Due to the nine hours of Blue Band Camp per day, with constant sun and temperatures in the upper 80s during the day, water breaks such as these were not only refreshing but also required to keep band personnel properly hydrated.

After a particularly productive music sectional, the Sousaphone section takes a break for a communal back-rub during on Friday evening of Band Camp.

Rookies complete Friday night's Rookie Run during Blue Band Camp to the congratulations of the veteran members of the band. The Run, a traditional part of band camp takes place each night during the Huddle: the rookies are challenged to recite the words to The Nittany Lion. If the group of newcomers cannot complete it to the satisfaction of the returnees, then the group, led by Director O. Richard Bundy (not pictured), must take a lap around the field while singing, as the veterans sing along and cheer them on.

Dust flies as the Blue Band finishes their final Band Camp night session after the band completes a run-through of its pregame drill. Due to the hot, dry, un-watered conditions and constant pounding of the ground by 300-plus pairs of feet, trenches of bare dirt have formed a grid in the grass of the field. This season, the dust at some points reached a level deemed potentially unhealthful by the staff, and dust filtering face masks were issued to band members.

Rookies run behind Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy during the nightly Rookie Run - each night, until these new members learned the words to The Nittany Lion fight song, they were required to take a lap around the practice field while they and the band sing the school song. This particular run, on Saturday, Aug. 23, was the last of band camp, and a ceremonial end to their rookie band camp. The veterans of the band are visible across the field.

Third-year Blue Band member Steve Ruhmel stands at attention while Blue Band staff volunteer Meg Pedlow takes alteration measurements during uniform fitting day on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Blue Band Building. The uniforms are new this year, and so each piece is being fitted for the first time.

Blue Band manager Tom Hofmann stacks sousaphone bells in the Blue Band equipment room. The instruments are stored in pieces over the off-season, and re-assembled in the fall.

Prospective rookie (p-rookie) Blue Band members get some extra practice in before the evening session on Wednesday, Aug. 20. This session was a critical one for the p-rookies, as it gave them one final chance to shine before selections were made.

At this final tryout session, prospective rookies (p-rookies) spent a lot of time marching and voicing or singing their parts, rather than playing, to enable them to concentrate more on the marching aspects of the drill.