The natural beauty of the clear blue waters of Stone Lake and the vibrant green of the surrounding foliage found their perfect match this week on the grounds of Cassopolis’ Camp Baber.

The powerful tones of brass, woodwind and string instruments, accompanied by dulcet singing voices, joined together in a stunning melody that echoed throughout the 57-acre property the last few days.

Nearly 90 students from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio gathered at the campgrounds this week for the 15th annual session of Beverly Thomas Fine Arts Institute. Guided by 10 instructors from across the U.S., the camp helps the students refine their passion for the arts, and gives them the chance to meet new friends and deepen their faith, said Beverly Thomas, the program’s founder.

The community will have a chance to view — and listen — to the fruits of the students’ dedication this weekend. The program will host a free performance at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center. The show is open to the public.

Camp Baber, which is owned and operated by the fourth district of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, has hosted the fine arts program since its inception in 1997. Thomas, the former principal of the prestigious Renaissance High School in the Detroit area and a retired music teacher herself, established the program with her husband, Bishop Robert Thomas Jr., as a way to give students a place to nurture their love of music, she said.

“Our schools, both public and private, have continued to cut back on their art programs,” Thomas said. “In Detroit, we are down to only four dedicated fine art schools. Many students are required to either take private lessons or go without an education in art.”

While the camp initially only offered lessons in band and choir, Thomas and other leaders have expanded its offerings to include arts such as creative writing, spoken word, dance, drawing and painting, jazz, and drama. Students hail from all over the Midwest, but primarily come from Detroit, Grand Rapids and other parts of Michigan, Thomas said.

Attendees at this year’s camp have been practicing for Saturday’s performance for nearly a week, working with instructors for several hours a day. In the late afternoons, they also get to take an elective course in another field of art they are interested in. The students also get to take advantage of the recreational activities at the campgrounds, including swimming, ping-pong and basketball.

On top of education and entertainment, attendees also get the chance to get away from the stresses of their daily lives for a while, as many students come from impoverished neighborhoods. The staff of 10 camp counselors help the students open up about their problems through regular talks and prayer, Thomas said.

“I hope that when they leave camp they realize how important their lives are, and that they have a destiny they can work toward and realize one day,” Thomas said.

Thomas said that she and the rest of the camp staff are grateful for the support the Dowagiac and Cassopolis communities have given them the past 15 years, and hopes that residents come out to see the show Saturday.

“Our young people should know that the community supports them whenever they do something great like this,” she said.