The Quincy Parks and Recreation Department put on the Summer Cheer Camp Showcase on Thursday, July 27.
Showing just how much these young girls have learned since the start of the camp on June 17.
The Camp was open to girls ages 3 to 14 and ran Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with breakfast, lunch and a snack provided to the girls.
The goal was to expose them to cheerleading fundamentals and give them a safe place to be, doing something they enjoy.
They were taught how to roll, jump, dance, cheer, and even some self defense moves.
While the cheering was overseen by the coaches of the recreation department, the girls were taught 27
taekwondo moves by Master Murphy who runs The Dragons Den Tae Kwon Do.
The coordinator of the program, Alicia Sheerman, said that young girls need to be able to protect themselves. Having been a victim of sexual assault herself she stated, “If I had had the tools it would
have helped me avoid it.”
The girls displayed flips, jumps, group jumps, cheers, a dance performance and self defense skills such as chagis–a Taekwondo technique used to overpower the opponent by making use of the foot manipulated by the motion of the leg.
An awards presentation followed the performances.
Each girl received a certificate from the cheer program as well as a medal from Master Murphy.
While putting on a showcase is new to the program Coach Mikyla Sherman said they wanted to spotlight and show their hard work to the parents and the community.
Coach Latisha Figgers said the showcase is a way of building back up the recreation program for the community.
“They put in hard work and it paid off,” Figgers said. “They did amazing.”
Crystal Robinson, a proud parent, said, “I felt she was safe and it helped her grow more and motivated her. She is reading more. I feel so proud.”
Robinson was very happy about having a safe place for her daughter to be during the summer days when she had to be at work and she said she wishes there were more programs like this.
Parks and Recreation Director DeCody Fagg, who attended the event, said, “I am very proud of everyone and I thank the community for coming.”
Fagg said he hopes to put the cheerleaders in more parades and events in the community as well.
The cheer program runs year-round and costs $200 with payment plans available to help parents.
Enrollment is still open, you can contact Alicia Sherman at (850) 528-4653 for more information.
For more information about taekwondo courses go to tinytaekwondo.com or call (850) 443-6502.
Summer Batten – Gadsden County News Service
