Yukon Girls Rock Camp are Spreading Their Wings
FOR RELEASE APRIL 29, 2019 – Dawson City, Yukon
The Dawson City Music festival’s Yukon Girls Rock Camp has evolved to become a beloved and highly anticipated program in the Yukon summer calendar. Since the inaugural camp in 2015, the program has gotten bigger and better every year.
With support from the DCMF Association’s Board of Directors and staff, the Yukon Girls Rock Camp committee have decided to split from the Festival’s organizational umbrella and become an independent non-profit entity. “We’re taking the time we need to restructure the organization so that we know YGRC is healthy, our volunteers and leaders are healthy, and we have the strength and sustainability to deliver our powerful programming for years to come,” says YGRC Founder and DCMF Board Member, Lana Welchman.
Yukon Girls Rock Camp is a week-long youth empowerment camp that seeks to amplify the voices of girls, and gender-nonconforming youth through music. The 8-18 year-old campers are introduced to their instrument and form bands on Monday morning; by Saturday, they perform their own original song at the Dawson City Music Festival Mainstage showcase. During the week, the campers learn about consent, speaking out, and some tools to navigate the still very male-dominated music industry.
“YGRC would not have been able to grow into what we are today without the ongoing and dedicated support of the Dawson City Music Festival. While it is bittersweet that the time has come for YGRC to spread its wings, we look forward to working closely with this organization that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of girls and gender-non conforming youth. And of course, we look forward to seeing our campers again in 2020.” continued Welchman.
Yukon Girls Rock Camp and the Dawson City Music Festival Association gratefully acknowledge the support of Klondike Visitors Association, Lotteries Yukon, Community Development Fund, Crime Prevention Victim Services Trust, Youth Investment Fund, Dawson City Women’s Shelter, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, Music Yukon, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, North Klondyke Music Society, Women’s Directorate – Government of Yukon, the Department of Tourism & Culture, Minister Jeanie Dendys, and many, many more.