Chess camps bring together young chess players to learn and play together and challenge each other to improve. Below, find kids’ camps that specialize in chess as well as those offering chess activities. Below the lists of camps, find more information about chess camps near you, benefits kids gain from chess, and more. Read more
Camps and programs listed below are focused mainly on chess play.
PROGRAM Chess Education Jul 06 - Aug 24, 2023
An introduction to the world's most famous strategy-building game. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Chess Jun 04 - Sep 01, 2023
Welcome to our Summer Break camp! The camp features a variety of sports and activity options to choose from. Visit website |
PROGRAM Chess Education Jul 04 - Aug 22, 2023
An introduction to the world's most famous strategy-building game. Visit website |
PROGRAM Chess Education Jul 07 - Aug 25, 2023
An introduction to the world's most famous strategy-building game. Visit website |
Camps and programs listed below will offer some chess as part of a broader schedule of activities.
DAY CAMP Harry Potter Jul 04 - Aug 25, 2023
Join us as we engage in magic, crafts and the storey of Harry Potter and wizards. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Debate Education Jul 16 - Jul 22, 2023
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Debate Education Jul 10 - Jul 14, 2023
Debate Camp empowers students by teaching the skills of effective communication and teamwork through debating. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Debate Education Jul 03 - Jul 14, 2023
Debate Camp empowers students by teaching the skills of effective communication and teamwork through debating. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Debate Education Jul 23 - Jul 29, 2023
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Technology Jul 10 - Jul 14, 2023
Improve abilities in a number of different games, while enjoying traditional camp activities. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Debate Education Aug 13 - Aug 19, 2023
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Sports Jul 02 - Aug 19, 2023
Kwasind is a Christian camp that is large enough to provide lots of program options and small enough that every kids is known Visit website |
VIRTUAL Math Dec 10, 2022 - Jun 24, 2023
For over 10 years Study circle is supporting the students, of Peel and Halton to excel and pursue their dreams. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Martial Arts Feb 17 - Jun 02, 2023
Participate in Muay Thai Training while also meeting new friends, and engaging in tons of fun games & educational activities! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
English, French, Math Music, Magic, Cooking, Science, Robotics, Soccer, Basketball, Drama, Dance, Art & more! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Sports Aug 20 - Aug 26, 2023
This is all about getting Teens together to celebrate the Summer with friends, faith and crazy adventures - NOT TO BE MISSED Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Jul 02 - Aug 26, 2023
Over the years, we’ve worked hard to develop an individual camper program. We make a separate daily schedule for each camper! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Sports Aug 08 - Aug 11, 2023
Choose your own fun stations and explore, learn, and make new friends! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Martial Arts Jul 03 - Sep 01, 2023
Daily Muay Thai Kickboxing lessons, educational games, crafts, and outdoor activities. With different themes every week! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Sports Aug 04 - Aug 07, 2023
Making for an affordable and memorable getaway with the family for the August long weekend - Enjoy the Best of Camp! Visit website |
DAY CAMP Traditional Education Jun 26 - Aug 25, 2023
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Jun 25 - Aug 19, 2023
Discover nature in a bilingual setting, where you choose your own activities! Create a schedule, try something new, explore! Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Traditional Jul 02 - Aug 20, 2023
Your camper deserves a summer of fun, friends and success! Learn how a summer at Camp Kodiak can change their life. Visit website |
OVERNIGHT Out-tripping Adventure Jul 30 - Aug 12, 2023
This is an adventure based experience that allows participants to build lasting friendship, face challenges & grow personally Visit website |
PROGRAM Academics/Tutoring Education Mar 03, 2023 - Jan 01, 2060
At Scholars Pickering, we provide highly effective tutoring programs that improve students’ self-esteem and grades! Visit website |
Participation in a chess camp offers a number of benefits for kids. These include the following:
It develops strategic thinking. Chess is all about planning and foresight, of course. Kids who develop their interest in chess early gain a leg up in this area. To win a chess match, you need to think several moves ahead. The more you play, the more strategic your thinking becomes. Kids learn to plan, to mental map, and to think through possibilities quicker, the more they apply themselves to chess play.
It increases concentration and memory. Studies show that kids who play chess regularly have significantly better visual memory and concentration. Chess play rewards focus.
Kids learn to take calculated risks. A study published in 2021 showed that kids who play chess regularly learned how to calculate risk and were less likely to be risk averse. In a typical game of chess there are sacrifices made, and kids learn to consider the net gain of moves. Kids with chess playing experience were able to evaluate risks more effectively. “The line between necessary calculated risk-taking and reckless behaviour is sometimes difficult to determine. Learning chess can help bridge that gap," said the study’s authors.
Kids develop logic, critical thinking, and creativity. Chess exercises both the right and left sides of the brain. In chess play, you consider the logic of every move and try to foresee an opponent’s counter-moves several steps in advance. Players must also use their imagination. Robert Ferguson of Pennsylvania’s American Chess School conducted a study comparing kids who play chess versus those who play video games. Chess players scored 13 percentage points higher in critical thinking and 35 percentage points higher in creative thinking.
It gets kids away from screens. Developing and nurturing kids’ interest in chess helps them stay away from phones, social media, and binge-watching. Screen time diminishes their ability to concentrate and has been shown to have detrimental effects on mental health. It’s also shown to contribute to obesity, low self esteem and can lead to poorer academic performance, among a host of other ills.
Kids improve social connections. Chess is an interactive game, and chess camps multiply this interactivity. Children develop their connection to others across the chess board, even as they compete. In a camp environment, they meet and play against other enthusiasts from their area, grow friendships, and deepen their enthusiasm for the game together. It’s a healthy way of competing and learning from each other.
Camp might seem like an easy decision, but it’s not. There are many types of camps—in fact, there are many types of computer programming camps! It’s best to get a sense of the landscape before you make your decision. A great place to start is the Our Kids camp expo, held each winter in Toronto. You’ll find many camps there, including computer programming camps, and you can speak with directors, staff, and campers. We also offer valuable information sessions at the expo.
For young chess aficionados whose first taste of camp is a chess camp like those above, other camps might develop chess skills and encourage related interests. Here are some suggestions:
Math camp can improve kids’ abstract thinking and introduce and improve some advanced mathematics skills.
Coding camp is an opportunity to develop programming skills and improve logic. While this learning might apply to improved chess play, on another hand, it’s also a means of applying some skills kids learn on the chess board and applying those to something eminently practical and potentially career-oriented (and lucrative!)
Other game-oriented camps include LEGO camp and Minecraft camp.
"Playing chess improves children's capacity to take calculated risks, study finds." ABC.net. Emma Siossian and Cameron Marshall
"7 benefits of chess for kids." Mybrainblox.com
How many Chess camps are there?
There are 4 programs specializing in Chess. In addition, there are 31 programs offering chess as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.
What are the fees to attend Chess camps?
Fees for Chess camps range from $65 to $763 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.
What age do Chess camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 6 through 18.
Where can parents meet with Chess camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.
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