Apr 30, 2013

Skating camp

Most figure skating programs now offer summer camp.  These may be half or full day, be solely focused on figure skating, or be more traditional "day camp" that includes a figure skating component either specifically instructional, or just as a regular activity in a more "public skating" sort of mode. In a camp that is focused on figure skating, with a couple of hours of ice a day, your skater can pass a couple of tests easily over the course of the summer, as well as just achieving a solid comfort level on the ice and improving their basic skating.

Camps are generally divided into Learn to Skate levels (beginner through Beta/Basic 5 or Gamma/Basic 6) and Freestyle levels, usually starting with students in Delta/Basic 7 (because those students will achieve freestyle levels during the course of the camp). The exact division will vary from program to program.

Less common are rinks that allow staff to form their own private camps.  I ran such a camp at a prior rink. Any camp will offer some combination of the following components.

Moves-Edges-Stroking 
At Xanboni camp freestyle students (although I never had many of those, by choice) learned USFS Moves-in-the-Field patterns for the Pre-Preliminary and Preliminary Tests. For Learn to Skate/Basic Skills students I used the "moves" periods to work on strong edges, crossovers and stroking, as well as learning basic skating patterns like periphery stroking.

Skating skills
My camps were small, so all classes were mixed level, but in a regular facility-run program there are usually enough skaters to divide students into discreet levels.  The skills classes will be pretty much exactly the skills classes in an after school program. They just move faster because the kids are on the ice so much. Skating skills classes will also generally include skills from higher levels and so-called uncaptured moves (an ISI term for tricks and skills that are not included in the testable curriculum).

Stretching, cardio, outdoors games
As a personal philosophy, I do not condone dedicated strength training for children under the age of 10, and frankly consider it a little pointless for kids in a recreational program. And calisthenics can be boring. This does not mean strength training and calisthenics can't happen-- you just need to find ways to make it age appropriate and interesting.  Lots of really fun activities, like Dance Dance Revolution, soccer, races, touch football, et cetera, give you all the benefits of cardio and strength training, at a level that young children enjoy. Sometimes I did off-ice on the playground, with the only rule being that the kids had to use every piece of equipment at least once.

Crafts and story telling
Even at a sports camp, engage their creative and quiet side for part of the day. Read them a book, or do "round robin" stories (where everyone contributes part of the story, line by line), or drawing, sewing, etc. One of our favorite activities was sidewalk chalking.

Field trips
Look for programs with extras like occasional (or regular) swimming, or rolling blading, museum or theater trips,  a skating show, or the beach. (Make sure you have lots of parents helpers and a signed waiver, by the way). All skating and no play makes Susie a dull girl.

Private lesson time
While most camps will not specifically offer private lessons, many work lesson time into the day so that students who have private coaches don't have to make a separate trip back to the rink for their lesson; it's simply arranged as part of the camp day.  In some camps these are designated times; for others the student may be allowed to take their private lesson instead of any given camp activity.

Other ideas
For older kids, see if your program offers a weekly or bi-weekly "how to teach" session to train future coaches. Look for camps with a supervised practice session, so kids get time to organize their own practice without being told what to do every minute.  Over the years I've been teaching, I've observed kids getting less and less able to work on their own. I have no idea how they get through college, let alone a job. Some programs will offer kids a chance to learn a program, or get a taste of a specialized skill like synchro, dance, figures, or couples.

Does your skater go to skating camp? Tell us about it!

20 comments:

  1. Thank you for this. If you're an adult skater, should you avoid the skate camps geared towards children? What do you recommend for adult skaters over the summer? I'm at Basic 8/ Freestyle.

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    1. While sometimes single day kids' skating clinics will accept adults, I've never heard of a skating camp that does. I think it would be weird for an adult to do a kids camp, even one with a lot of teens. Have you looked into the numerous one-week summer clinics that they have for adults? I've heard amazing reports about these. Check USFS and ISI magazine-- they always have ads for reputable programs for adults.

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    2. Sun Valley does (at least one) adult week every summer that is very popular among some of the adult skaters at my rink. I've not been though so I don't know much more.

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    3. http://www.lakeplacidskating.com/programs/adult.php

      My rink has a one-morning adult workshop.

      Any adult skating camp will likely be geared to advanced skaters who can skate many hours a day.

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    4. Actually, this is not true. Many adult skating camps have activities geared to all levels from Learn To Skate on up, and instructors (including celebrity skaters) who "get" adults and know how to gear the program to multiple levels, energy, and adult issues of fear and reluctance. I've never heard anything but praise about these programs from skaters of many abilities.

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  2. My daughter is attending her coach run camp again this summer. Great program, mix of on and off ice activities. Twice a week for the duration of the summer. She is also attending a sleep away skating camp (@ ice castle international training center)this will be her first time so we are both excited and nervous and not totally sure what to expect.

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  3. Gordon (and all my adult readers!), we totally need to do a Xanboni meet up at one of the adult camps one of these years.

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  4. My daughter has attended a skating camp, but we have found that adding freestyle sessions and extra time with her coaches is more productive for her in reaching her goals. Sleepaway skating camp is about 1000 a week plus more for private lessons. 1000 spread over the summer gives more dedicated ice time. Plus the kids at the rink all skate more sessions so they can hang out for lunch and ice cuts.

    Her camp included on ice, off ice, choreography, dartfish for jumps, power stroking, and spins.

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    1. This is a great, and common, solution for kids who are very self-directed and motivated, and also for older kids. It's not the best solution for younger kids, or for kids (or parents) who need more structure. Further, at most of the rinks I've worked out paying a la carte for ice and classes to create your own summer program is way more expensive than signing the kid up for the camp.

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    2. I wish that was the case where I am - a skate day camp here is $100 a day. That is the same as 10 hours of freestyle.

      A lot of these costs are all based on the skaters location.

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    3. That is insane! What do group classes cost per class at your facility? Can you share what you get for that kind of expense (on and off-ice, private or semi-private, length of day, credentialed coaches, etc.)?

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  5. My DD has attended skating camp in the past. Two summers ago while in beta, moved through gamma and delta (2wks of regular camp) and last year while in FS1, moved up to FS3 (4 wks of regular camp). She is now in FS5 and working on her preliminary moves and has "outgrown" regular skating camp. She'll do a combo of skating 2hrs every morning for 3 weeks (partially with her coach) one week of synchro camp and one week of figure skating camp. She's very excited!!

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  6. Thinking about Ice Castle residential camp for my 11 year old FS3 boy. It would be his first time away from home. Not sure about the 1000 dollars but it would allow him more ice time since I work and I cannot get him to extra local sessions.

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    1. Don't forget to look into scholarship options.

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    2. Always good. Where are scholarship options. I was going to use scholarship grandma!

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  7. If your rink doesn't offer a summer camp or training program, and you live in an area with multiple clubs and rinks, be sure and check out the options availble at the other rinks in your area. We have found that most summer programs are not restricted to their club members and are open to all skaters (and coaches often will not suggest programs at other rinks even when they know they exist).

    Over the last 6 years, our daughter has participated in a summer program at another rink (in addition to her usual lessons and practice ice at her home club) and it has been very beneficial and fun. Initially we chose this program because DD wanted to skate everyday during the summer and her home club did not offer any summer programs. At the time she was quite young and she needed more structure and social contact than just additional freestyle ice. The benefits of skating at another rink are that you become acquainted with other skaters and coaches in the area. (You also learn that rink cultures can be very different.)

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  8. My daughter, then 6, went to a one week long, day camp at Toyota Sports Center in LA last summer, and she loved it. Lots of ice and off-ice every day. It is possible that spending that money on extra private lessons could be more beneficial, but she really likes to take classes, i.e. learn in a group setting, and spend time with other skaters about her age and level. Now she is starting to outgrow that kids camp, but she liked it so much she wants to do it again. Also, her younger sister will go to this camp this year.

    We also feel that our oldest needs a more advanced camp. However, we decided to sign her up just for classes, both on-ice and off-ice, but not freestyles/private lessons at that camp. She is going to keep taking private lessons from her regular coaches during the camp week. I think this will be more efficient, even though she will have to go to 2 rinks every day.

    Maria, mom of 2 skaters: pre-pre and FreeSkate 2

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  9. My training facility has one planned for the first time this coming summer. I would love to be able to do an adult camp one day. The one in Obersdorf includes massages at the end of the day :)

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  10. Our rink organised a higher level camp, a beginners & low level camp, and, a SEPARATE adults camp.

    Guess which one sold out first? Yeah - the adults.

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