Spring Break Chess Camp *K-8*

With the help of Chess Club coaches and staff, campers will

• Improve their chess fundamentals by practicing basic checkmate
  patterns, tactics like forks, pins, and skewers, and looking over games
  to learn from their mistakes

• Develop social and emotional skills such as critical thinking,
  navigating social situations, making and following-through on plans, and
  emotional regulation

• Build friendships through one of the oldest games

Camp structure varies depending on the age and skill of the campers, and typically

• Start at 9:30am and go to 3:30pm daily, with half-day options available
• Campers should pack a lunch, and light snacks will be provided
• Run for a week at a time in Mechanics' Institute Chess Club
• Maintain a 12:1 student-instructor ratio

Younger campers learn in a structured environment with activities and
lessons to develop their chess and social skills. Activities include

• Supervised play where students learn to ask other kids and even adults to play a game
• Lessons on famous games and basic tactics to help them identify and apply patterns to new situations
• Introduction to formal chess through the use of clocks and lessons on how to write down chess moves
• Worksheets, books, and puzzles and other co-operative chess activities
• Prizes for learning and not just winning