Word: spirits
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...despair! U.S.A. stands for United Spirit Association, and the title has nothing at all to do with liquor or religion. No indeed. The group is so called because it upholds, above all else, unity and spirit, the two mantras that it will spell out this summer to 30,000 initiates, ages 5 to 18, in 82 cheerleading camps from Montana to Hawaii. And here in the largest encampment of all, just north of Santa Barbara, Calif., within dreaming distance of an enchanted forest and a blue lagoon, 1,030 girls--and seven equal-opportunity boys--have assembled in teams...
...girls are not going to have to do toe touches or split jumps. But they will face the same kind of problems in life that they do as cheerleaders." So U.S.A. teaches not just stunts and splits but communications skills, group dynamics, ways of being human. Above all, Spirit. The agenda includes a Spirit Workshop and a Spirit Film. It features Spirit Ideas and, in lieu of awards, Spirit Sticks. For other needs, there is also a Spirit Fashion and Accessory store...
Within an hour, the feverishly well-organized program is fully under way. With variety-special slickness, the teachers spin through the 1985 camp dance and camp song (available for $3 at the Spirit Shop). They stage morality playlets on the blessings of unity, screen movies on how to watch football games. They even offer tips on how to "bring out the spirit in people who never...
...students are a publicist's--or an evangelist's--dream. What do they like about the camp? Unity, they cry, and spirit. "We're psyched, we're hyper, we're excited," says Heather Toomey. Everyone's so supportive, the girls chime, and everything's so positive, and it's all so inspirational. Coming to this camp from a rival establishment, says Kellie Rich, 15, is like going "from darkness to light." The inner cheerleader cannot help flowering. "We're pretty spirited," says Andrea Bergman. "We've just got trouble with our moves...
That community spirit is doubtless enhanced by U.S.A.'s democratic system of grading each crew in one of only three categories: Superior, Outstanding and Excellent. Nevertheless, the competition remains furious. Before breakfast and after nightfall, in spare classrooms, around parking lots, on tiny patches of grass, the squads work tirelessly on their slinking and slithering and over-the-shoulder glances. "Smile!" bark the captains, and smiles light up every single young face...