Camp staff members of any summer camp have the potential to make a tremendous impact on their campers. Champion Staff members in particular. Many middle school and high school cheerleaders in Michigan can remember the Champion staff members that they worked with from when they spent a long 3 days in the Alma College sun. A long weekend which often times is dreaded. Standing in the heat for hours learning cheers, throwing girls through the air, and flipping our bodies over often left many of us, as campers, exhausted, sore, and probably sunburnt (even though our coach reminded us 100 times to put sun screen on). However, looking back on it, it was actually a worthwhile experience. The memories you make with your teammates and the bonds you create at camp are irreplaceable. The promises made at candle light, and the dancing and laughter of P.R.I.D.E. make you closer with your team than you could have ever imagined.
After attending Champion Camps for 6 years, with six different teams, I just couldn't get enough. Every time I went, a new and better experience came out of it. The staff members had taught me so much, and they probably didn't even realize it. And that is what I wanted to do for future campers. Growing up, I always admired the Staff members of Champion Cheerleading. I knew, at the age of 12, that one day I wanted to be standing out on "the A," doing something that I always loved to do, and spreading that passion of the sport onto the campers that would attend camps.
After finally convincing my family and friends that being away for most of the summer wasn't going to be that bad, I was finally ready to face tryouts, and let me tell you, I had never been more nervous. Walking into a room full of girls that I had looked up to for years and directors that are famous in the MHSAA cheer world, I'm sure you can understand my nerves. However, receiving the notice that I had made Champion Staff was one of the greatest feelings ever. I now had the potential to impact so many young athletes, and do what I love to do everyday.
Throughout my first summer as a Champion Staff member, I was able to truly see the impact that was left on every camper. I was able to spread my passion for the sport all summer long, and through Christian Athlete seminars, I was even able to connect with the campers at a very personal level. Being a young athlete in attendance of these camps for many years I knew just how important it was to reach out to individual athletes and attempt to create a connection with them. This is because Champion Cheerleading is much more than a summer camp. Champion Cheerleading is a safe haven, where cheerleaders across Michigan can come to improve not only their physical abilities, but in order to strengthen bonds within their team, and grow as people. Staff members have the ability to assist them in this process, and they also are role models for the young men and women who attend Champion. Being on "Staff" is not only a job, but it is a team, a family, and an all around great group of women. From the directors, to each and every Staff member, the personalities vary immensely, and therefore set an outstanding example to the campers.
