BASIC SKILLS
summer camp! Ready, set, Skaters representing 14 area clubs in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area participate in the Rising Stars Basic Skills Camp.
Keys offered to running a successful Basic Skills camp by CAREY TINKELENBERG
For most Basic Skills programs, enrollment
in group lessons dips during summer months when the sun is shining and outdoor activities flood recreation flyers. What better way to reach more skaters during these slower months than to offer a Basic Skills summer camp? After all, it’s cool in the rink, and skating is a year-round sport.
Skaters Ava and Molly share their love for skating in Chinese and German at the Rising Stars Camp in St. Paul.
Aside from introducing skaters and parents
to a wealth of information, hosting a camp is also an excellent way to promote skating to the local community and to spur enrollment for the up- coming season. A successful camp demonstrates that your program stands out from the many youth activities as the one that families should continue to sign up for. Camp Basics
Te goal of any Basic Skills camp is to
provide a fun, inspiring, safe and positive ex- perience that fosters continued excitement and participation in the sport. At a well-run camp, skaters learn new skills, meet new friends and leave inspired to come back to the rink. Promote camp to the full range of basic and
advanced skills skaters: Snowplow Sam through Freeskate 6 or skaters working on their Axels, ages 3 to 16. Divide campers into groups according to skill level and assign creative names and a corre-
sponding color or symbol to each group. Camp T-shirts and embossed wristbands are great tools for instilling a team environment and easily orga- nizing skaters. Advertise your camp in the early spring through email announcements, social me- dia, websites and local camp listings. Hand out fly- ers during group lessons and ice shows, and hang them in popular community locations. Remem- ber, word of mouth is the most effective and least expensive form of marketing. Talk to your skaters, directors and parents and build their excitement about camp. (Please note: Some states have licens- ing regulations for running children’s camps — be sure to verify your state’s requirements). Variety is essential when planning the sched- ule. Camp is a chance to help skaters find their spark by introducing them to a broad range of skating activities. It is also a time to build friend- ships and memories. No single activity should last more than 30 to 45 minutes, especially for the younger skaters. On the ice, schedule time for power and edges, jumps and spins, introduction to synchronized skating, ice dance, artistry in motion, theatre on ice or other creative movement classes.
Top tips from camp directors Remember that the first day of camp can
be nerve-wracking for a lot of children. Play ice-breaker games when putting skates on and make sure that everyone makes at least one new friend on the first day. — Cheri Rigby, The Skating Club of Boston
One of the most important aspects to
running a successful camp is finding the right counselors. Just because a teenager can skate, doesn’t mean they are good with children. — Lori Cervinka, Kettler Capitals Iceplex
52 JUNE/JULY 2014 Have judges come in and explain how
to read a posted results sheet and what they look for during competition. — Ginni Phillips, Mt. Pleasant FSC
nication leading up to, during and after the camp.
Parents need full and detailed commu- — Sandy Wittman, St. Paul FSC
Variety is the key to keeping the campers
interested. — Suzy Malloure, Michigan Basic Skills Series
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