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Chess SUMMER CAMPS!

Find out why more than 90% of our 80 attendees came back the next summer, and why more than a dozen signed up for multiple weeks!  These camps are a TON of fun!  Our summer camps build chess skills first and foremost, it's true.  Camps focus on chess puzzles and tactics like forks, skewers, pins, discovered attacks, and defender removals.  But we do not do chess all day.  We do icebreakers and friend builder games, go outside for lunch, and have two recesses in the school gyms to run around!  We do that all while opening up the kids' eyes to a world of chess they might never have known existed with simuls, bughouse, Chess960, videos, and more!

All camps are principally taught by Coach Mike Chapuran ("Coach Chap"), who is Indiana's most prolific tournament director, coaches in eight school programs, and founded Indy Chess.  Coach Chap recruits coaches with 1800+ peak ratings to join him each week, so the students get instruction from some of the best players in the state!

DATES & LOCATIONS FOR SUMMER 2025

All camps are 9a-3:30p, Monday through Friday.

There is optional before care at 8a and after care till 5p.

June 2-6 @ St. Thomas Aquinas School (4600 N Illinois St., Indy, 46208)

June 9-13 @ St. Thomas Aquinas School

June 16-20 @ St. Monica School (6131 N Michigan Rd., Indy, 46228)

June 23-27 @ St. Barnabas School (8300 Rahke Rd, Indy, 46217)

[June 30-July 4: No Camps Offered]

July 7-11 @ St. Monica School

July 14-18 @ St. Monica School

July 21-25 @ St. Thomas School

July 28-August 1 @ St. Thomas School

Who should attend:

Camps are for kids entering 2nd to 8th grade (2025-26 school year).  Camps do not teach how the pieces move, so are not for brand new beginners.  Camps are also not designed for players rated over 1250. The typical student is someone who enjoys chess with friends or in a school club, that wants to grow and have fun playing chess with new friends.

Camps include the following:

  • Three lessons per day, including tactics, a master game review, and checkmating drills

  • Three recesses with games like Four Corners, Scatterball, Kickball, and Gaga

  • A presentation and simultaneous exhibition with a USCF expert or master, often a former state champion

  • An optional USCF-rated tournament on the last day of camp (fun casual tournament for those who opt out of the rated event)

  • Introduction and practice with chess clocks and notation

  • Differentiated learning with beginner and intermediate groups

  • Casual play time each day with classical chess, Chess960, and Bughouse

  • Special prizes on the last day of camp!

What to bring:

  • Lunch and water bottle

  • Sunscreen and hat for outside recess

  • AM snack and PM snack provided each day

  • All chess equipment provided

Cost & coupon codes to save money:

  • Super early bird price (before Feb. 15) is $255 for non-members/$245 for members of Indy Chess

  • Early bird price (2/15-3/31) is $265 for non-members and $255 for members

  • Regular price (4/1 till camp) is $275 for non-members and $265 for members

  • Before and/or AfterCare is $10/day and billed after camp based on usage (paylinks sent by email)

  • SIBLINGTWO for $25 off second student in household

  • SIBLINGTHREE for $50 off total if registering 3 kids in household (not combinable with SIBLINGTWO)

  • Join Indy Chess as a member to get the discounted member rate for all camps/events!

Scholarships:

Students in our school programs who are on public assistance (e.g., Medicaid, free/reduced lunch, SNAP, etc.) can email info@indychess to get a coupon code for 100% discounted tuition.  Scholarships are conditional on renewal of a grant from the Summer Youth Program Fund, to be announced in mid February 2025.  Last summer we had 10 scholarships available.

Become a member

Indy
Chess

info@indychess.org

PO Box 40663

Indianapolis, IN 46240

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©2023-2025 by Indianapolis Chess Club & Scholastic Center, Inc., dba Indy Chess

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