PIKE COUNTY, Pa. — The largest Universal Cheerleaders Association camp in the country, Pine Forest Cheer Camp, is located right here in Pike County.
Jerry Preschutti, a former football coach and his wife Kaki, a former cheerleader, came up with the idea for the camp back in 1970.
"In 1969, there was a woman at the pool there with our children, and she asked my wife about a cheerleading camp. We didn't know anything about it, but then she said, 'well what do you think?' I said, 'let's do it'. So, 1970 we started the camp, but she was the heart of it." said Preschutti.
His wife is the heart of the operation, and Jerry is the heart of the camp.
Especially so for these Valley View High School cheerleaders.
"Jerry will actually come to our practices at home in the morning, and he's just. He's such a great guy." said Gianna Salvatori, Valley View Cheer Captain.
"Always hyping us up. He comes to our games. He's such a sweet soul. And he's been doing this for years. His sons are running the other camps as well with him. I really think it's just a great thing. You grow as a person and a team." she added.
The family-run cheerleading camp is celebrating its 55th year.
Returning campers say it is more than just a place for them to practice.
"It's really close to my heart, and I just love being together with my friends and really experiencing not just the team, but like this is how we grow up." said Mandi Martin of West Scranton High School.
"This is how we become a leader outside of school. It's amazing. I hope it goes on for many years to come." she said.
This year the camp has over 600 cheerleaders from all over the country. One squad even made the trip all the way from Ireland.
"You actually can't put it into words like you can't, but once you get here everything is just 'woah' like you're just looking around going 'woah' all the time trying to take it all in, yea." said Pige Baseom, cheerleader for the Norther Ireland Jets.
"The atmosphere. It's just unbelievable like you can't match it. You just always want to come back." said Emily O'Connor, also of the Northern Ireland Jets.
Jerry hopes to keep the cheers going at Pine Forest Cheer camp for another 55 years.
"It's just traditions you know. There's a lot of coaches who are here who were kids, and they bring their kids back to camp. That's really the heart of the camp." he said.