Frequently Asked Questions

What are the camp's goals and philosophy?

The purpose of the Castle Chess Camp is to teach the art and science of chess to its students by providing them with expert instruction and to organize opportunities to hone their skills. The Castle Chess Camp is the oldest chess camp in the USA. Its quality and standards are unsurpassed.

How long have you been in existence?

The original Castle Camp in Bradford, Pennsylvania was founded in 1982. The Atlanta affiliate was created in 2001 with the same philosophy and goals, and in 2005, the two camps folded into one. This is the 26th anniversary of Castle Chess Camps!

Is this the right camp for my child (or for me)?

This is one of our most common questions, and it's an important one. Castle Camp is geared toward folks (of all ages) who are rated tournament players and who wish to improve their game.

The camp is fun, it's instructive, it's intense - and it's not for beginners. No, this is not an "elitist" camp. On the contrary, there will be several players there whose ratings are below 1200. But those who will enjoy the camp the most are those who love the game and who genuinely want to improve their play. If your child has recently learned to play or has never played in a tournament, this is probably not the camp for him or her. Because the camp is popular and because we want to be fair to our higher-rated players, we now have a minimum rating requirement of 900 USCF.

One last thought: If your child is younger than nine-years-old, please consider whether this camp, simply because of its length, may be a bit too intense. If after reading this, you are still unsure whether this is the right camp for your child, please call the camp director, David Woolf, at 404/634-2585.

What is the average playing strength of the campers?

The average rating of all campers in 2006 was 1425, an increase over the previous year. Of the 132 campers, 56 were rated 1500 or higher. (The highest rated camper we have had was rated 2240 USCF.) The camp is very strong.

Since the camp is popular, won't you continue to grow the program? Perhaps take more than 132 campers, or expand to an additional week?

No. And no. But thanks for asking.

We would like to skip the orientation on Sunday. Can we just show up on Monday morning?

The camp starts on SUNDAY! In addition to the orientation (which is important), this is when the campers meet their counselor and the other folks in their class. But most important, Sunday evening is when they get to know their primary instructor - this is when they play their instructor in a simul.

But my child is a commuter. Do we still need to go through Sunday check-in?

Yes.

My child would really like to attend, but her school is not out by the time your camp starts. Can you move the camp to later in the summer?

We are limited by Emory University as to when we can hold the camp. So far, their only opening has been the 2nd week of June, but it's possible that that could change. Also, we have to be careful to avoid conflicts (other camps and major tournaments) with our instructors, which increase dramatically later in the summer.

My child is in the camp. Do I need to register him/her for the Grand Prix?

NO! All campers are automatically registered for the Grand Prix. Please do not re-register for the tournament.

What kind of staff training is provided?

Our staff attends a specially designed orientation program prior to the camp. Our instructors and support staff are friendly and care about the campers' needs. Our instructors are chess masters, who have had many years of experience teaching chess. Most of the counselors are also experienced chess players. The counselors are responsible for caring for the campers throughout the day, living with them in the dorms, accompanying them to class, etc.

What facilities does the camp have and how convenient are they for campers to get to?

The Atlanta Castle Chess Camp's facilities are very impressive. Our camp is held on a modern university campus, which provides a wide variety of amenities. Check out the information about our location.

The campers do a fair amount of walking. It's a good walk from the camp headquarters (Hopkins dorm complex) to the other facilities and to the Rec Center. But hey, walking is good, right? (Note that younger kids are always accompanied by an adult. They cannot wander around the campus on their own.)

What are the sleeping arrangements and what toilet and shower facilities exist?

Kids sleep two to a room in a traditional college dorm. There is one "community" hall bathroom with showers and toilets. Girls/Women are on a separate hall and have separate bathroom facilities.

I'm an adult. Will I be the only adult there if I decide to come?

No, but you will be in the minority. Typically, we have 6 to 10 adults sign up for camp. Just be sure your self-esteem is not totally wrapped up in the game of chess - the kids at our camp are tough competitors and will take no mercy on you over the board.

What is the percentage of returning campers?

Typically 65+%.

What is the percentage of commuters?

About 25%.

What are the hours? How about free time?

Camp starts at 8:30AM and goes until around 9:00 PM (9:30 at the latest). See the activities page for a typical daily schedule. The only real free time is during the evening, if they choose not to participate in the evening activity. For most kids, this means there is not a lot of free time. Yes, they will come home tired at the end of the week.

Does my (commuting) child have to stay until 9:30 every night?

No. The only "required" evening activity is Sunday night when the campers play their primary instructors. This is a very important evaluation time. The other evening activities are optional. We leave it to commuting parents to determine whether sleep is more important than a particular evening's activity.

So do I need to worry about my child getting enough sleep?

Lights-out is strictly enforced every night for every camper under age 18. We're not very flexible on this.

Does my child have to attend recreation every day?

Unless there is a prevailing physical reason for your child not to participate in rec time, we would like him/her to be there. Other than meals, the rec period is the only time when kids are not immersed in chess. We like for them to have this break and most parents do, too.

What is the adult/child ratio?

We have 14 instructors, 12 counselors, and a camp director and assistant director: 28 adults for 120 kids. The ratio approximately 1:4. In addition, there are usually parent volunteers around who reduce that ratio even more.

The classes have 11-12 students each. Each class has at least two adults: the instructor and a counselor.

Will my kids be safe at Emory?

Yes. The campers are under direct adult supervision by our staff at all times. In addition, there is a 24-hour police department that we can contact via radio at any point, as well as patrol cars which monitor the campus. The police are well-aware of our camp and will not hesitate to stop and question folks who look like they are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In addition, children age 14 and under are not allowed to walk around the campus by themselves. And there is an extensive "check-in" system for campers which is utilized throughout the day.

What is the policy about food packages, letters home, TV, trips to town, etc.?

Letters to and from campers are handled on a daily basis. (The address is provided on your camp information form.) Television viewing is very limited and is only allowed certain hours of the day. Students under age 18 are not allowed to go off campus without an adult unless we have written parental permission.

How are campers assigned to classes?

This question, and the two that follow it, come up a lot with parents.

1. We group campers by their latest rating - official or unofficial, whichever is higher. We do not penalize anyone whose rating has gone down recently - we take the highest rating from the last six months. We check this rating online within a week before camp.

2. Almost all of the kids in a given class are better than their rating. This is probably true of 80+% of the entire camp. So an individual's actual rating becomes a bit less meaningful.

3. The class one level above - and often even two levels above - is not significantly different in playing ability.

What's the difference between the official and the unofficial ratings?.

This can be confusing. Official ratings, the rating published in the USCF Supplements are what are used to pair a player in any tournament he plays in until the next official supplement. The "unofficial" rating on the USCF website is for your information only, to give you an idea of how he's doing between rating supplements. The unofficial rating will change after each tournament, depending on how he does. But the only rating that counts is the latest official rating. Be careful; watching the unofficial rating too much is like going on a diet and weighing yourself twice a day.

Incidentally, the best advice we've heard, and we've heard it from many coaches, is to just concentrate on your games, one game at a time, and learn to play good solid chess. If you do, your rating will take care of itself. Good advice, but sometimes hard to follow.

Can my child be moved to a different class?

Usually, this translates to: Can my child be moved up to a higher level? The answer is, certainly. By the end of the first day, the instructors have a very good handle on the playing level of each person in their primary class. They are sensitive to the possibility of an individual's needing to be in another class.

BUT: In reality, this rarely happens. The instructors know when one of their students is significantly more advanced than the others in the class, and we rely on their input in these situations. Also, the instructors have a daily staff meeting, and this is one of the topics of discussion. We find that kids are usually right where they need to be.

Remember: ALL of our instructors have a tremendous amount to offer the kids. This is the bottom line.

How does the camp program meet individual needs and differences?

Students are encouraged to bring game scores to camp with them to allow the instructors to maximize and personalize the educational experience at the camp. A self-assessment is also available to assist in meeting individual needs. Average class size is 11-12 students to help provide greater personalization of the program. Students are also encouraged to ask for any special help they need. There will be someone (or many someones) there who can help them.