Winnipeg teens will have an opportunity to bang some skins, shred a guitar and even tap some boards this summer as part of rock ‘n’ roll camp.

The camp will be presented by the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba and the band Waterfront Drive. Participants will be able to choose from one of four sessions scheduled from July 9 to Aug. 31 and have until June 29 to register.

"Venues are booked. The instruments are ready. We’re good to go," said Let It Out Summer Rock Camp creator Taylor Demetrioff.

Demetrioff, a Garden City resident, said teens will jam, learn to perform cover tunes and even write their own songs leading up to a summer-ending concert in August. There will also be opportunity to learn about coping with mood disorders and what teens can do to deal with them.

Demetrioff, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder nearly two years ago, is also a youth outreach worker at the Mood Disorders Association.

"We’ll be running the camp out of Robert A. Steen CC in Wolseley," he said.

Dakota Bertholet, who took part in last year’s camp, said the experience of jamming and working on music with like-minded people who were open to discuss mood disorders was a revelation. He said it was the first time he experienced mood disorder coping and music as part of one project.

The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba created support groups designed specifically for youth in December of 2010.

The association was founded in 1983 and promotes self-help philosophies for individuals affected by bipolar disorder or depression. The organization, which is based out of 4 Fort St., holds weekly and bi-weekly support group meetings, and maintains a resource library, information and support line.

The registration fee for the rock ‘n’ roll camp is $50. For more information about the Mood Disorder Association of Manitoba visit www.mooddisordersmanitoba.ca.  For more information on Let It Out call 786-0987.

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