All-Star Cheer Camp

[Emily Pan]

I am pretty curious. Is there cheer camps around the world or anything similar to camp that will teach you news skills and brushing up on ones that you have difficulty or trouble?

 

[Jolette]

There are 3 sleep over camps that I know girls from Ontario have gone to:

Muskoka woods (Ontario)
Cheer-rep (Quebec)
Camp Woodward (US - PA)

For day camps most cheer clubs offer them in the summer and march break too. These are usually open to girls who are not enrolled in the club depending on the camp.

 

[OnceUponACheerleader]

I used to attend Gym-Rep, which is the gymnastics segment of Cheer Rep (Mentioned above). It was AMAZING- I have such great memories from those weeks. Staff was great and the facility is incredible. Lots of equipment to aid in skill development

 

[schpo]

I'm sure there are threads on this already, but is Woodward a good choice for a kid who's a very low-level tumbler? She progresses very slowly. Will they be patient with her? Will she fit in? She's 13.

 

[quitthedrama]

I'm sure there are threads on this already, but is Woodward a good choice for a kid who's a very low-level tumbler? She progresses very slowly. Will they be patient with her? Will she fit in? She's 13.

I think she would fit in, as they group campers according to skill level for workouts, so she would be tumbling with those who have like skills. However, Woodward is not a place to go to get new skills. It also is not very structured, so even though there is mandatory gym time, it is up to the camper to make the most out of it (meaning, if someone wanted to lay on the mats instead of tumbling they could). My child has been a few times and she loves it and loves the staff, but she is primarily there for the social aspect. She would get far more out of privates during the year for the money spent on one week.

 

[schpo]

I think she would fit in, as they group campers according to skill level for workouts, so she would be tumbling with those who have like skills. However, Woodward is not a place to go to get new skills. It also is not very structured, so even though there is mandatory gym time, it is up to the camper to make the most out of it (meaning, if someone wanted to lay on the mats instead of tumbling they could). My child has been a few times and she loves it and loves the staff, but she is primarily there for the social aspect. She would get far more out of privates during the year for the money spent on one week.

Great feedback, thanks. But why would someone go to cheer camp if not to learn new skills? (The fun, social aspect aside, which I assume they could get at any overnight camp). Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

Great feedback, thanks. But why would someone go to cheer camp if not to learn new skills? (The fun, social aspect aside, which I assume they could get at any overnight camp). Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

Exactly for what you said - the fun, social aspect. You CAN learn new skills at Woodward, but you either have to be a really fast learner, or spend your every waking moment in the gym. Woodward is a really fun camp, but it's not going to change your tumbling life.

 

[Jolette]

To be able to mix camp and cheer and meet new girls (who she now runs into at comps) is amazing. Also the ability to do cheer 100% on her own terms, no mom, new coaches, no pressure! Last year she did get a new skill but I would say it's the confidence that she brings home that's the reason why I send her.

She's been going to Cheer-rep which she prefers because they do all parts of cheer, stunting, dance/jumps and tumbling.

 

[quitthedrama]

Great feedback, thanks. But why would someone go to cheer camp if not to learn new skills? (The fun, social aspect aside, which I assume they could get at any overnight camp). Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

You generally can't get a new skill in a week, so if you are going to send your child to camp with that thought, you will likely be disappointed. My daughter enjoys it because she has met friends from different parts of the country at competitions and she goes the same week as some of them. She goes to every workout possible, and gets good tumbling instruction, but the experience is more based on a typical camp experience than to gain skill.

 

[DropAndRun]

I don't think it's that they can't get a new skill.. it's just not likely. Droplet will be going this year for the 3rd time. She absolutely loves it. It's definitely not "normal people" camp and if your child doesn't have self motivation, it's probably not for them. There's not enough structure if they don't want it for themselves.That being said- I tell Droplet when she goes to be safe and not try any crazy new skills. The last thing I want is for her to get hurt. It's the perfect environment for obsessed with cheer children- since while there are other activities, you're definitely there to work on tumbling. She's met some really cool friends along the way.

 

[schpo]

Thanks everyone. I understand now. Sorry to highjack the post!

 

[Momager]

At Woodward they do get to try out some new skills that they will not be able to "get" in a week or go back home to the gym and do them. But because of the range of training equipment, amazing staff, and amount of time you can spend in the gym you get to try out some fun stuff and learn tips from and make connections with some very talented coaches.

 

[CheerBank]

Cp sadly is not going to Woodward this summer after maybe 7-8 years? I don't remember her gaining any new skills but being in the gym there 2-3 times a day definitely helped her get closer to achieving what she was working on prior to coming to Woodward. She loved the social aspect of the camp and meeting cheerleaders from all over the country. As @quitthedrama stated above though, it is definitely not a structured camp at all and if your child needs that it is not the place for them. The younger kids (ages 7-9) have a cabin mom as opposed to a counselor, who keeps a closer eye on them and encourages them to go to the sessions, but no one really makes them do any activity aside from their mandatory session.

 

[Sparkle Mom]

I think she would fit in, as they group campers according to skill level for workouts, so she would be tumbling with those who have like skills. However, Woodward is not a place to go to get new skills. It also is not very structured, so even though there is mandatory gym time, it is up to the camper to make the most out of it (meaning, if someone wanted to lay on the mats instead of tumbling they could). My child has been a few times and she loves it and loves the staff, but she is primarily there for the social aspect. She would get far more out of privates during the year for the money spent on one week.

My CP has been begging to go for two years with friends but at what age do you think it might be best? Some of her friends started going there as a mini camper at 8 but I can't see spending so much money when I figure I can get 15-20 private lessons for that price. I know she would have a great time but I don't know if it is worth it especially with so much free time at her age.

 

[quitthedrama]

My CP has been begging to go for two years with friends but at what age do you think it might be best? Some of her friends started going there as a mini camper at 8 but I can't see spending so much money when I figure I can get 15-20 private lessons for that price. I know she would have a great time but I don't know if it is worth it especially with so much free time at her age.

I agree with you. My kids went together with their gym the first year and took a bus, and I think my youngest was about 10 at the time. There is NO WAY I would have let her go without a group and coaches that she knew, especially hindsight. The bus arrived at maybe 4:00 and my kids checked in with me to let me know. At about 8pm that night we got a call from someone at Woodward asking about my youngest because she wasn't there and hadn't checked in to camp. I was panicked even knowing the coaches had confirmed earlier that she was there. The admin at Woodward was very nonchalant about the situation and then became irritated when I was upset. The cabin "mother" that my youngest had was basically useless. She was a parent of a boy who was in the skate portion of the camp and was rarely in the cabin. One of the moms from our gym worked at the camp that week and made sure our younger kids were where they needed to be. I found out after the fact that the State of Pennsylvania has zero regulations for camps.
I don't mean this to say Woodward is awful. My youngest is a returning camper and met one of her best friends there, and the instruction within the gym is very good. The facilities are beautiful. With that said, I would not even consider it for an individual camper (versus going with their gym with adults they know) until they are at least 12. I think it is too expensive and I don't care for the administrative staff at all - they overall are rude and provide poor customer service. The only reason why my daughter went last year and is going this year is because she pays for half herself and receives the remainder as Christmas/birthday gifts and is in her mid-teens so she is pretty much self-sufficient.