Cheer camp is a rite of passage for many cheerleaders. It’s where squads learn new material, build skills, bond as a team and pick up the traditions that make cheer such a close-knit sport. If it’s your first time, though, it can feel like a big unknown, for athletes and parents alike.
Here’s what to expect, how to choose the right camp, and what to pack.
Types of Cheer Camps
Team camps
Most school squads attend a team camp together, usually in the summer. These are often run by large national cheer organizations on college campuses, or by staff who travel to a school (sometimes called “home” or “private” camps). Squads learn cheers, chants, dances and stunt sequences they can use during the season.
Individual camps and clinics
Individual camps are for athletes who want to work on their own skills or prepare for tryouts. They may focus on jumps, motions, tumbling or flying.
Specialty clinics
Many all-star gyms and private coaches run short clinics focused on one area, such as tumbling, stunting, flexibility or flyer skills.
Day camps vs. overnight camps
Day camps run for a few hours or a full day and athletes go home each night. Overnight camps usually last a few days, with campers staying in college dorms or similar accommodation. Overnight camps offer more training time and team bonding but cost more and require more planning.
What a Typical Day Looks Like
Every camp is different, but a day at a team camp often follows a pattern like this:
- Morning: wake up early, breakfast, then a warm-up and stretch as a large group.
- Morning sessions: learning new cheers, chants and a dance or routine taught by camp staff.
- Lunch: a break to refuel and rest.
- Afternoon sessions: stunting and pyramid sessions in smaller groups by skill level, plus jumps, motions and sometimes tumbling.
- Evening: squads practice what they’ve learned, and many camps end the day with team performances, evaluations or fun spirit activities.
Many camps hand out ribbons or awards based on evaluations, and some have traditions like the spirit stick, given to squads that show the most energy and team spirit. Some camps also include leadership or team-building sessions.
How to Choose the Right Camp
Before you book, use this checklist to compare options:
- Focus: does the camp’s program match what your squad needs, whether that’s game-day material, stunting, competition skills or leadership?
- Skill level: are sessions grouped by experience so beginners and advanced athletes are both challenged safely?
- Staff qualifications: are instructors trained in safety and skill progressions? What is the staff-to-camper ratio?
- Safety: will stunting be done on mats? Is there medical or first aid staff on site, and what is the emergency plan?
- Supervision: for overnight camps, who supervises campers in the dorms and at night?
- Cost: what’s included (meals, housing, camp wear, awards), and what costs extra?
- Location and dates: how far will you travel, and does it clash with other commitments?
- Reviews: ask other coaches and families about their experiences.
What to Pack
Check the camp’s own packing list first, but most cheerleaders will need:
For practice
- Several sets of practice clothes (camps often have themed days, so ask about outfit colors)
- Cheer shoes, plus a backup pair if possible
- Socks, sports bras and spandex shorts
- Hair ties, bobby pins and bows
- A large reusable water bottle
- Sunscreen if any sessions are outside
- A small towel
For overnight camps
- Bedding or a sleeping bag, if the dorm doesn’t provide it
- Shower shoes and toiletries
- Comfortable clothes for evenings
- A fan, if allowed, since dorms can be hot in summer
- Any medication, with clear instructions for the staff
- A phone charger and a small amount of spending money
Label everything. At a camp with hundreds of athletes in matching gear, belongings go missing quickly.
Leave valuables, expensive jewelry and anything you’d hate to lose at home. Jewelry has to come off for stunting anyway, and a simple, well-labeled bag makes life easier for everyone.
How to Prepare
Get in shape beforehand
Camp days are long and physical. Spend the weeks before camp building stamina with running or other cardio, practicing jumps, and stretching daily. Arriving fit makes camp more fun and lowers the risk of injury.
Break in your shoes
Never bring brand-new cheer shoes to camp without wearing them first. Blisters can ruin a week.
Look after your body
Drink plenty of water, eat proper meals, wear sunscreen and get as much sleep as you can. Tell a coach or staff member right away if you feel unwell or get hurt.
Bring a positive attitude
Camp is about learning. You’ll be taught a lot of material quickly, and not everything will click right away. Keep your energy up, support your teammates and ask questions.
Tips for Parents
- Make sure the camp has your emergency contacts and your athlete’s medical information.
- Ask about the camp’s phone policy and how to reach your child.
- If it’s your child’s first overnight camp, talk through what to expect so they feel prepared.
- Expect a tired but happy athlete at pickup, with a lot of new cheers to show you.
Final Thoughts
Cheer camp is hard work, but it’s also one of the most memorable parts of being a cheerleader. Choose a camp that fits your squad’s goals and safety standards, prepare your body ahead of time, pack sensibly, and go in ready to learn. Most cheerleaders come home with new skills, new friends and a stronger team.