LAKE FOREST - Bands like The Rolling Stones prove you're never too old to rock. But is there an age that's too young?

If you're a parent of young kids, you've probably seen the Disney movie 'Camp Rock' hundreds of times by now! But did you know there's a real life 'Camp Rock' right in our backyard?

Hadley Lloyd is a 12-year-old drummer attending camp. She has a message for everyone: "Yeah, kids can rock just as hard as adults."

'Camp Jam' is a summer camp in Lake Forest, Illinois. Instead of learning how to build a fire...kids learn how to light it up onstage!

Fifteen-year-old guitarist Jon Bergman describes the feeling onstage: "It's the best! It's just like, you're totally in it."

Eleven-year-old Carter Thompson is new to Camp Jam this year.

"It's just fun to go beat the stuffing out of stuff," Carter explains.

But it's not all just fun. Carter also likes the camp's no-nonsense approach.

"They push you. Most camps don't push you, you just play at your own level. Camp Jam pushes you, and you get better when you're pushed," Carter says.

Former 38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi co-found the camp five years ago.

"The bottom line is, it takes perseverance, and you really have to work hard at this, so just understand, it's not gonna come overnight," Carlisi explains.

He wanted to give kids a chance he never had.

"When I was growing up, you went outside and hit the ball with a stick," Carlisi recalls.

But things aren't completely different these days. Jeff compares playing in a band to playing baseball with the buddies.

"If you're in a band, you walk on stage as a team, you count to 4 and your game begins, and it's only a 4 minute game, unless it's 'Freebird,'" Carlisi laughs.

From song-writing, to recording, to performing...Camp Jam teaches kids every aspect of playing in a real live rock band.

"It's basically boot camp for that kind of thing," Jon says.

The camp also invites professional musicians, like Chicago-based band AVM, to play for the kids.

Robert Mackey is the group's lead singer. He says, "These kids ask real questions. It's really cool, like 'How do you do that?'"

And the lessons learned translate to life offstage as well.

"I've had parents come back and say 'Gee, my child has so much more confidence, so much more self-esteem. They're accepted, they feel much better about themself,'" Carlisi says.

Movies like 'School of Rock' brought kid rockers to the mainstream. Fifteen-year-old vocalist/guitarist Dana Destefano agrees with the movie's and the camp's message. "Just cuz you love it, you know, don't do it for anyone else, do it for yourself cuz you love it," Dana urges.

'Camp Jam' started five years ago. There are currently 16 locations across the United States.

The sessions last a week. Daycamp and overnight camps are offered. The cost ranges from $500-$1,100.