OleChess Camp at St. Olaf College

July 21 – 26, 2013

OleChess – A Premier Chess Camp with Five Class Options – a class for everyone – young and old
Camp offers a week of quality instruction and chess-related activities featuring some of the world’s premier players and teachers. Chess players of all ages, abilities, and experience levels will enjoy a week filled with classes, demonstrations, lectures, tournaments, and games, games, and more games with fellow chess enthusiasts.

OleChess Class Options and Fees
Class fees include double-occupancy lodging, meals, instructional sessions, special activities and a camp shirt. Campers are assigned to classes based on several factors, primarily including the camper’s registered section, age, and rating/chess strength. If possible, the camp will provide a variety of primary instructors from year to year. Class assignment decisions rest with the camp staff. Scholarships are available for Minnesota students in need of financial assistance.

Chess Exploration: $640
For players of all ages and strengths. Campers are divided into classes of like ability and age. Campers 9 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult escort.

Intensive Study Youth: $765
For players under age 17 rated at least 1500. This option is for strong youth-only students who are more playful in their approach to chess growth. The option involves additional classroom rigor and an additional evening lecture after which students may join the evening camp activity.

Intensive Study: $765
For players rated above 1700 or at least 17 years of age. This option is intended for the serious adult students and involves additional instructional period, lectures, and greater classroom rigor. While Intensive Study will admit youthful students, this is on a select basis and requires a serious, mature student.

Chess Fundamentals: $765
For the novice to moderate strength adult interested in strengthening their chess knowledge for themselves or for the purpose of teaching others. This option includes take-away materials and a letter of recommendation for the USCF Certified Chess Coach Program. Stronger players should consider Intensive Study.

new Chesscorts: $50
For parents/guardians escorting their child to camp. This class will teach the basics of chess, chess notation, and chess tournaments so that parents can better share in their child’s chess experience. It will also include a “mini-tournament” among class members only so that parents can share in the tournament experience and learn from their own play. The class and tournament will be in the mornings-only and Chesscorts will be free the rest of the day.

Additional Events/Seminars:

OleChess Summer Tournament: Saturday, July 20, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Open to all campers. For more details click here.

Chess Basics Class (no fee): Sunday, July 21, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. This class will cover basics including notation, some arcane rules, and terminology, providing the less experienced player of any age an opportunity to refresh their knowledge of fundamental chess concepts.

Chess Camp Instructors
Each year, Kevin Bachler – OleChess Camp Director and FIDE Master – brings the best available masters to OleChess. Past camp instructors for include Grandmasters Gregory Kaidanov, Alex Onischuk, Yury Shulman, Greg Serper, and Alex Yermolinsky, WGM Camilla Baginskaite, and International Masters John Bartholomew, and Irina Krush.

Chess Camp Registration
Register now with our secure online form or complete a printable registration form on your computer and send it via mail or fax. Registrations are accepted until capacity has been reached.

For More Information
If you have questions about the camp or registration, contact St. Olaf Camps Office at (507) 786-3042 or (800) 726-6523 or by e-mail at summer@stolaf.edu. Contact Kevin Bachler, camp director, for questions about staff or instructional content at Kevin Bachler@cavemanchess.com.