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, the benefits kids gain from chess, and more. Read more
Camps and programs listed below are focused mainly on chess play.
Jul 15 - Jul 19, 2024
Teaches campers of all levels about different styles of play in chess, while also enjoying some of the best strategy games. Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 02, 2024
Working with skilled staff and a Chess Master, campers learn to “see” the chessboard as tournament professionals do Visit website |
Jul 08 - Aug 09, 2024
campers learn to “see” the chessboard just as the tournament professionals do. Visit website |
Other results on this page:
Camps and programs listed below will offer some chess as part of a broader schedule of activities.
Other results on this page:
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jun 17 - Aug 30, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 01 - Aug 23, 2024
Experience leadership workshops, develop hands-on skills and organize camp-wide events! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 01 - Aug 23, 2024
Our CIT Program is geared towards our oldest campers (grade 9) who are interested in taking on a leadership role at camp. Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 02, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 30, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Aug 19 - Aug 30, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 23, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 30, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 23, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 30, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
With countless activities for children (4-12) and LIT programs for teens (13-16), there’s something for everyone! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Jul 26, 2024
Our summer camp incorporates an exciting array of activities, sports, arts & crafts, science & technology and learning! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 09, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jul 29 - Aug 02, 2024
Debate Camp empowers students by teaching the skills of effective communication and teamwork through debating. Visit website |
Aug 02 - Aug 05, 2024
Making for an affordable and memorable getaway with the family for the August long weekend - Enjoy the Best of Camp! Visit website |
Aug 12 - Aug 16, 2024
Our camps include Taekwondo lessons and tons of fun activities! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 09, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Aug 05 - Aug 09, 2024
Our camps include tons of fun activities and instructed Taekwondo lessons! Visit website |
Jul 08 - Aug 30, 2024
Experience leadership skill development through hiking, storytelling, fire-building, play, volunteer hours and reflection. Visit website |
Jun 30 - Aug 18, 2024
Your camper deserves a summer of fun, friends and success! Learn how a summer at Camp Kodiak can change their life. Visit website |
Jul 28 - Aug 03, 2024
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 23, 2024
UC Adventure camp offers a wide variety of exciting experiences for day campers ages 7-13. Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 15, 2024
We provide enrichment opportunities to generate valuable learning & skill development in an exciting & inclusive environment. Visit website |
Jun 30 - Aug 17, 2024
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 |
Jul 08 - Aug 30, 2024
Our summer camp is filled with tons and fun and weekly field trips! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Aug 26 - Aug 30, 2024
Our camps are filled with tons of fun activities and Taekwondo lessons! Visit website |
Jul 22 - Jul 26, 2024
Our camps are filled with tons of fun activities, excursions and Taekwondo lessons! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Aug 18 - Aug 24, 2024
This is all about getting Teens together to celebrate the Summer with friends, faith and crazy adventures - NOT TO BE MISSED Visit website |
Jun 30 - Jul 28, 2024
Choice of English, maths, sciences, social studies, economics & arts. Or choose a career Pathway. Visit website |
Jul 29 - Aug 02, 2024
Our camps our filled with tons of fun activities, excursions and Taekwondo! Visit website |
Jul 02, 2024 - Jan 03, 2025
Don't let the summer slide happen to your child! At Three R's, our camp reinforces previous learning while having fun! Visit website |
Aug 19 - Aug 23, 2024
Our camps include Taekwondo lessons and tons of other fun planned activities! Visit website |
Aug 18 - Aug 24, 2024
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
Jul 02 - Aug 15, 2024
We provide enrichment opportunities to generate valuable learning & skill development in an exciting & inclusive environment. Visit website |
Jul 28 - Aug 10, 2024
This is an adventure based experience that allows participants to build lasting friendship, face challenges & grow personally Visit website |
Jul 15 - Jul 19, 2024
Our summer camps are filled with fun Taekwondo classes and so much more to keep your energetic young one busy! Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 09, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jul 08 - Jul 19, 2024
Debate Camp empowers students by teaching the skills of effective communication and teamwork through debating. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 09, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 16, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 02, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jun 24 - Aug 09, 2024
Laurus Summer Camp has been the leading academic camp that provides a fun and safe environment to children aged 3-15. Visit website |
Jul 08 - Jul 12, 2024
This week we'll be going to the SCIENCE CENTER! Visit website |
Jul 07 - Aug 18, 2024
Where Learning Meets Adventure: Academic Camp, Bristol – Unleash Your Potential! Visit website |
Jul 21 - Aug 04, 2024
Choice of academic camps, exciting trips & on-campus activities Visit website |
Jul 15 - Aug 23, 2024
Hiking, play, shelter-building, storytelling and art! This active outdoor program offers space to be creative. Visit website |
Jul 14 - Jul 20, 2024
Our signature overnight program has been bringing debate campers together since 2002. It is the highlight of our summer! Visit website |
We list chess camps in cities across the country. Find your city below, and find a chess camp near you
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 3 programs specializing in Chess. In addition, there are 65 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 $325 to $545 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 8 through 13.
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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