When I was a freshman cheerleader in high school, two girls who were seniors on the Varsity cheer squad, were asked at UCA cheerleading camp to tryout to be camp instructors for the next year. That stuck with me and from that point on that was the goal I had my sights set on. I wanted to be the girl that all the campers looked up to, in the UCA uniform, at the opening ceremonies of camp. Fortunately I came from an aggressively competitive cheer squad and I had a strong gymnastics background and that dream became a reality my senior year. I imagined that it would be fun to teach cheerleading but I had no idea, at age 17, what I was in store for. The five years I taught camps were truly life changing and the best learning experience I’ve had during my existence. I often tell people that I learned more about life, teaching, people skills, work ethic and being adaptable while teaching cheerleading camp than I did in my entire college career. Just a few reasons why being a cheer camp instructor will change your life:

1) It will give you the bug to travel and be adventurous

Before I became a UCA instructor I had only been to the Lake of the Ozarks, Florida and a few states in between. When I starting teaching camps I traveled throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Wisconsin, spent 6 weeks in California every summer and traveled abroad to London. It gave me the desire to see new things and the confidence to go places I’d never been before. Now I am known as the travel girl!

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2) You will learn to get along with all types of people

When you teach cheerleading camp each week you have new people to work with and often a new head instructor. In addition you’ll have new roommates nearly every week, new campers to teach and who knows who you’ll be traveling with. The only option is to be adaptable!

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3) Cheer instructors learn how to work HARD!

Usually camp instructors start their day with cheer aerobics and a smile around 7:30 am. They teach morning sessions until 11:30, they are back in cheer mode around 1:00 pm with afternoon sessions, short dinner break and finishing out the day with evaluations until 8:30 or 9:00 at night and then…they go over the next day’s teaching material. They are being physically active at least eight to ten hours a day. If you become a camp instructor you will be prepared for any goals you pursue.

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4) You will be surrounded by very driven, outgoing and upbeat people

Cheerleaders are typically positive, hardworking and enthusiastic. Camp instructors are usually the best high school and college cheerleaders at their schools. Their energy will be contagious and you will form friendships that will endure thru the years. In addition you will find that the people you work with will push you to be your very best.

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5) Communication will be no big deal

When teaching cheer camps you will normally be instructing a group of 100 to 1000 cheerleaders on any given day. You could quite possibly be on a stage, on a microphone and creating quick choreography incorporations on the spot. You will learn to talk in front of an audience, communicate with all types of people and come up with solutions within moments. It prepares you for life in more ways than you can imagine!

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6) You’ll learn to be independent

When I graduated high school I had never flown out of the state, I had never put gas in my car, I’d never been to the bank or post office and I didn’t know how to do laundry. What a school of life teaching cheerleading camp was for me! It got me out of my comfort zone and made me grow up quickly!

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7) You’ll get the college experience at multiple schools

It’s such a cool experience to be able to live in a variety of college towns. You will get a feel for the vibe of each university you’re at for cheer camp. I remember being at LSU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, UCLA and even the exclusive Pepperdine in Malibu.

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8) You will be saving money lots of money while you’re an instructor if you are smart!

The cheer camp companies provide your room, board, food allowance and travel so the only expenses you’ll have are your extra money you spend. It’s a smart way to save money if you do it right and have no summer apartment rent or bills.

9) OH…the memories you will make!

It’s been 20 plus years since I taught cheerleading camp and I still remember vividly our big adventures! I remember getting on the wrong plane to New Orleans and then taking on Bourbon Street with 30 other crazy cheerleaders. I remember exploring the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and tumbling down nearby hills. I remember warm nights at Pointe Loma camp in San Diego and our cliffside dorm rooms overlooking the water. Most of all…I remember that it was the time of my life!

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10) Best of all…you’ll get paid for doing something you would do for free!

Enough said.

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