Key Takeaways
- Cheer camp is a multi-day experience where you spend the entire day training and building essential cheer skills.
- Packing for cheer camp is unique from summer camp, as you’re typically responsible for bringing your own bedding, snacks, and cheer uniform essentials.
- You can expect to learn basic skills, enhance your techniques, and bond with your team and your coach.
Cheer camp is one of the most exciting and intensive elements of cheerleading, especially for first-year cheerleaders. Whether camp is one day or all week, it sets the tone for the entire year to come. From spirit-building activities to physical training, camp is a memorable experience for cheerleaders. Even though cheer camp is different for every squad, there are a few things we can help prepare you for before you pack your bags and hop on the bus.
Learn more about what cheer camp is, what to pack for cheer camp, and all the things you do at cheer camp with this guide from Omni Cheer!
Cheer Camp Vs. Practice
If you’re a new cheerleader, you might be wondering what the point of cheer camp is and how it’s different from any other cheer practice. There are many reasons most squads participate in cheer camp every summer. Cheer camp allows a squad to work intensively on new skills, routines, and team building.
Rather than spending a few hours at practice, camp runs all day long, usually for several days in a row (and sometimes over a week!). Since many are overnight camps, you will share a room with your fellow teammates, allowing you a much better bonding opportunity than you’d normally have at practice. By the end of camp, it’ll seem like you’ve known your teammates for years!
Some of the things you do at cheer camp include great opportunities for newbies to learn basic stunts and motions they may not have known during tryouts. Participating in every activity gives you a chance to catch up with the veterans!
What to Pack for Cheer Camp
Cheer camp isn’t your typical summer camp. While you will need to pack a pillow, toothbrush, and several changes of clothes, there are many other items you’ll want to bring to ensure you’re ready for cheer camp. Generally, you’ll need bedding supplies, several changes of practice clothes, your cheer uniform, and snacks. Here is our ultimate list of what to pack:
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hair Accessories/Essentials
- Comfy Clothes/Sleepwear
- Toiletries
- Cheer Shoes
- Cheer Bag
- Camp Clothes
- Bedding
- Snacks (2-3 Per Day)
- Bug Spray
- Sanitizing Wipes
- Uniform (if needed)
- Poms (if needed)
The best way to avoid forgetting anything is to pack ahead of time and follow a list to remember all necessities. Print your list out and check off each item as you pack it into your cheer bag. Make sure to double-check everything!
What to Expect
Expect a lot of hard work! Cheer camp is exhausting but an incredible growing experience. You will work harder during those few days than you can imagine. However, the pay-off is worth it. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn and improve within such a short amount of time.
Emotional Turmoil
Things you might not know to expect… nerves or anxiety. These are normal emotions for newbies, especially if you don’t know what cheer camp is! As long as you know what to pack for cheer camp and you’re comfortable putting in hard work, you’ll do great! It also helps to find your support system early, whether that’s a teammate, coach, friend, or family member you can lean on when camp feels overwhelming. Having people who encourage you can make the experience feel less intimidating and remind you that you’re not going through it alone.
Physical Exhaustion
You’ll be feeling sweaty, sore, and tired. This will be especially true during the first few days. If this is your first year as a cheerleader, cheer camp might be the most physically challenging experience of your life so far!
Bonding with New Friends
Part of cheer camp is bonding with your teammates and getting to know one another better. What cheer camp is all about offers more than just training. Camp is also an opportunity to bond with your coach and team!
Being Hungry
After a long day of all the things you do at cheer camp, by the time dinner comes around, you’ll have worked up quite an appetite. Don’t worry if you’re eating larger portions than normal. It’s important to keep up your energy, and the best way to do that is to eat (and often!) protein-rich, healthy foods, vegetables, and fruit. During the day, plan to snack more than you normally would; this will help you maintain your energy and avoid feeling queasy mid-practice.
What Prepare For
Panic
Panic attacks and anxiety can happen for many different reasons, including stress, sensory overload, lack of sleep, unfamiliar surroundings, social pressure, or feeling overwhelmed at cheer camp. Before camp starts, it can help to create a plan for what to do if anxious feelings come up, such as practicing slow breathing exercises, writing in a journal, stepping into a safe or designated destim area, or talking to a trusted coach, teammate, parent, or friend. Building a support system ahead of time can also make camp feel less intimidating because you’ll know who you can go to when you need encouragement, reassurance, or a quiet moment to reset.
Dizziness
While you may feel extra sweaty or exhausted, you shouldn’t push on if you start feeling dizzy or nauseous. Summer is a hot season, and when combined with extreme physical exertion and dehydration, it can cause heat stroke, fainting, or worse. If you start feeling dizzy or nauseous, speak up and tell your coach. Take a moment to sit in some shade and drink water, and consider adding electrolytes to your water to help replace what you lose through sweat. If you think you’re hungry, eat a snack. Whatever you do, don’t push on because you’re embarrassed or afraid your coach will be upset with you. Everyone’s first priority is your safety and health.
Pain
There is a big difference between pain and soreness. If your whole body feels slightly tight, you’re most likely sore. However, if you feel any shooting, sharp pain, take it easy. Talk openly about it with your coach, and they can help you determine whether you’ve injured yourself or are just sore. The worst thing you can do is push through an injury; it will only make it worse!
Extreme Hunger
While you’re bound to feel hungry more often than when you’re not exercising, know when to stop if your hunger is causing you nausea, stomach pain, or dizziness. Ask your coach if you can take a five-minute snack break. Munch on trail mix, a granola bar, beef jerky, fruit, or some other protein- or fiber-rich food. What you pack for cheer camp is crucial here!
Now that you know what cheer camp is, you can prepare yourself for the fun, the challenges, and the amazing experience you have ahead of you.
Cheer Camp FAQ
What should I bring to my first cheer camp?
Many times, your coach will provide an overview of cheer camp and what to pack. Plan on bringing all your practice essentials, spirit clothing, and toiletries for time off, and plenty of snacks!
How is cheer camp different from regular practice?
Cheer camp is unique from regular practice because it’s an extended, all-day experience for multiple days in a row. While you might spend a few hours at regular practice, you can expect to spend a full day training for 3-5 days in cheer camp.
Will I learn new skills at cheer camp as a beginner?
What cheer camp is all about is learning new skills! You can expect to practice basic poses, foundational stunts, and simple pom routines. Other important skills you learn include teamwork, bonding, coordination, and dance techniques.
How can I get ready for cheer camp before I go?
You just did! Reading through this blog to learn about cheer camp and what to expect during your time there is the best way to get ready. Now it’s time to pack your essentials and get going!
Have you been to cheer camp before? What are your tips for new cheerleaders? If you’re a new cheerleader, what are you most excited or nervous about? Comment below!
