Songfest is many things to many people; a celebration of another successful week of camp, an outlet for song and dance, a ritual of remembrance for summers gone by. What started nearly 19 years ago, during the summer of 1992, is now a tradition.
Each Friday night during the summer, Songfest concludes a fun-filled week of camp, before parents arrive to pick up campers the next day. It’s a night of music and laughter that campers and counselors don’t soon forget.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons Sarah Goslee Reed, a talented musician from Mount Vernon, Ohio, returns every summer to play at an average of six Songfests a year.
Sarah Goslee Reed
I had a conversation with Sarah today, so let me share what I learned!
Q: How did your relationship with Camp Nuhop start?
A: Almost 20 years ago, I performed at an environmental conference in Central Ohio. Jerry (Dunlap) called me after the conference to see if I’d come play at Camp. The rest is history and I return every summer!
Q: What keeps you coming back?
A: The songs are so special to the kids. Watching them sing along is absolutely wonderful. It’s so neat to see the campers and counselors year-after-year. I don’t even have to think about what to play, since a lot of them know the songs. I always get to drive home with a smile.
Q: What is your favorite song to play at Songfest?
A: The counselors love “Old Blue Suit”. A few years back they wrote a new chorus with lines about camp and Jerry. They also asked me to learn “Right Field” and that’s been a hit ever since. Campers love “Walk a Mile”, a song about looking at an argument through someone else’s eyes.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from playing at Songfest through the years?
A: The first time I played “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, it was special to see the campers and counselors crying and hugging. They have a very special relationship and the song means a lot to them. Now it’s always the last song I play, a perfect way to end the evening.
Q: When you’re not playing music, what are you doing?
A: My education is in microbiology and I love the outdoors! I volunteer at the environmental center at Kenyon College, monitoring Bluebirds. I love rollerblading, kayaking, reading, knitting, and watching absolutely no TV!
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Songfest album cover
You can check out Sarah’s website for a little more information about her, to see where she’s playing next, or to purchase one of her CDs. $5 from each CD sale of her “Songfest” album goes to the endowment fund for camp.
Please share your memories from Songfest in the comment box!
Our son Lucas enjoys every camp session he attends and he so enjoys the song fests at Camp NuHop. We have the CD and it’s great in the car!