Parents Summer gymnastics sleepaway camps vs. regular team training

[InMyGymMomEra]

Hi there, my 6yo daughter is new to team, having just joined DP L1 (training only, not competing yet). Our family is starting to make plans for summer and my daughter is asking if she can do a week or two of gymnastics sleepaway summer camp (e.g., IGC, where she did a “mini camp” last summer and loved it)! I’m wondering if some more experienced parents can help me weigh the pros & cons of doing camp vs. just staying at home to train with her regular team. Her coaches have said that she’ll either move up to L2 (6h/wk) or L3 (9h/wk) this summer, both of which do compete. Given this, the implications of missing a week of team practice seem much different than last summer when she was just in rec. For context, we are already planning two weeks of actual vacation this summer to visit cousins out-of-state, so if she did go to gymnastics camp it would mean missing a third week. I also wonder if now that she’s on team it’s better for to her just train with her coaches that know her and have a plan for the group, rather than camp coaches who don’t know her? But on the other hand she loved camp last year (both the gymnastics part & the independence part)! Thanks for your advice!

 

[NYCMom]

My daughter is a 10 yo Level 6 gymnast and attended IGC Sleepaway camp the last 2 years (after L3 and L4). I would say do it now while you can! This was probably my daughter’s last summer at IGC because the higher the level, the more important that intense team training is, and IGC is more of a fun week away, with a focus on all the amazing fun things about gymnastics, than it is high level gymnastics training. I’m SO GLAD she did IGC the last 2 years. My daughter wouldn’t trade the memories or friendships she made at IGC for anything! As a rising level 2 or 3, I think now is the time to go, make friends, ignite even more of a love for gymnastics, and have fun!!

 

[InMyGymMomEra]

I’m SO GLAD she did IGC the last 2 years. My daughter wouldn’t trade the memories or friendships she made at IGC for anything! As a rising level 2 or 3, I think now is the time to go, make friends, ignite even more of a love for gymnastics, and have fun!!

Thank you so much for this helpful perspective and very best wishes to your daughter.