Frequently Asked Questions
Camp Basics
1. What is Cheerwood, and how is it different from a traditional cheer camp?
Cheerwood combines cheer instruction with a real overnight summer camp experience. Campers build their cheer skills with plenty of time to explore the outdoors, make friends, and enjoy life at camp. Think tumbling and dance alongside crafts, nature walks, canoeing and swimming at the lake, songs, campfires, zip lining, horseback riding, rock wall climbing, and more.
2. What ages and grade levels can attend?
Cheerwood welcomes campers entering grades 3–12 who will remain 17 or younger throughout their entire camp session. Campers who will turn 18 during the session are not eligible to register as youth campers.
3. Can my child register individually, or do they need to attend with a team or program?
Cheerwood offers individual registration. Your child does not need to attend with a particular gym, school, team, or program. They can come with friends or come on their own and meet other campers. School, recreational, youth league, and All Star athletes are welcome.
4. When and where will Cheerwood take place, and how long is camp?
Cheerwood’s 2027 Camper Camp takes place August 2–5 at Timber Ridge Camp in Spencer, Indiana. The camper experience includes four days and three nights of cheer instruction, outdoor activities, and camp traditions. The Coaches Conference takes place August 3–5, 2027 at the same location, with a separate three-day, two-night program.
5. When does registration open, how much does camp cost, and what is included?
Plan your Cheerwood summer, and check current tuition and dates on the Registration page.
Cabin Life & Safety
6. Where do campers sleep, and who supervises them overnight?
Campers stay in shared cabins. Junior Camp Counselors help lead cabin life and activities under the supervision of screened adult staff and parent chaperones. Junior Counselors do not replace adult supervision.
Our TCA (Two Cleared Adults) Policy requires camper interactions to remain observable and interruptible, with no isolated one-on-one contact between an adult and a camper.
7. What safety measures and staff screening requirements does Cheerwood have?
Adult staff and volunteers must complete the screening and training required for their roles before working with campers. Screening includes background checks, references, and interviews. Adult roles also require USA Cheer membership and safety clearance.
Training covers supervision and boundaries, recognizing and reporting suspected abuse, emergency procedures, missing-camper response, behavior management, and activity safety. Cheerwood’s TCA (Two Cleared Adults) Policy and rules for photography, electronic communication, and personal contact help establish clear expectations for everyone working at camp.
8. How are food allergies, medications, and other camper health needs handled?
Families must share allergies, medications, and other relevant health needs through Cheerwood’s confidential health-information process. This information helps camp leadership plan appropriate support and share necessary details with the staff responsible for your child’s care.
If your child needs a specific accommodation, please discuss it with camp leadership before registering so we can determine whether camp can meet their needs.
9. How can parents contact camp or check on their child during their stay?
Parent communication is coordinated through Cheerwood’s administrative team. Parents should use the camp’s designated contact channel for questions, concerns, or requests for an update. This allows counselors and instructors to stay focused on supervising campers while the office connects families with the appropriate staff member.
Can I email my camper during camp?
Yes! Cheerwood will have a dedicated camper email address where parents and guardians can send messages to their camper. Our staff will monitor the inbox and deliver messages to campers. When a reply is needed, campers will have the opportunity to write back with staff supervision.
10. What is a parent/guardian chaperone, and who can qualify?
A parent/guardian chaperone is an approved adult who stays at camp and helps support camper supervision, cabin life, and daily activities alongside Cheerwood staff. To qualify, you must be attending with at least one registered camper for whom you are the parent or guardian. This role is not available to adults attending without a registered camper. Approved parent/guardian chaperones receive a 10% discount on their camper’s registration. Chaperones must complete the required screening and training before serving in this role.
Coaches Conference
11. What does Cheerwood offer for coaches, and can coaches attend without bringing athletes?
The Coaches Conference takes place August 3–5, 2027 at Timber Ridge Camp in Spencer, Indiana. It is a three-day, two-night experience, and coaches may attend without bringing athletes.
There are 18 classes offered across 12 class blocks. Six blocks provide a choice between Option A and Option B, allowing each coach to attend 12 classes totaling 16 instructional hours.
The experience also includes camp activities, waterfront recreation, a coaches and vendor mixer, campfire cooldown, and the athlete showcase. Coaches can stay on site in shared cabins or commute from a hotel. Coaches choosing the hotel option must book through one of Cheerwood’s designated hotel blocks.
Cheer Instruction & Showcase
12. Does my child need previous cheerleading experience to attend?
Campers do not need to belong to a competitive cheer program to attend. Cheerwood welcomes a range of experience levels, with instruction organized around skill level and readiness. Campers work on appropriate progressions with instructors rather than being expected to perform skills they have not learned.
13. What cheer skills will campers work on?
Cheer instruction covers tumbling, jumps, motions, and dance. Campers also learn an age-group routine to perform in the Cheerwood Showcase. The focus is on building technique, confidence, and skills they can take back to their home programs.
14. How are campers grouped for instruction, and can different skill levels attend together?
Campers with different skill levels can attend the same camp session. For skill-based cheer instruction, instructors group campers according to their experience, demonstrated skills, and readiness.
Friends may attend together while working in different instructional groups. Camp activities and the age-group showcase routine provide additional opportunities to connect with other campers.
15. Who teaches the cheer classes, and how much of each day is spent on cheer instruction?
Cheerwood’s instructional program features VIP cheer instructors and industry experts. Cheer instructors lead the skill sessions, while designated counselors, chaperones, and administrative staff support the broader camp experience. Campers take part in focused cheer sessions, with even more time across the program for outdoor adventures and traditional camp activities. The balance varies by day, especially on arrival and departure days.
16. Will campers learn a routine for the Cheerwood Showcase?
Yes! Campers learn a routine with their age group and perform it in the Cheerwood Showcase at the end of camp. The routine includes stunting, with skills selected to match the athletes’ abilities and readiness under instructor supervision. It’s a chance to share what they’ve learned and celebrate their time together.
17. What is the Camp Showcase, and who can attend?
The Camp Showcase is a one-hour event celebrating every camper through team performances with their age group. Campers will perform cheer and dance routines for visiting coaches, who will judge the performances and crown Cheerwood’s first Camp Showcase Champions!
Registered campers may invite family members, friends, and other guests to cheer them on. Admission is $10 per spectator.