Teaching methods and lessons are specific to each instructor, but the main focus is the same: present the chess material in a fun, exhilarating and entertaining way. All necessary equipment is provided. There are no expectations placed upon the campers, and the atmosphere is very relaxed.

A typical day in our chess program will include instruction, activities and, of course, an opportunity to try their new skills with an opponent.

For half day campers, the day consists of two classroom lessons lasting an hour each, with an hour break in between for practice and snack.

All-day campers follow the same schedule in the afternoon: an hour lesson with an hour break in between for practice and snack and then a final lesson.

Click here for all Chess camp options and locations.

Extended Care

Active Learning Services does not provide extended care. Our instructors try to arrive one half hour or more before the class day starts.  We do permit children to arrive early as long as our instructors are there.   Some host schools offer extended care as part of their summer programs. Parents should contact the host school directly to find out what programs are available.

Graduation Day

The final day of camp is Graduation Day. Parents have the opportunity to observe a lesson, or your child's computer program creation. Each camper is then called forward to receive a trophy and a certificate of achievement. Chess campers receive a chessboard and pieces and a folder full of work completed throughout the week. Computer enrichment campers will receive information on how to download their games and software from our website. Game creation and scratch animation campers are encouraged to bring a small flash drive so that they can save their game and have it immediately available when they get home from camp.

Ages

The USAChess chess camp is for chess campers of all abilities from 5-15.  In most camps we will have enough students for groupings by ability.  Thus, younger inexperienced chess players will be grouped together for chess lessons, practice and play.  Older children will learn more advanced lessons and concepts.  Video game creation and Scratch Animation cover ages 7 -16.

Food

Snacks and juice will be provided at the camp during snack time, however lunch is not. Campers are required to bring a complete lunch of their own if attending all day. Refrigeration of lunches will not be available. If your child has specific allergies you will be given the opportunity to describe these allergies in the forms emailed to you upon completion of registration. Since peanut allergies are wide-spread, we attempt to purchase snacks that do not contain nut products. However if your child has an extremely severe allergy of any kind, we recommend that they bring their own snacks to camp.