The silent powerhouses of school spirit are stepping into the spotlight this summer at Summer Breeze marching band auxiliary skills camp. Open to high school students, the four-day camp brings together drill team and color guard members from across the district to focus on teamwork, leadership, and technique.
Participants rotate through sessions on choreography and foundational skills, including baton, flag, and sabre work, while also developing confidence and learning from one another.
This is Sarahy E.’s second year on the team. A rising junior at Sunset High School, she was drawn to color guard after watching the group perform at football games. She said she was captivated by their energy and sense of unity.
“It looked like a sisterhood,” Sarahy said. “The thing about the drill team is that there is more pressure, and the environment is different, especially the techniques we use. I’m so used to being stiff, but in color guard, I’m flowy. I have to get loose and bring more attitude.”
At camp, Sarahy is practicing flag tosses and is cheering on others as they refine their form. The experience has also helped her grow off the field.
“I used to be in my own little shell, so I’ve grown a lot and I’ve learned to keep pushing through no matter what,” she said. “When I wouldn’t see improvement in myself, I would just keep pushing through. I realized that there was no way I would grow if I didn’t try.”
A rising sophomore and lieutenant for the Thomas Jefferson High School color guard, Maytte R. is attending her first Summer Breeze program. Though she joined the team as a nervous freshman with a background in dance, she now proudly leads others, often breaking down routines step-by-step to support her teammates.
“I’m learning how to be more confident and more open,” Maytte said. “It’s helped me not just on the field, but at school and at home, too.”
While transitioning from dance to color guard was challenging, Maytte embraced the similarities. “You can still express yourself with a flag. It’s like dance, but with more movement and teamwork. You have to learn how the field works, how to be in sync with others, and how to be loud when you count.”
Both students hope to bring what they’ve learned at camp back to their schools, not just the technical skills, but the leadership, encouragement, and sense of community that defines the color guard experience.
“You can be yourself in color guard,” Maytte said. “It’s a space where no one judges you, and your team becomes your family.”
