PENDLETON — Rock & Roll Camp is back for its 18th year.

“Rock Camp is almost too old to attend itself,” coordinator Addison Schulberg said with a laugh. “This is Rock Camp’s senior year.”

Grant-writer J.D. Smith and local musician Peter Walters launched the first Rock & Roll Camp in 2006 to give youth an opportunity to learn skills and connect with musicians. The camp is free and open to anyone 13-18 years old.

Presented by the Pendleton Center for the Arts, Rock & Roll Camp is five daily sessions of free rock and roll lessons and workshops with musicians from around the West Coast. Many of the instructors and coaches come from Portland and most have experience in indie bands.

During the week of camp, some campers learn instruments or learn about music journalism, others form bands and write original songs. After a week of camp, students then have the chance to perform in an end-of-camp concert that is open to the community.

“Some of the kids have been absolute shredders for years, and some of the kids have never tried an instrument before this week,” Schulberg said. “They all get to write music and perform before a receptive audience.”

This year’s Showcase Concert begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, in the 400 block of South Main Street in Pendleton. Everyone is encouraged to come out and listen to the teen performances that will range across different styles of, well, rock and roll.

“We like to say the performance on Friday is the culmination of the most magical week of the year,” Schulberg said. “That really sums it up.”

For more information about Rock & Roll Camp, visit pendletonarts.org/rock-roll-camp/ or search Facebook for “Pendleton Rock & Roll Camp.”

“We like to say the performance on Friday is the culmination of the most magical week of the year.”

— Addison Schulberg

Following a week at Rock & Roll Camp, teens will perform Friday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. in the 400 block of South Main Street in Pendleton.