https://www.handbellworld.com/music/MusicPiece.cfm?Piece=10383

Massed:

Area 11 Anthem:
Area 11 Anthem – Area 11 Handbells (handbellmusicians.org)

Wild Mountain Thyme (secular Lv 2+ Sandra Eithun): 

https://www.handbellworld.com/music/MusicPiece.cfm?Piece=20331

Be Thou My Vision (sacred Lv 3 Mitchell Eithun):
https://www.handbellworld.com/music/MusicPiece.cfm?Piece=20023

 

Massed Duet/ Duo

Light of the World (Jason Krug)

https://www.handbellworld.com/music/MusicPiece.cfm?Piece=16120

Team Building Course

Tubing – Monday 1:45-3:00

Hike – Tuesday 1:30-3:00

Swimming  – Tuesday 4:00-4:45

Workshops with Mitchell

  • Linning Out – In this class we will work on making the music come alive by playing more than just the notes on the page. Together we will identify common musical constructions and learn how to play then musically on handbells. This involves a close study of the score, learning to find our place in a musical line and then applying appropriate dynamics.
  • Playing in the Hocket – In this experimental class we will work on improving our musical ear by improvising rhythms and short melodies and seeing if we can write a song together! Come with creative energy.
  • This… Is… Jeopardy! – How well do you know handbell music, techniques and puns? Test your handbell knowledge by trying out for Handbell Jeopardy, a game show experience complete with buzzers, prizes and a bubbly host! Wager wisely!

Workshops with Sandy

  • More with Less: Resources for Small Groups—Come read through several selections of music specifically chosen for when you are shorthanded, want to participate in summer worship or possibly want to take the show on the road to venues where tables are not available or advised.  These settings use 8,  10 or 12 bells, and some can be rung entirely on chimes.   Several of the selections will have optional keyboard parts to fill in and enhance the bell parts.
  • Revisiting Techniques & Exploring Expression—Handbells are capable of so many different sounds and have a huge expressive range.   We’ll go back and review many of the techniques found in handbell compositions as well as explore ways to make your ensemble “wow” the audience by injecting some expressive phrasing, focusing on dynamics, tempo and style.
  • Handbell Charades: Musical Charades is a fun party game that combines the excitement of charades with a musical twist. Players take turns drawing a song title, a musical idea, playing of a certain instrument or performing like a well-known artist.   Players must act it out without speaking or singing while their team tries to guess correctly before time runs out. The game challenges creativity and musical knowledge, making it perfect for groups of all ages!

Recommendations Coming Soon

Concert is on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 6:30-7:30pm

Public and Non-registrants are welcome to attend.  Campers have additional activites after the concert and the next morning.