Harmony Flowers by Percussion Play
For 75 years, Lake Aurora Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Florida, has been providing quality Christian camping for all ages. Now, the retreat can add musical play to its offering, with the arrival of a range of outdoor musical instruments from Percussion Play.
Lake Aurora hosts a range of retreats for women, men, and families to help address specific issues, develop skills and gifts, explore ministry and vocational possibilities, minister to each other and worship and praise God together. The camp also hosts camps for children to learn about the word of God and to enjoy worshipping together.
Duo Gemina by Percussion Play
"Music is intrinsically linked to worship, and our instruments are accessible to all ages and abilities."
Jody Ashfield, Co-Founder and CEO, Percussion Play
Steve Bornemann, part of the Camp’s executive team, was interested in adding musical instruments to the retreat for the camp’s children to enjoy during their free time. It was decided that the instruments would be erected in the children’s playground to add an extra dimension of play, one that is aimed at unstructured, creative, sensory play and learning.
Bornemann says, “A neighboring town garden has outdoor musical instruments, and I’d been keen to install something similar for a while. After doing my research online, I found Percussion Play’s wide range of instruments. Their instruments are inclusive for wheelchair users, which was important for us so that we can ensure that all of our guests can enjoy playing them. We then set to work to decide which instruments to purchase.”
Bornemann narrowed down his choices and put it to a team vote which resulted in the camp buying an Akadinda, Cavatina with Music Book, and the children’s favorite—the Talk Tubes.
Music to pray by
Installed in Spring 2022 on the 75-acre campsite, the instruments are used for children to play in their downtime in between programs. The camp envisages that this summer, they will start to include the instruments in its program of activities, and while worshipping.
As Bornemann notes, “Lake Aurora’s mission is to experience God’s creation and see lives change, so the addition of giving our guests the ability to create music to pray by, seems a fitting addition to our offering. God gave us the gift to create music so by combining this with worship, we create a fun, relaxing environment for our young guests to learn about God and his teachings.”
Jody Ashfield, co-founder and CEO of Percussion Play says, “We’ve seen an increase in religious groups ordering our outdoor musical instruments, especially over the last two years. Since the pandemic, outdoor worship has grown and we expect this trend to continue. Music is intrinsically linked to worship, and our instruments are accessible to all ages and abilities, making them perfect for the whole congregation to join in and worship through music.”
To learn more about Percussion Play’s outdoor musical instruments, visit www.percussionplay.com.
For information about the camp, click here. The camp is owned and operated by independent congregations of the Christian church/Church of Christ in central Florida.
