by, Sammi Wendling; photo courtesy Woodward
It’s almost that time of year again! School is ending, the competition season is over, and tryouts for teams have started. And with summer almost here, it means cheer camp is near!
Cheer camp is exciting, fun, and definitely worthwhile. You get to learn new techniques and sequences, advance your skills, meet new friends, and have one-of-a-kind team bonding experiences. With that said, cheer camp can be a bit overwhelming. Check out some tips to make your summer cheer camp great!
Come Prepared to Work
While cheer camp is certainly fun, remember that the reason you are there is to become a better cheerleader! Go into camp knowing that it will be hard work and that you will get sweaty and sore. So be ready to have lots of fun, but also arrive with the mindset that you will be hard at work for most of your time at camp.
Stay Hydrated
With sessions going on throughout the day, it is easy to forget to drink water. Carry a water bottle with you, and make sure you are frequently getting drink breaks. Like I said before, you will be working pretty hard for long hours of the day, so staying hydrated is a must! Being dehydrated and trying to learn a new stunt isn’t safe, so always remember to drink your H2O!
Sunscreen Up
If your camp is held primarily outdoors, it is absolutely a must to wear your sunscreen! Getting burned and trying to cheer will be painful- sunburn is a quick way to kill the cheer camp mood. Make sure to apply your sunscreen, and apply often! Even if your camp is indoors, but the venue has a beach or a pool where you will be visiting, it is important to wear sunscreen- and reapply frequently!
Make Friends (Even with other teams!)
Cheer camp lets you be surrounded by other cheerleaders just like yourself! Expand your friend group and talk to the other teams attending. Chances are, they are a pretty fun group of cheerleaders who you will get along with! It is great to have other cheer friends in different parts of your state- or even nationally! Cheer camp isn’t a huge rivalry like some movies show, and most of the other teams will be very welcoming and friendly. So show some spirit and talk to the other teams! You won’t regret it!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
If something is unclear, or you are getting frustrated with a particular skill, ask questions! The instructors are there for a reason, and will be able to guide you in the right direction to safely getting a skill. You never want to try something without knowing exactly what you are supposed to do, so don’t be shy! It’s not embarrassing if you don’t know how to do something. Chances are, another cheerleader has the same question as you too. So make sure to ask questions and use your instructor’s knowledge to the fullest!
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