OleChess!
Chess Camp at St. Olaf College
July 27–August 1, 2008
OleChess (pronounced "OH-lee Chess") offers a challenging week of instruction featuring some of the premier players and teachers in the world. Instruction is supplemented with activities designed to reinforce the new skills you learn and to provide ample opportunities for play. OleChess is for chess players of all strengths and levels of experience -- ages 9 to adult. If you want to improve your game, enjoy the company of fellow chess enthusiasts and learn from the masters, OleChess is perfect for you!
Chess Camp Instructional Staff
Each year, Kevin Bachler, OleChess Camp Director and FIDE Master, brings the best available masters. In the past, Kevin has secured the services of the following masters:
Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov (4th Ranked/US)
Yury Shulman (8th Ranked/US)
Grandmaster Igor Novikov (15th Ranked/US)
Grandmaster Sergey Kudrin (16th Ranked/US)
International Master Victor Adler
International Master Jon Schroer
National Master Victor Sherman
Expert Dr. Chris Merli
Other highly qualified instructors and counselors will be added to the camp roster to assure excellent player/instructor/counselor ratios.
Chess Camp Instructional Approach
Many of the instructors take an historical approach to teaching chess, so that campers come to understand chess in the same way that chess understanding has progressed generally. With this in mind, the games of American Paul Morphy from the 1860s are often used, as well as games of Germans Adolf Anderssen and Johannes Zukertort. The first world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, is studied as are Emmanuel Lasker, Jose Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine and other more recent world champions. Robert Fischer, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov are among the modern-era grandmasters used in class, depending on the level of class and the instructor.
Chess Camp Daily Schedule
After check-in, orientation and Sunday dinner, OleChess opens with a simultaneous exhibition pitting all campers against the instructional staff. On Monday through Thursday, campers begin each day with one round of a G/60 tournament in St. Olaf's beautiful Black and Gold ballroom. Campers then proceed to the first of three daily class sessions in which they are divided into groups of approximately ten members and assigned a supervising teacher who is responsible for tracking their progress throughout the week. A rotating instructional schedule allows campers to study with several teachers during the camp. After lunch, students attend two afternoon class sessions, followed by dinner and the evening's special activity. Thursday afternoon is devoted to the final round of the tournament. There is time for individual conferences Friday morning. Friday afternoon includes the closing ceremonies, during which trophies are awarded to winners in all competitions.
Evening Activities and Recreation
Monday features group sports such as soccer, kickball and swimming. Tuesday is "Blitz night" and Wednesday night includes a quick chess tournament and a simultaneous exhibition on the Internet Chess Club. Thursday evening's activity is Bughouse Mania. There will be a movie night and a camp fire event. Other events may be added as our schedule permits. The Intensive Study option includes special lectures and other events for the evening activities.
Intensive Study
This option is for players rated over 1700 or aged 17 and older and involves additional instructional periods, lectures and classroom rigor.
Residential Aspects
For both the regular option and the Intensive Study option, campers, instructors and the counseling staff live, eat, study and play together on the St. Olaf College campus in Minn. This wooded, hilltop campus in historic Northfield, Minn. provides facilities that rival or exceed those of any other camp.
Supervision
All participants under the age of 18 are supervised 24/7. Parents or guardians of young participants may elect to attend as an escort; an adult escort is required for campers 9 and younger.
Fees
| Resident tuition: received by April 1 | $550 |
| Resident tuition: received after April 1 | $625 |
| Resident tuition includes double-occupancy lodging, meals, instructional sessions, special activities and a camp shirt. | |
| Commuter tuition: received by April 1 | $450 |
| Commuter tuition: received after April 1 | $525 |
| Commuter tuition includes lunch and dinner, instructional sessions, special activities and a camp shirt. | |
| Escort Fee: | $175 |
| The escort fee is for non-participating adults who accompany a young participant. The escort shares a room with the camper. The fee includes meals and lodging. | |
Intensive Study Option (players rated over 1700 or aged 17 and older) |
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| ISO resident tuition: received by April 1 | $650 |
| ISO resident tuition: received after April 1 | $725 |
| ISO resident tuition includes double-occupancy lodging, meals, instructional sessions, additional evening sessions, all special activities and a camp shirt. | |
| ISO commuter tuition: received by April 1 | $550 |
| ISO commuter tuition: received after April 1 | $625 |
| ISO commuter tuition includes lunch and dinner, instructional sessions, additional evening sessions, all special activities and a camp shirt. | |
| Single occupancy residential option | $60 |
About the Location
St. Olaf College is located in historic Northfield, Minn., approximately 40 miles south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Arriving by Air
Campers arriving by air should fly into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport. St. Olaf provides a fee-based shuttle service to the airport. All out-of-state participants will receive information about this service when they register. Shuttle form.
Check-In and Check-Out
Check-in begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday and is followed by an orientation meeting at 4 p.m. Check-out occurs immediately following the closing ceremonies on Friday at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Registration
Register now with our secure on-line service. Or complete a printable registration form on your computer and send it in via mail or fax. Registrations are accepted until capacity has been reached.
For More Information |
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