Record Applicant Interest Leads to Full Camp; Showcase Performance Set for July 25

The El Paso Community Foundation’s You Rock! Camp is celebrating its fourth year of empowering girls and gender-expansive youth through music, creativity, and self-expression. Now in session at El Paso Community College’s Rio Grande Campus, this year’s camp, led by co-founder Kristine Ward, has reached its largest enrollment yet for the two-week immersive experience.

Since launching in 2023, more than 100 young musicians have participated in You Rock! Camp, discovering new talents, building confidence, forming lifelong friendships, and finding their voices through music.

Throughout the camp, participants learn to play instruments, form bands, write and perform original songs, and collaborate under the mentorship of local musicians, educators, and community leaders.

New this year, You Rock! Camp has introduced a tech-forward production track, giving campers the opportunity to explore careers behind the scenes in live entertainment. Participants are gaining hands-on experience in stage management, lighting, live sound engineering, and concert production, expanding the program to inspire not only future performers but also the next generation of music industry professionals.

“Making music is more than music. It’s team building, communication, creative exchange, and self-confidence,” said Eric Pearson, President and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation. “What Jim and Kristine Ward are doing here is helping people develop their skills in being part of a community, and that is golden.”

Camp co-founder and musician Jim Ward said You Rock! is designed to show young people that music is about more than what happens on stage. Through songwriting, rehearsals, performance, and opportunities to explore the technical side of live music, campers learn how many people and skills it takes to bring music to life.

“Music is for everyone, and there are so many ways to find your place in it,” Ward said. “Whether you’re performing, running sound, helping backstage, or simply learning how to work with a group of people toward something bigger, you’re part of the music community. You Rock! gives young people the space to be creative, communicate, collaborate, and build confidence—all while finding a community where they belong.”

The community is invited to celebrate the campers’ hard work during the You Rock! Camp Showcase, featuring original music written and performed by this year’s bands.

🎸 You Rock! Camp Showcase
Saturday, July 25
8:00–9:00 p.m.
Old Sheepdog Brewery
Admission is free, though donations are encouraged to help sustain the camp and provide scholarships for future participants. Space will be limited.

The camp is part of the El Paso Community Foundation’s Because of You Fund, which uses the power of music to inspire the next generation of artists, leaders, and philanthropists while honoring the legacy of Esme Barrera.

As the program continues to grow, community members can also look forward to additional You Rock! community events throughout the year, bringing people together through music while supporting future campers and expanding access to creative opportunities for local youth. Get more information about You Rock! Camp or donate here.