Heat can't stop the music at BSU camp

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) - The climbing heat and humidity didn't stop band camp at Ball State University. More than 800 campers with Music For All have spent the week focusing on what they love, despite the dangerous temperatures.

"I've been wearing this jacket all day, and mainly I've just gotten sweaty - just as much as everyone else," said 16-year-old Devin Satler, who was wearing a long sleeve jacket Thursday in the record-breaking heat.

Devin is a drum major. He doesn't let a little heat get in his way.

"I've just been telling them suck it up. We're going to be out here a week. We might as well get used to it," he said.

He and the hundreds of other campers at BSU this week are passionate about what they do, but part of that is practicing outdoors.

"Its really important to get out and have the whole thing spread out the way it needs to be and the way it's going to be for the performance," explained Music For All counselor Kaitlin Black.

Black said the dangerous weather conditions have forced the camp to be flexible. Practices have been moved out of the sun and into a a parking garage. However, even with shade the high temperatures could be a health risk if the campers don't pay attention to their condition.

"There's a lot of excitement and a lot of fun, and they get in the moment, and I think that sometimes they can forget. And with the wind blowing, and that cools them off once in a while, it could be pretty easy for them to not notice and slack off the drinking of the water a little bit," Black said.

That's why counselors and staff keep a close eye on the students and how they're acting, making sure there's always water available. And if they have to go indoors they do.

"The weather is going to do what it’s going to do, and we just have to roll with it," Black said.

Music For All has two nurses and a paramedic on staff to handle any emergencies. As of Thursday afternoon, there had been no heat-related illnesses.