Cheerleading Camp Traditions

[cubscheercoach]

We make our girls draw numbers for roommates.  If there are cliques, you need to assign them to rooms so that there isn't bickering at camp.  We tell our girls there is absolutely no arguing.  If there is a problem they need to bring it to the coaches. 
By the way, I have stayed in a room with all of my varsity and mascots one year at camp.  Never again!  We never got enough rest, and the showers were not too great, either.  We have also done the resort camp.  Great rooms, bad food.  That's why when we found thecamp that was right fit for our kids, we have stuck with it!

[Coach C]

We have also done the resort camp.  Great rooms, bad food. 

Oh no!  We decided to try a resort camp this summer!  Do we need to bring "back up food"  Now I'm worried!    

[Kong]

Which one?  I did two resort camps last summer and the food was VERY good.

Kong

[Coach C]

Which one?  I did two resort camps last summer and the food was VERY good.

Kong

Phew!  That makes me feel a little better!  My assistant coach read the same post and emailed me right away!  I guess the food at the last camp they went to (not associated with Varsity.com) was so bad that one of the girls asked if they were being punished!  Ha!  I'm going to look up local pizza places, just in case...   

[cubscheercoach]

No, it was in Corpus Christi, and they either ran out of food, or it was cold, not done, etc.  We ordered a lot of pizza.  We do not have that problem at all at the UCA camp we attend.  That's one of the main reasons the kids are so happy going to Austin.  They love the food.

[CheeryCoach]

Our camp is held at a hotel (like a resort camp) - sorry different company not affiliated with Varsity - but the food is EXCELLENT!!

I really think it depends on the quality of the catering department at the hotel where you attend.  Let's face it, that's who makes the food when you are not in a college campus situation.

[cobwebbedroses]

When you complain about food, just remember that you may not know the situation in which the caterers are in...

I go to a large university that has many camps for all different sports during the summer held here.  I also have an aunt who is a boss in the housekeeping department for the dorms where all these students and guests stay.

Our university is notorious for scheduling conferences and camps at the last minute, and expecting the housekeeping and dining services people to provide food, clean rooms, linens, etc for an often unknown number of rooms or guests.  Which means all those people preparing food and cleaning rooms are forced to work overtime, often into the night or long weekends, to get things ready, all because the scheduling people want to fit as many of these events into the summer as possible, since the university gets lots of money from them. (cause it's all about the money) Sometimes they only have 2 or 3 days to turn around one or two hundred rooms for the next event.

So if anyone has had a large group over at their house to eat dinner, they know how it can get stressful to cook all that food. (like all thanksgivings! )  So think about that stress distributed between about 20 caterers and the food load multiplied by 200! And that going continuous through the summer. I can see how they would be a little grumpy and start not to care, they just want to get it done.

It shouldn't be an excuse for bad work performance on their part, they applied for the job...but just something to think about.

[fvcheergirl]

I have the girls do the secret sister thing too.It really helps the underclassmen feel more confident as their "Big sis" cheers on her "Lil sis" all through the week.Another fun thing I do is have the girls bring slippers.You read the cheer story (which is like the christmas story) it says left and right and every time a direction is said the girls switch slippers.We ask the girls to tape the gift receipt to the bottom so sizes are not an issue. The Big sisters and little sisters also exchange a gift. All big sisters blind fold any little sister and walk them to their big sisters room and sit them on the bed.The little sisters gift will be on the bed.There will be a card which is signed by the big sister. Girls get nosey so we trick them by taking them to another girls room but the gift is still from their big sister.Its cute!

[coolcoach]

I have the girls do the secret sister thing too.It really helps the underclassmen feel more confident as their "Big sis" cheers on her "Lil sis" all through the week.Another fun thing I do is have the girls bring slippers.You read the cheer story (which is like the christmas story) it says left and right and every time a direction is said the girls switch slippers.We ask the girls to tape the gift receipt to the bottom so sizes are not an issue. The Big sisters and little sisters also exchange a gift. All big sisters blind fold any little sister and walk them to their big sisters room and sit them on the bed.The little sisters gift will be on the bed.There will be a card which is signed by the big sister. Girls get nosey so we trick them by taking them to another girls room but the gift is still from their big sister.Its cute!

 Just for curiousity, are you a cheerleader or a coach?

[fvcheergirl]

I am a coach and former cheerleader.

[FalconCheer08]

In previous years, our dance team went to dance camp at Rollins in Orlando about a week before we did so we always knew what to expect in terms of food quality, where we'd be staying, etc. This year our dance team went to camp at USF and had a bad experience all around (bad food, cold and damp dorms, bad weather, the dorms were very far from the gym they were in, they got lost, instruction was still great but there weren't as many teams so there weren't as many routines offered) so I'm almost certain they'll be coming back to Rollins next year.

If their experience had only been negative because of the food, I'd tell them to go back and deal with it, during your camp experience take notes on all the different aspects (I also have my girls fill out a little survey because after all, I'm there for them) and at the end decide if you'll go back the next year, if the only negative thing you can come up with is the food or the dorms, then by all means consider going back the next year, no camp experience is going to be perfect but if the instruction is quality (after all that's why you're there) then you can compensate for poor food or freezing dorms.

Just in case this year, have the girls bring cash so they can all chip in for pizza if need be, bring extra sheets and a fan, good directions, and UMBRELLAS!!

[hsharp]

I really like the idea of the candlelight ceremony on the last of camp. But can you have candles in the dorms? What else could you do for the same significance? Any ideas? Thanks!

[funinthesun4681]

decorate our dorms.. its been a tradition with my school for years... and the yarn bonding activity at camp i think will be a new tradition... i love my team so much and the girls are amazzingg...

[SoCalCheerCoach2]

hsharp,

I should have specified.  We weren't in the actual dorm rooms doing the candlelight ceremony.  We were actually in the large "common room".  At that time, yes, we were allowed to use candles.  But, that was years ago so things may have changed and candles may not be allowed anymore.  If that is the case you could use the fake candles.  They look just like a candle but are made of plastic and have a battery in the bottom that makes the top light up like a candle.  If you really wanted to use candles, maybe you could do it outside somewhere after they are dismissed for the evening.

[TCW123]

I coach a JV squad where drama is everyone's middle name.  What I did this year, instead of having captains, I have no captains.  Everybody will have a chance to be a captain, such as, I have 12 girls, I gave them all a number 1-12.  This is their number for the year.  1 & 2 will be captains at the first game, then 3 & 4 second game, 5 & 6 etc.  This cuts down on the bickering, big head, and being too bossy to the underclassmen.  I feel like they all feel equal this way. 

[cubscheercoach]

We do that at camp with captains for our freshmen.  Each day by alphabetical order, we have 2 captains.  We watch how they handle situations all day.  It helps us to choose captains later in the summer.  We can also see how the other cheerleaders react to those captains.  If someone chooses to give captains of the day a hard time, they need to keep in mind their time is coming.  By the end of camp, the true leaders start to stand out.  It is very helpful for us in making that decision.

We have also had no captains for a squad before.  For certain situations, it works remarkably well.  For other squads, the faster we pick captains, the better. 

[snow_mnstr]

Where can I get a copy of this "Cheer Story"?  TYTY

[ilov2cheer96]

Ya, definitally do the dorm decorations! Our coach has already said that she wants us to make lots of posters to decorate our hallways with! I can't wait!!!

[duchess08]

Would like to get a copy of the cheer story as well.  Need ideas for my cheer group who is having our own camp at our school this year.   We are having a high school cheerleader come in and teach cheers and dances.   This has saved us a ton of money and junior high girls learn just as much.  Plus it gives them something to look forward to in high school.   Love all the ideas you have shared. 

[CheerMom71]

I would like a copy of the "Cheer Story" as well.  I've searched and cannot find it.  Can someone please direct me to where I can find it?  Thanks!