Rachel attended NCA cheer camp with her cheer squad June 13 through 15 at the University of Oklahoma (they stayed in the dorms, which really makes the girls feel grown-up). This 3-day camp is an opportunity for the girls to learn new cheers/dances (Rachel prefers dancing) and improve their talents in stunting, etc. There is a lot of planning and preparation prior to camp. The parents work together to get/make the girls camp gifts, i.e., moppy floppy flip flops, blankets, pj's, outfits, bows, etc. The Thursday before camp, the squad performs for friends and family at a squad cook-out and the girls received their camp clothes/gifts.
The morning camp begins the squad meets for breakfast and the girls trade gifts with their Lil Sis and/or Big Sis. This year Rachel is a Big Sis as she is a returner to the squad and her Lil Sis is Zoe!
After breakfast, the parents caravan down to Norman with the girls in tow to help them get settled in their rooms and help them decorate their rooms. Rachel and Zoe's room theme was glitz and glamor...they had a ton of fun shopping for the decor and decorating!
Within just a few hours of camp beginning, Rachel was nominated by an NCA cheerleader to try out for the All-American cheer squad. Rachel worked very hard on her jumps leading up to camp, in an effort to just be nominated. She didn't really care about the making the squad, she just wanted to be nominated and she reached her goal!! She was thrilled and we were just as excited with her and for her.
Matt, Ryleigh and I went down to camp every evening to support the girls and watch them perform. They did amazing bringing home 3 blue ribbons, 1 red ribbon, the spirit stick, a bid to Nationals in Dallas and the champion chant award. At the end of camp Rachel was sad as this will be her last year at cheer camp as she is trying out for Pom Squad next year at the high school.
