Registering for Midwest Banjo Camp

You must register to attend Midwest Banjo Camp (you may register up to 2 registrants at a time if you wish). To access the registration form, select Registration Form from the "Registration Info" Menu, or click on the link below.

NOTE: You can register anytime up to the start of camp but after April 1, 2025 all registrations must be accompanied by full tuition payments

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Full Camp & Weekend Only Options

Full Camp. The full camp runs from mid-Thursday afternoon through Sunday lunch. Included in the full-camp tuition package are nine hands-on classes; all meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch; two faculty concerts; staff-led jams on Thursday evening, Friday evening, and Saturday afternoon; and demonstrations on Thursday evening.

Weekend-Only Option. The “weekend-only” option begins with lunch Friday, followed by the first class Friday afternoon. Included are seven hands-on classes and all meals from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch. Also included are the two faculty concerts, and staff-led jams on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Note: The Weekend-Only plan now includes Friday lunch!

Lodging Options

At our Manchester University venue, resident students only need to choose among two options: single occupancy and double occupancy. Note that all dormitories - Garver Hall, Helman Hall, and Oakwood Hall- are air-conditioned; and that both Helman and Oakwood have elevators. More detailed descriptions of all three dormitories can be found on the Accommodations & Meals page). 

Commuters

Students may elect to reside offsite - at private homes, B and B's, RV Parks, or area hotels - and register at the "commuter" rate. For your convenience here is a link that lists area accommodations.

Meals

All resident tuition prices include meals. Commuters may purchase the full meal plan, or they may select a "no meals" plan. Commuters who have selected the "no meals" option may purchase meal tickets on a pay-as-you-go basis at the University dining hall, which is in the Switzer Center.

MBC's 2025 Tuition Prices (Meals & Lodging Included) 

Our situation at Manchester University enables us to offer very favorable tuition rates. Here are our prices. 

Non-Playing Spouses, Companions and Chaperones

Spouses and companions of students -- or chaperones of minor students -- who will not be attending classes may register for MBC on the following basis.

RESIDENT ATTENDEES. Both the student and the spouse/companion/chaperone sign up for double occupancy. The student pays the full double occupancy rate, while the spouse/companion/chaperone pays half the double occupancy rate. This special rate entitles the spouse/companion/chaperone to double occupancy lodging, the full meal plan, and -- if so desired -- access to demonstrations and concerts. They may NOT attend classes. To register as a spouse/companion/chaperone, click the appropriate box on the Registration Form, use the coupon code indicated on the Registration Form,  and you will automatically be charged the appropriate amount.

Note: You may register your spouse/companion/chaperone using the same form as for your own registration.

COMMUTING ATTENDEES. If the non-playing spouse/companion/chaperone is simply commuting from home, a hotel, or campgrounds, and just wants to be in or around our center of operations on Manchester University Campus, they do NOT need to register for MBC (and there is no charge for this). Commuting spouses/companions/chaperones may NOT attend classes, but they may purchase meals at the Switzer Center cafeteria on a pay-as-you-go basis. If they wish to attend the faculty concerts on Friday or Saturday evening, there is a charge of $20 per person, per concert – payable at the front desk or the entrance to the auditorium.

Minor Students

Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult in order to attend MBC as either a resident or commuter. They also must bring along a Permissions Form signed by the parent. If the accompanying adult is not a parent, he or she needs to bring along a document signed by a parent which authorizes him or her to act in loco parentis at our Camp, a role we refer to as Camp Guardian. Please click here to download a copy of the Parental Authorization Form. or the In Loco Parentis Form. Parents or Camp Guardians of minor students may register as students, or if they don't wish to attend classes may register at the chaperone rate, which is identical to the non-playing spouse rate (see above). To register as a spouse/companion/chaperone, click the appropriate box on the registration form and you will automatically be charged the appropriate amount.

Special Discount for Students 25 or Under

Youngsters stand to benefit considerably from exposure to top players, but often do not have enough resources to pay our tuition fees. Students who are 25 or under at the time MBC takes place are offered an automatic 50% scholarship. Select your options, click the special "youth discount" box on the Registration Form, use the coupon code indicated on the Registration Form, and your amount is automatically cut in half. Note that students under 18 at the time of camp are required to submit permissions forms and have a chaperone at camp (see above).

Travel Between Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) and Manchester University

Shuttle Service: We will have several shuttle times from FWA to Manchester U on Thursday afternoon 6/5/25 and possibly on Friday afternoon 6/6/25. We will also have shuttles back to FWA on Sunday afternoon 6/8/25.

Exact times will be determined based on arrival and departure times provided by students. If you provide times, we will contact you with details in advance of the camp. We expect to be able to accommodate most of your shuttle needs, but if we cannot, then we will notify you in advance and refund the amount paid.

Rental cars are available at FWA. Recent prices have been fairly high, so we recommend shopping around.

Taxis. Both Uber and Lyft service at FWA. It's about a 45 mile ride one-way, and the last time we checked they gave us prices in the $45-65 range each way. You will need an online app to call either Uber or Lyft from your smartphone. There may be other options at the airport.

Linens & Bedding

We strongly recommend that students staying in the dormitories should bring their own linens and pillows.  If that is not possible or convenient you can rent a set through Manchester U for $22 (just click the option on your registration form or let us know between now and Camp via email). The actual content of the linens package is as follows.

• 1 large bath towel
• 1 hand towel
• 2 washcloths
• bed sheets
• pillow cases
• pillows
• one blanket

Note on pillows and blankets. If you do NOT get the linens package, MU will still provide you with a blanket but you must provide your own pillows.

Note on personal items. Shampoo, shower gel, a drinking cup and other personal items are NOT included in the linens package.

Note on mattresses. If you can bring a mattress pad the mattresses in general might be more comfortable.

Note on price of linens sets. The price has increased substantially this year because MU is using a different supplier.

Extra Nights' Lodging?

If it makes your travel plans easier, lodging is available on both the night before Camp (June 4) and on the night immediately following the conclusion of Camp (June 8). Let us know on your registration form (or afterwards by email, if your plans change). The price is $45 per person, per night (note: it does not matter here whether there is single or double occupancy).

More Meals Details

Meals are buffet-style in the air-conditioned Switzer Center. MBC Students in residence are automatically enrolled in the meal plan. Commuters may sign up for the meal plan. If you are not on the meal plan, you may purchase meals individually at the entrance to Switzer.

Special Diets

It is very important to let us know about your dietary restrictions or concerns on the registration form, since the folks at the Switzer Center must be alerted in order to meet your needs. They will prepare special meals for Vegetarians and Vegans upon request; we must provide them with fairly exact numbers so be sure to mention your vegetarian or vegan preference on the registration form. Those with food allergies or other special diets can generally be accommodated. Students who indicate that they require special diets on their registration forms will be contacted by the Switzer Center, and arrangements will be made for them to pick up specially prepared food at each meal.  If you neglect to include your dietary needs on the Registration Form, you can also notify us closer to camp.

Paying Deposits & Balances Online

Although students may pay in full at any time, a deposit of $100 reserves a place at Camp until April 1, 2025, at which time all tuition balances must be paid in full. Beginning 12:01 AM on April 2, 2025, all reservations made must be accompanied by full tuition.

NOTE: YOU CAN REGISTER ANYTIME UP TO THE START OF CAMP BUT AFTER APRIL 1
REGISTRATIONS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY FULL TUITION PAYMENTS 

If you wish to have us hold a place for you before you pay the full amount, select the deposit option on the Registration Form. We will then charge you $100, plus the cost of any extra items that you choose on the registration form. Note: full payment and deposit "bottons" appear on the Registration Form only after you have selected your tuition and lodging options near the top of the page.

Your full balance is due on April 1, 2025. On that date, your balance will be automatically charged to the card number used to pay your deposit. A reminder will be sent to you in advance that this will happen on the due date.

If your charge card information has changed please email us at info@midwestbanjocamp.com and we’ll arrange for you to securely get us the new card info so it can be charged at the appropriate time.

Note: MBC never actually handles your credit card number or other payment information; payments are made through our credit card processor, who maintains this information securely on their system.

Paying by Postal Mail

You can also pay in full, or send deposits and balances for MBC via check. Fill out the Registration Form and click on the appropriate box in the payments section.  All payments in full and deposit payments should also be accompanied by a filled out registration form. Please make checks payable to Midwest Banjo Camp, and mail it to:

Midwest Banjo Camp
c/o Elderly Instruments
1100 N Washington Ave.
Lansing, MI 48906

Note: we do not recommend sending credit card info via email, since that is NOT a secure medium.

Cancellations and Refunds

Until April 1, 2025, your deposit is fully refundable. For cancellations beginning 12:01 AM on April 2, 2025, everything is refunded except $100. For cancellations made on or after May 29, 2025, everything is refunded except $200. There are no refunds for cancellations that take place after midnight, June 4, 2025, or for those students who simply fail to show up to Camp with no notice.

If you have any questions or concerns that you would prefer to address by phone, send an email to info@midwestbanjocamp.com with your phone number and suggested times to call. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

MBC 2025 COVID Protocols

• MBC strongly recommends that all participants get vaccinated against Covid-19, including with the most recent booster. MBC 2025 will follow any CDC guidelines that are present at the time of camp.
• Midwest Banjo Camp will adhere to all protocols regarding masking laid out by Manchester University and the State of Indiana. At this time there are no masking requirements.
• We reserve the right to ask all participants to take a home Covid test before setting out for Camp.