Gymnastics summer camps are being hosted by different gyms, clubs, and schools. They are primarily organized during the summer vacations, although a few of them may be conducted alongside school. They provide a constructive way of keeping your kids busy during their breaks. The children will learn or improve their gymnastics skills while having fun.
What are Gymnastics Summer Camps?
A gymnastics summer camp is like other summer camps but is focused primarily on gymnastics. Children attending the camp learn gymnastics and enhance their prowess in the sport. Many recreational activities may be included to entertain children. Academies, clubs, and organizations that host gymnastics summer camps offer two types of programs. They can either be traditional or recreational.
Traditional Gymnastics Summer Camps
Traditional gymnastics summer camps are primarily designed to prepare gymnasts for competitions. Each participant may have a dedicated instructor or may receive a specific time every day from the coaches. Only gymnasts who meet the minimum specified skill level may be accepted in traditional gymnastics summer camps. The objective is to provide individual attention to each gymnast for training. However, many traditional gymnastics summer camps may involve recreational activities while focusing on rest and relaxation.
Gymnasts may receive multiple coaching sessions throughout the day. They and their coaches may set goals for each week of the camp and progress through them gradually. The lessons imparted may be tailored to the goals of individual gymnasts.
Recreational Gymnastics Summer Camps
Recreational gymnastics summer camps are focused on creating a fun-filled environment. Students learn gymnastics and engage in many other recreational activities. They are like regular summer camps for children but with a primary focus on teaching gymnastics. In addition to gymnastics, participants may engage in crafts, games, and other activities.
In recreational gymnastics summer camps, children receive one or two coaching sessions, while the rest of the day may be dedicated to recreational activities. These camps allow children to make friends and learn new skills or routines while having fun. Unless your child is planning to compete in gymnastics professionally, a recreational gymnastics summer camp will be the obvious choice.
Reasons for Attending Gymnastics Summer Camp
Students attend gymnastics summer camps for a few different reasons. It will vary from one child to another.
Fulfilling Specific Training Requirements of Gymnasts
Traditional gymnastics summer camps may be designed to focus on a particular aspect of training. They may build upon the existing skills and knowledge of the participants. A few of them may assist children in meeting their specific objectives, such as learning new routines or acing a new level of USA Gymnastics. Some gymnastics summer camps may focus on rehabilitation after injury. Recreational gymnastics summer camps are primarily meant for keeping children busy during their holidays. They spend their time constructively by learning something new.
Building Confidence
Gymnastics summer camps can build the confidence level of children. They will meet other kids who share the same passion for gymnastics as them. It will allow the children to associate easily with each other as they will have something in common. They will be able to talk about the things they love and the lessons they learn. Gymnastics summer camps also organize recreational activities that boost the children’s confidence. They may be encouraged to expand their comfort zone. It will be beneficial as it will improve the performance of children in other spheres, including studies.
Inculcate Teamwork
Gymnastics summer camps inculcate teamwork and improve the bonding of children. Most of them hold recreational activities that may teach the importance of teamwork to the children. It can develop their team building and leading skills. If the child is or wants to be a part of a gymnastics team, then understanding teamwork becomes even more important. They must learn to work in tandem with other team members and act as a coherent unit. Many traditional gymnastics summer camps are tailored to develop the skills of a gymnastics team.
Selecting a Gymnastics Summer Camp for Your Children
There are many gymnastics summer camps organized every year. Choosing the right one can be confusing for parents. The appropriate gymnastics summer camp for your child will depend on a few factors.
Age Limit
Most gymnastics summer camps impose an age limit restriction for enrollees. Only children who fall within the specified limit may be allowed to enroll in it. Recreational gymnastics summer camps invite children between the age of 6 and 13 years. Traditional summer camps may be held for pre-teens and teenagers. They may impose a minimum age or skill limit for their gymnastics summer camps. Therefore, choose a program according to the age of your child.
Camp Duration
Parents may want to consider the duration of gymnastics summer camps. Clubs or gyms may hold the camps for different durations.
- Short Duration – Short duration gymnastics summer camps last from one to two weeks. Most of them are recreational in nature.
- Medium Duration – Medium Length camps may be three to five weeks long. They may be either recreational or traditional, depending on the program.
- Long Duration – Long duration gymnastics summer camps mostly focus on improving the skills and routines of the gymnasts and may run for seven weeks or longer.
The right length of a gymnastics summer camp for your child will depend on what are their objectives and how many days they will be able to attend it. Most parents enroll children in camps for the length of their vacations. If your child wants to improve skills in a traditional gymnastics summer camp, they may have to opt for a medium or long duration program.
Number of Children in the Camp
Parents may want to consider the number of children in a group of a gymnastics summer camp. If the child wants to improve their routines or skills as a gymnast, then a group with a small number of participants will be better. Consider a program that has around 6 to 8 children in each group. It will ensure that each child gets equal attention from the coach or instructor. The gymnasts will be able to work on and improve their skills.
If the primary purpose of enrolling a child in gymnastics summer camp is to keep them occupied during the vacation, then parents may consider programs with a higher number of participants. It will enable your child to meet more people and make friends. They will be able to have fun while participating in recreational activities. The more the number of children, the merrier it will be for them. However, it is wise to avoid overcrowded gymnastics summer camps.
