MISSION STATEMENT
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our mission is to provide scholarships to young people from elementary school age through college age so that they may participate in the educational experience of attending a summer music camp in the specific areas of instrumental and/or vocal music. Our mission includes the intention to promote the study and enjoyment of music and the arts, to encourage discipline and aesthetics in education, to provide opportunities for young people to share their art at a high level of excellence, and to meet with and explore ideas with other young people of various backgrounds, but similar interests. Secondarily, our mission is to promote the musical arts in performance and to give local communities an opportunity to view today’s youth in a positive and constructive light.
President's Message
Fall is a time of the year that I like to reflect on last summer and look forward to the upcoming holiday season. First of all, thank you to all of you who have supported us this past year. Many of the students we give scholarships to wouldn’t have had the experience of attending a summer music camp without your support. Arrowbear had a much better summer in terms of enrollment, but there are other camps that had to cancel their sessions because of low enrollment. If you know of any school-age students who would like to attend a summer music camp, please encourage them to explore the opportunities that are available for next summer.
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We are in our third year of providing private music lessons in Long Beach Unified School District. In the spring, high school students were added to this program joining the middle school-age students in receiving lessons. Private lessons can make all the difference in really learning how to play an instrument, something that a school music teacher does not have time to teach. Mr. O and my school music teacher Mr. Thompson recommended to my parents that I should take private lessons. They signed me up to take lessons from Rocco Leggett at Morey’s Music Store in 1968. These lessons, All District Orchestra, and going to Arrowbear helped shape my musical journey into what I am today as a person and as a musician.
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Some good news is Proposition 85 in California is being implemented this school year. Millions of new dollars are now available for Arts education. Long Beach has hired several new music teachers this year. This is the first time that I can remember that Arts education has had this much support from state funding. The Arts will really benefit from this new program with teachers being able to provide more time and resources for their students.
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If you are interested in volunteering on our Board of Directors, please call us or send us an email at arrowbearmusicassociates@gmail.com. We are really in need of former campers and staff members from the different decades of Arrowbear to help us network with more alumni. Our 85th Reunion is coming up in two years, and we will need volunteers to help.
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In closing, on behalf of our Board of Directors, I wish you all a happy and safe holiday season. Enjoy!
Cliff Kusaba
President
Become a Subscriber
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Go Green and become a subscriber. Instead of receiving a paper edition of our newsletters, you’ll receive an electronic version. The numerous photos are in full color and all the links are live. You’ll help us save money on printing and postage that can help send more young musicians to a summer music camp. It’s easy. Just click on the button and register.
Giving Tuesday
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Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and worthy causes. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. It has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
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Arrowbear Music Associates participated
on November 28, 2023.
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We raised $95 for summer music camp scholarships
thanks to the generosity of our donors.
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Giving Tuesday 2024 will take place on
Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
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Donations are processed for free through a
Fundraiser on our Facebook and Instagram group pages.
November 26, 2024
Snow and More Snow
California mountain communities experienced record breaking back-to-back snow storms in late February and early March this year. The governor declared a state of emergency in 13 counties affected by the storms. Yosemite National Park was closed for several weeks as it dealt with 15 feet of snow. In the San Bernardino Mountains, snowfall blocked the roads, trapped residents in their homes, and stranded people who work down the hill from reaching their mountain homes for days. Schools in the Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead areas closed for nearly 3 weeks due to the unprecedented amount of snowfall that sometimes towered as high as second-story windows. Disaster response and relief efforts were hampered by the amount of snow. Neighbors relied on each other until roads were finally cleared.
Residents and businesses experienced roof collapses, cars completely buried, and trying to tunnel out of their front doors to reach the street. Even after the main roads were passable, neighborhood streets remained unplowed. Where do you put that much snow? Arrowbear Music Camp was spared any damage, but the snow level on the ground was mind-boggling.
Camp Sign
Camp Porch
Dining Hall
HOW CAN I DONATE?
There are multiple ways you can support providing scholarships for summer music camps. We accept donations by check and by credit card through PayPal. For some of you, writing a check, addressing an envelope, and locating a stamp is too time consuming or just flat-out “old school.” There are lots of other ways you can help us help young musicians. Check out these additional options.
