The percussion section met in Madison during the weekend of January 9-11 in Madison, WI. This was the first camp for callbacks from the six audition locations with the goal of setting the battery and front ensemble. Once again adverse weather conditions threatened attendance and once again the volunteer transportation crew rose to the occasion.The production schedule of the 2009 program Relámpago was well on track and allowed for the percussion to get a head start on the opener and portions of the ballad. The battery had several hours of visual rehearsal to develop the marching technique and stretch program. Both sections worked through much of the musical exercise program. By the end of the weekend, all members had plenty of information to take home and practice before the February music camp.While the members were hard at work, a group of local volunteers spent the weekend putting the finishing touches on moving the warehouse to its new location and preparing for maximizing a virtual office setup. Through impressive dedication to the organization, this team, headed by Mark Dahl, managed to completely empty the old space, relocate to the new warehouse and begin an inventory and organization project that will continue for the next several weeks.The brass section held a four day camp in Denton, Texas from January 16-19. While weather was not a factor in terms of transportation, there were new challenges without the usual local volunteer base. Volunteer John Black and many Texas area alumni offered their assistance and ensured a timely start to the weekend.The brass made excellent progress on the first three charts and met Visual Caption Head Neil Adkison for the first time. Weather in the sixties saw a rare treat for the Scouts in January - outdoor rehearsals. “The staff is picking up right where we left off at the end of last season,” said Corps Director Dann Petersen. “It is very clear to the members that much more is expected of them as performers and as men.”The next camp will see the brass and percussion together for the first time this season. The music camp will run from February 27 to March 1 back in Madison, WI. The guard will meet two weekends after WGI Finals on April 17-19.The Scouts still have open positions for guard members, snares and basses, and baritones and euphoniums. For more information visit https://madisonscouts.org/Madison%20Scouts/Camps.html and fill out an interest form.