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Find cheerleading camps near you

OurKids.net lists camps and programs in dozens of cities across the country. Find your city in the list below and find cheerleading camps near you.

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More than just day camps

For kids who love cheerleading, there are other ways to indulge this passion. See related options below:

Search ALL CHEERLEADING CAMPS AND PROGRAMS   

What you learn in cheerleading camp

Here’s a look at what you learn in cheer camp. Consult with individual camps listed above to fully understand what distinguishes their programming.  

Tumbling. Cheerleading gets its ‘wow’ factor from tumbling, with cheerleaders flipping, twisting, rolling, and jumping across the floor. In cheerleading camp, kids learn how to tumble, starting with basic moves like cartwheels, handstands and backbends. They progress to more advanced moves as they become stronger, faster, and acquire more flexibility and stamina. Cheerleading camps ensure this is always done in the safest manner possible. 

Stunting. Cheerleading stunts demonstrate cheerleaders’ skill and dexterity. Stunting often refers to some variation of the pyramid, with several cheerleaders as bases and one flyer. Stunts range from two-legged and one-legged stunts, to the more advanced high-flying basket toss. At cheerleading camp, kids start with the basics, progressing to more advanced stunts when they’re ready. The focus is always on safety first, of course, and students take on various roles like spotters, bases and flyers.

Acrobatics. A common trait in cheerleaders is flexibility, shown off in cheer routines’ acrobatics. Throughout camp, kids stretch to become more flexible. Campers are sure to come home with some new acrobatic moves to wow your family!

Dance. Cheerleading also incorporates elements of dance into routines. As with dance, cheerleaders learn choreography and the art of performing at camp. They’re also coached on executing certain dance moves, and how to perform routines to the beat and rhythm of songs. Kids with previous training (perhaps at dance camp) often take up cheerleading due to the genres’ overlap. If your child is born to be on the stage, they may have their performance bug fulfilled in cheerleading camp!

Competition preparation. Competitions are integral to cheerleading. Teams come together and put their skills in the limelight. Competition can be rigorous. Kids learn to perform under pressure. Cheerleading camps prepare kids for the physical and mental demands by including preparation in their curriculum. In-camp competition also prepares them for the process also. Campers develop skills along with mental resilience. It’s sure to pay off in the future, both in school and careers. 

Responsibility. Especially at higher skill levels, cheerleading can be dangerous. With multiple bodies flipping, flying, and dancing across the floor, there’s always potential for things to go wrong. Cheerleading camps stress the importance of personal responsibility. Each individual on a team has a responsibility to teammates to do their part and follow best safety practices. In cheer camp, kids learn the significance of their actions and their effect on others.

The benefits of cheerleading camp

Here’s  a brief look at some underappreciated advantages that teens gain from participation in a cheer camp. 

Improve collaboration and teamwork. Cheerleading is a team sport, and routines rely heavily on team members’ ability to work together. A pyramid can only be done when everyone contributes! In cheer camp, kids learn their own role and how to work together to accomplish something bigger. A side effect of learning collaboration and teamwork is learning to support and encourage others. This development of empathy is an important trait in personal, professional, and academic situations.

Improved physical fitness. Cheerleading is quite physically demanding. As with gymnastics, cheerleaders are pros in jumping, flipping, cartwheeling, and dancing. Cheerleading stunts require flexibility, strength and stamina. Cheer camp instructors help kids improve their physical fitness through various drills that develop new skills. There’s no better way to build muscle, endurance, and flexibility than training to be a cheerleader!

Individualized training. Though it’s a team sport, each cheerleader plays an important role in the routine. After all, a team can only achieve a perfect score if everyone nails their own choreography! Accordingly, cheerleading camp instructors work one-on-one with kids to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Kids troubleshoot them on their own until they master it. Individual training helps kids see the value in their own personal contribution to the success of the team.

In-depth analysis. Camps use tools like video to film a routine, skill or stunt to analyze what works and what doesn’t. Video review allows kids to see exactly where they can improve and identify small details to clean up. When coaching combines verbal critique with a visual aid young cheerleaders can better understand and learn. They improve techniques to be the absolute best they can be!

Get your energy out! Cheerleading camps are high-energy and high-spirited. The sport requires stamina, physical strength and resiliency. For those with seemingly endless amounts of energy,  cheerleading camp may be the perfect choice. They’ll be able to (quite literally) bounce around, and let their inner dynamism shine, while getting a great workout. They’re sure to arrive home tired by the end of camp!

What to look for in cheerleading camp 

No matter the age, location or skill level of your child, they can expect several high-energy days at cheerleading camp. The decision to take up cheerleading can be both exciting and nerve wracking. There are several things to consider while choosing the right camp for your child. Here are some common questions parents may consider asking camps:

• Are there any in-camp competitions?
• Do most campers have some prior experience with cheerleading, gymnastics or dance?
• Are there any specific cheerleading skills my child must have prior to enrolling in camp? What skills or choreography can my child expect to learn while at camp?
• How many coaches/instructors are there? What’s the instructor-to-camper ratio?
• What is the age range of kids in this camp? How are campers grouped?

Related camps you might like

Gymnastics camp offers an opportunity to further hone and develop many of the same skills you’ll use in cheering. It’s just one of numerous similar opportunities you can find on OurKids.net. 

Acro camps and acro classes, for example, are an ideal starting point for aspiring cheerleaders. Dance camps (linked above), along with dance classes including ballet classes, for example, help you develop your athleticism into something with a more artistic appeal. 

Sports camps help you broaden your interests and include a wide variety of options, from football camp to soccer schools.

Combine this with more advice from OurKids.net

Further reading and sources

"10 Reasons why cheerleading is a sport." Bleacherreport.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cheerleading summer camps are there?
There are 3 programs specializing in Cheer. In addition, there are 22 programs offering cheer as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Cheerleading summer camps?
Fees for Cheerleading summer camps range from $64 to $329 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Cheerleading summer camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 5 through 13.

Where can parents meet with Cheerleading summer camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.