Summer Chess Camp Information
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15th Annual Panda Chess Academy Summer Camps
June 10 - June 14: Intermediate-Advanced Sold Out (Waitlist Only)
June 17 - June 21: Intermediate-Advanced
July 8 - July 12: Intermediate-Advanced
July 15 - July 19: Intermediate-Advanced
July 22 - July 26: Beginner-Advanced
July 29 - August 2: Beginner-Advanced
Full Day: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Drop-off: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Early drop-off and late pick-up is available for $20 per day.
Please email [email protected] to make arrangements for early/late pick-up.
Location
Panda Chess Academy, 9900 Westpark #252 Houston, TX 77063.
Contact
Email [email protected] if you have any questions about camps.
Phone: Call or text Jeffrey Ashton at (281) 940-8199.
Head Instructor and Organizer
National Master Jeffrey Ashton: Full-time professional chess instructor, writer for ChessBase, owner of Panda Chess Academy, and organizer/head instructor of this chess camp for 15 years.
About the Camps
Chess camps are held at Panda Chess Academy, a full-time chess academy and tournament site for scholastic chess players (Kindergarten–12th grade students). We provide all chess equipment.
These camps are great for
- Experienced/potential tournament players
- Those who have had some chess instruction
- Those who enjoy an immersive chess experience (lots of chess instruction and practice!)
Practice
Students will play several practice games using United States Chess Federation rules with pairings created by chess tournament software. These games are unrated. Students will also have several opportunities to play against the teachers.
Worksheets and Notes
Students will be given a folder to organize their chess worksheets, class notes provided by the teacher, and notation sheets (recordings of games) for students to take home at the end of the week.
Notation
We ask, teach, and encourage students to write down their moves (this is known as notating or keeping score) so we can offer feedback. We offer prizes and recognition for writing down a minimum number of moves per game, depending on the student’s age. Students work as a team to notate a certain number of moves, and the class receives prizes (such as a special party scheduled during a snack break on Friday). Many students come here unable or uncomfortable with the idea of writing down chess moves, and by the end of the week love doing it.
Lecture
Chess openings, instructive chess games, and interesting puzzles from our lectures are provided on a website for students to review. This is very useful for a student who wishes to memorize an opening, or review anything they find interesting or useful.
Curriculum and Schedule Outline
At each camp we use new material so repeat campers will learn new things.
We use a very consistent and structured schedule that offers plenty of short breaks while minimizing distractions.
Morning Format: Lecture, snack break, lecture, play chess with feedback, then lunch/morning camper dismissal.
Afternoon Format: Lecture, snack break, chess puzzles or other activity, play chess with feedback, dismissal.
Topics and Activities
Visit for a very detailed list.
Other Activities
Group puzzle solving, playing against the teacher, tournaments, training games from specific endgames and middle games, guessing the move in famous games, and more.
Personalized Learning
We have traditionally offered small class sizes with great teacher to student ratios. Training games are observed so we can provide detailed feedback to the student. We advise students on how to play their opening, middlegame, and endgame better. Many students wish to learn new openings, and we provide detailed instruction and notes. Students are welcome to bring notated games played in tournaments or outside of camp.
Snacks, Drinks, and Lunch
We offer a large variety of snacks and bottled water. Students may also bring their own snacks and drinks.
Full day students are required to pack their own lunch.
Students may not bring any foods containing nuts.
About the Panda Chess Academy Summer Training Programs
The Panda Chess Academy has been in Houston for 16 years in the same location. This is our 15th year offering these camps. The Panda Chess Academy is a full-time scholastic chess school and tournament playing site. We are affiliated with the United States Chess Federation, hosting nearly 800 US Chess rated tournaments. Several students have competed in World Youth Championships, and many students have won National and State Championships.
Panda Chess Academy is in a newly renovated office building shared with respectable corporations. The building is air conditioned and cleaned daily by professional cleaning staff.
Student Conduct
Students are expected to be courteous and show great sportsmanship. Any rude behavior towards fellow students or staff will not be tolerated. We want students to be friendly and focused on chess. These camps are a great opportunity for chess players to learn and play a lot while making friends. We emphasize Focus, Safety, and Sportsmanship (these have been our core values since we opened).
Registration and Price
Camps are limited in size so please register early.
Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
$245
Full Day: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
$385
Sibling Discount
One child pays the full amount and additional siblings receive a $50 discount. This cannot be combined with the repeat camper discount. Only one discount may be used per camp.
Repeat Camper Discount
Campers who attend more than one camp receive a discount. After paying the regular price for the first camp, the camper receives a $50 discount on additional camps. The repeat camper discount may not be combined with the sibling discount. Repeat discounts do not carry over from previous years.
How To Register
Step 1. Fill out the online registration form located at: http://www.chessprep.com/form
Step 2. Make payment online with Chase QuickPay or PayPal (friend): [email protected]. Or pay with a credit card in our Online Store.
Please remember that space is limited and we admit students on a first come, first serve basis. Filling out our registration form and making payment is the only way to secure a spot.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].