To kick off the summer, we are starting with a BANG!
After drop-off, we begin the morning with the Circle of Doom, playing a few rounds each day and awarding prizes to the winners. After the morning games, we transition into a 45-minute class period, where students are placed in groups according to their skill levels. This is followed by a 15-minute snack break and another 45-minute chess lesson.
Following the morning lessons, we head outside for sports, breaking into age groups. And what a bang it was! Different games are available for each group, allowing kids to win points. The nail-biting dodgeball games keep everyone on the edge of their seats. The sports are amazing!
After a break for lunch, we dive into our tournaments. Each child is placed in a section appropriate for their level, giving them a chance to practice while coaches observe to identify areas for improvement.
After the tournament, the kids have several options: more chess, arts and crafts, music, puzzle-solving, and a simul.
On Friday, we have a Blitz and Bughouse tournament, the most epic chess event of the week. The focus is intense, and the tension is palpable. The tournament consists of five rounds, and every move counts toward the win.
Overall, the first week of chess camp is truly a week to remember! Three of our coaches would like to share their favorite moments from the week:
The campers really enjoyed playing board games after their tournament. We had some fun games like 4 player chess, backgammon, lionheart, and stratego, which the kids loved to learn and play. Yair didn’t lose a single round of lionheart the whole week. The campers learned how to play as a team in 4 player chess which was interesting to watch.
I remember on Friday when we had a competitive relay race in which our campers performed many fun activities in order to win prizes. All the campers had a great time competing in activities such as races, ball dribbling, dodgeball and more. Bowen, the team captain of the winning team, led his team to victory! Overall, everyone enjoyed the activities and are looking forward to next week.
During a tense dodgeball match, time was ticking down and one team was favored to win (due to having the most players on the field when time expired). However, when all hope was lost, just as time ran out, the last player left on the other team, Yair, threw a hail mary which knocked over the final cone. After a lengthy review, the coaches voted 3-2 that the throw was valid and Yair earned a dodgeball point and won the game for his team (due to the Cone Rule). This was one of the most exciting moments (among many) of camp last week.
Thank you to our coaches, admin, and campers for making our second week of camp, and our first week at Teaneck, a big success! We look forward to gaining momentum to make this camp unforgettable!
Seth Gluck
Jacob Rabinowitz
Yaakov Adatto
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