Summer Camps Keep Skaters Busy During Warm-weather Months
by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online
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The "Learn to Skate Summer Camp" is one of the most popular programs offered at the Bridgewater Sports Arena, according to skating director Whitney Wappel. The program, located in Bridgewater, N.J., is designed for kids ages 4-12. No prior skating experience or skating equipment is required; the arena provides skate rentals to campers at no additional charge, and campers skate on private camp ice for two hours a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
"We use the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills level to let skaters track their improvement," Wappel said. "The camp is designed to give skaters individual attention on the ice and allows skaters of all ability levels to participate in the same camp."
Each skater is assigned a private lesson instructor for the week or,if skaters sign up for multiple weeks, the entire summer.
"By providing the skater with private lessons, it allows the instructor to focus on the appropriate skills for that skater, which leads to very quick learning and skill improvement," Wappel said.
Bridgewater campers also participate in off-ice classes like balancing and stretching techniques, dance and core strengthening exercise. They also have access to the arena's other facilities, such as the laser tag area and climbing gym, moon bounce and slides.
The camp concludes with an awards ceremony, in which each skater performs his or her favorite skating skill in front of other campers, friends and family.
Another summer-time camp is the Basic Skills Weekend at the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y. Attendees have regular Basic Skills or Freestyle classes and are exposed to Artistry in Motion and synchronized classes. Off ice, campers take part in stretch, fitness and dance classes, and they also attend the Saturday Night Ice Show, which features a special guest skater or international competitor.
Olympic Center Marketing Manager Mary Elizabeth Wightman feels the most unique aspect of the Lake Placid camp weekend, however, is the Parents Education Track.
"When the kids are on the ice doing other activities, the parents get to learn all about what is involved in skating," Wightman said.
A panel of experts answers parents' questions.
"We talk about everything they want to know about skating," Wightman said, "From what to look for in skates to what to do to prepare for competition to what a test session is and the different skating levels. The parents come away knowing a whole lot more about what is ahead of them in the skating world."
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"We take what would normally be an eight-week program and turn it into a one-week program," said Paula Wagener, executive figure skating director. "This season we are adding an off-ice fitness and style component we think will enhance the program. We also break up the camp activities with sports and crafts activities in the sports complex."
The highlight of the camp is the Friday showcase, which features groups of various levels as well as Bridge and Freestyle skaters performing solos and duets.
Last year Wagener decided to enhance the Basic Skills Camp as well as offer an intensive training camp for upper-level skaters. The complex ran four weeks of learn-to-skate camp with almost 200 students, and this year it has added a fifth week to the learn-to-skate program and is enhancing its elite performance camps by bringing in national-level coaches for two weeks in June and July.
Wagener feels summer skating camps are a perfect activity to consider during a period when ice is hard to find.
"Many kids are so busy during the year with activities, it is hard to find time to try a new sport," Wagener said. "The summer camps offer an easy entry into trying a new sport. We have found that many of our summer students transition into regular Basic Skills students and continue to skate throughout the year."
Visit the Camps, Clinics and Seminars page on U.S. Figure Skating Online to see if there are any summer camps in your area.
