A camper plays a mandolin during a jam session at the Jim Richter Mandolin Camp for the Rest of Us at the Grant Street Inn on July 9, 2026. Jim Richter, the camp founder and an instructor, said the camp encourages players to enjoy learning the instrument regardless of their experience level. "The very first exercise that we do, everybody has to play something for everybody else. The point of that is that music is supposed to be a fun endeavor. You're never going to get as much practice as you want, you're never going to feel as great about your playing as you want, but you should be able to enjoy your playing," he said. Katherine Maners