[imagefield_assist|fid=15367|preset=fullsize|title=GM Ben Finegold will lead a number of summer camps over the next few months at the Chess Club.|desc=|link=none|origsize=|align=center|width=655|height=372]
By Alex Vergilesov
The dog days of the scorching summer weather in Saint Louis are ideal for chess! It's cool inside the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL), and we're stepping up our summer programming to continue to spread the benefits of chess to as many student as possible.
A number of facilities across Saint Louis have signed up to provide extracurricular chess programs to their summer patrons, and the number of students participating in our summer programming has never been better. Programs from Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Saint Ann, Pagedale, and Saint Louis City all are in progress. In addition, summer camps at the CCSCSL will begin in July. (Click here to learn more about our Summer Camps!)
Rockwood School District has stepped up chess in the district this summer by providing enrichment chess lessons to their summer students. Kids participating in the Adventure Club at South Middle School, Crestview Middle School, Worther Elementary School and Uthoff Valley Elementary School have gotten a taste of chess and taken field trips to the CCSCSL and the World Chess Hall of Fame.
The chess programming at Kirkwood Public library, which signed up for chess last summer, has grew threefold in participation. Two classes a week serve more than 50 students at the facility. An advanced chess course was introduced this summer to accommodate the growing strength in Kirkwood’s scholastic chess scene.
Programs at Beyond Housing and the Youth Learning Center have also renewed this summer. Students at these facilities are learning chess through their summer curriculum programs, and will take field trips to the Central West End before the summer is over.
The Chess Club constantly works to introduce chess to more people in the Saint Louis area. The CCSCSL has participated at the Renaissance Faire, Webster Groves Art and Air Show, Marquette Park Father’s Day festival, and Pridefest this summer. For six consecutive weekends, the CCSCSL staff descended on Saint Louis, geared with life-sized chess pieces, chessboards, and hundreds of flyers to spread the word about our fantastic programming. The Chess Club continues to work with local organizations to provide chess at festivals and community gatherings.
Summer Camps at the CCSCSL will run from July 23 to August 10. Registrations for the two annual open camps have already surpassed previous numbers. Grandmaster Ben Finegold will direct the camps with the support of CCSCSL staff. Following two open summer camps, the CCSCSL will offer an invitational camp to Missouri’s finest junior chess players. Talk about fine Missouri chess players! Margaret Hua, and Kevin Cao will represent Missouri in this year’s Barber & Denker invitational tournaments. Kevin will also compete in the U.S. Junior Championship. Best wishes to Margaret and Kevin!
For more information regarding chess programming, summer camps, and general chess questions, call 314.361.CHESS (2437).
