What Is Cheer Camp?

Cheerleading camp involves a lot more than girls wearing cute ponytails and performing lively dance numbers. Both school cheer squads and all-star competition teams raise funds all year long in preparation of their summer goal---a week away at camp learning new dance routines, floor cheers and perfecting their tumbling skills. Cheer camps are also typically offered on-site for a lower-cost training opportunity.

.

  1. Cheer Routines

    • Cheerleaders learn new routines and participate in spirit-building activities during the annual summer camp. The camps are commonly offered by college cheerleading teams and professional cheer companies. Youth cheerleading camps are also used as a fundraising opportunity for local high school cheerleading teams. All-star and school based camps are typically offered separately so the instructors can focus on teaching to a specific skill level.

    Types of Cheer Camps

    • Preparation for cheerleading competition is a top priority at cheer camp. All-star teams adhere to a different set of guidelines than school teams. Camp instructors create dance routines to conform to the desired floor time rules for the designated team type and age group. A personalized cheer camp works with just cheerleaders from one team or school to devise a unique dance, transitions, stunts and floor cheer to be used solely by the group. An open cheer camp works with a specific age group and type of cheerleaders from a region or state to teach routines and cheers which can be used by any of the participating teams.

    Spirit Activities

    • Spirit activities and contests are popular aspects of any cheer camp. The teams learn how to infuse a gym full of their peers with school pride during pep rallies. Cheerleaders earn awards for floor performance and spirit themed events. Sign-making and crowd participation are common activities that can earn the team a trophy or be awarded the coveted "spirit stick" for a day or until next year at camp. Some cheer camps even offer classes for the school mascot to learn how to interact with the cheerleader and help ignite the crowd during games and pep rallies.

    Social Activities and Coaches Clinics

    • Social events during camp offer the chance to get to know cheerleaders from other teams and for coaches to plan local competitions later in the year. Participants may have the opportunity to attend a dance while at camp or display their skills in front of parents at a mini-competition on the last of camp. Shopping is also typically a part of cheerleading camp. A spirit booth filled with cheerleading items ranging from key chains to pajamas and stuffed animals allows the cheerleaders to purchase souvenirs. Coaches also routinely have the opportunity to attend training classes and meet with uniform vendors while the team is learning new ways to foster school spirit and win competitions.