[Student Reporters] This One Time at Yearbook Camp…

Hae Rim Shin / <12th, Cypress HS>

Band camp cheer camp volleyball camp... There are many camps devoted to school activities that take place each summer. Yearbook camp is one of these.

Cypress High School's yearbook staff joined many others from across the state at the 2009 Josten's National Summer Yearbook Workshop. The camp took place at the University of San Diego from August 3rd to August 6th.

"The process of yearbook starts even before school does because at yearbook camp ideas come alive" says Diana T. from Cypress High School. There are various tracks that focus on different aspects of Yearbook including design photojournalism technology writing and many others. Cypress High School took the Intensive Track which emphasizes design photography reporting and writing.

During track sessions each school is given a yearbook portfolio to gather all of their ideas and designs. Through this portfolio schools excitedly come up with their year's theme cover divider designs and possible layout designs through brainstorming and discussion. "Without this track we would have been left without a theme design concept and a direction for the rest of the year" says Diana.

Much progress takes place at the camp but in no way does that imply that the camp is solely about work. "We work hard to get our concepts and designs down but we have a lot of fun too" says Justin L. from Cypress High School. Barbeques dances pep rallies and just the large amount of time spent together allows staff members to become more bonded as one team.

At the end of the camp an Awards Celebration takes place to credit staff members who showed exceptional participation and achievement. Members of the Cypress High School yearbook staff received awards for creative designs and layout designs. The staff as a whole was also able to smile their way back home with a first place award for their overall portfolio.

The process of creating a yearbook is beyond what meets the eye. So much needs to be done and so much needs to be covered. Although a long year of hard work awaits yearbook staff as the new school year begins schools that participated in the summer workshop are now one step closer to creating a yearbook with which their student body will cherish their high school memories.