2025 Chess Summer Camps
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, educational organization committed to making chess an integral part of our community. Chess is a valuable educational tool that helps teach important lessons including problem solving, critical thinking, sportsmanship, patience and goal setting — plus, it is fun!
Summer Camp Dates (Links to register for each of the following weeks)
2025 Summer Camps will be held June – August, specific dates coming soon!
Note: Registration will close at 9 p.m. the preceding Monday of each camp.
Chess Summer Camps are the perfect way to introduce the game of chess to new students, deepen understanding of the game for established players, or offer intensive instruction for aspiring chess masters. Grandmaster instructors provide daily lessons, puzzles, and play to help guide students through each session.
Instruction offers a solid basic foundation, emphasizing the fundamental skills needed to begin a lifetime of learning in chess, including:
- Proper piece and board set-up
- Algebraic Notation (Chess Language)
- Basic Principles of Play
Grandmasters then provide expert instruction building on these skills and covering more advanced ideas, including:
- Tactics
- Strategy
- Middlegame Planning
- Endgame Technique
Each camp provides opportunities to practice these skills in a variety of activities and workshops with classmates under the observation of a Grandmaster and experienced Chess Instructors from the Chess Club.
** If you are a scout in Scouts BSA, you can earn your Chess Merit Badge through one of our week-long summer camps. Let your camp councilors know on your first day of camp that you want to work on this during the session.
Typical Day
| 8:45 – 9am | Arrival |
| 9:15 – 10am | Chess Lesson #1 and Play |
| 10 – 10:15am | Snack (provided by Chess Club) |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | Free Play |
| 10:45 – 12pm | Organized Event (Tournament, Game Analysis, Slow Game, Bughouse, Puzzle Contest, etc) |
| 12 – 12:15pm | Departure for AM Students |
| 12 – 1pm | Lunch and Free Play |
| 12:45 – 1pm | Arrival for PM Students |
| 1 – 2pm | Chess Lesson #2 and Play |
| 2 – 2:15pm | Snack (Provided by Chess Club) |
| 2:15 – 2:45pm | Free Play |
| 2:45 – 4pm | Organized Event |
| 4 – 4:15pm | Departure |
Times
- Full day: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
- AM only: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Weekly Fees
- Full day: $475.00
- AM Half day: $280.00
Ages
6-14
Food
The Saint Louis Chess Club will provide light snacks (including beverage) during scheduled snack times. Students should bring their own sack lunch.
Small Print
A full refund, minus a $50 service fee, is provided for all cancellation requests received 30 days prior to camp start date. No refunds are provided if the cancellation is not received 30 days prior to camp start date without a doctor’s note or extenuating circumstances. It is possible to switch camp sessions prior to the beginning of any camp session, with a $75 change fee per student.
Campers may be dropped off 8:45 a.m. at earliest. All campers must be picked up by 4:15 p.m. A fee will be charged for all campers picked up late. AM Campers should be picked up between 12 p.m. and 12:15 p.m., PM campers should be dropped off between 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m.
FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]
Photos may be taken at these camps by a STLCC photographer and used for marketing purposes.
