For the past 14 years, PALS Super-Fun Chess Summer Camps have been the gold standard in interactive, chess-immersive summer camps! With separate sections in each camp for beginners, intermediate and advanced chess players, any child will be able to enjoy these camps while taking their chess to the next level!
The individual camp curriculum was written and developed by 16-time Colorado State Chess Champions and National Chess Masters, Griffin and Sullivan McConnell. One of these National Masters will also be the head coach and instructor at all of our camps!
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Our camps are special because they include:
Chess Team Relay Races
Teams of campers must solve chess puzzles and then carry the chess board with each team member holding one corner of the board, to another table without dropping any pieces…all while racing other teams of campers to see who can solve the most puzzles!
Chess Coach Target Practice
Campers get to shoot Nerf guns at their coaches (who will be wearing special clothing with velcro chess piece shapes sewn on). The Nerf bullets have velcro attached and the bullets stick to the chess piece figure!
Blindfold Chess
Campers are blindfolded and must use an actual chess set for the blind to make their moves!
Analysis Paralysis
Teams of campers must analyze multiple positions on chess boards and determine whether white or black is better and if they get it wrong, the entire team must freeze in place for 30 seconds. They do all of this while racing the other teams of campers to see who can answer the most puzzles in the shortest amount of time!
And So Much More!
SUMMER CAMP OFFERINGS
PALS Summer Chess Camp
Central Christian Church - 3690 Cherry Creek South Drive, Denver, CO 80209
- June 16- 20, 2025
- June 23-27, 2025
- July 7-11, 2025
- July 21-25, 2025
PALS STEM Highlands Ranch Summer Chess Camp
STEM School Highlands Ranch - 8773 S Ridgeline Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
- June 23-25, 2025
PALS Rocky Mountain All Girls Chess Camp
Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center, 7675 E Union Ave, Denver, CO 80237
- July 21-25, 2025
All campers compete for “Camp Cash” each day by answering questions, participating in discussions and showing good sportsmanship. This cash is kept for each camper in envelopes and they get to spend this "Camp Cash” at an incredibly silly auction on the last day of camp. Parents are invited to come to the auction and watch their kiddos bid on fun chess stuff and other goodies like footballs, science kits, cups of chocolate etc.
PALS Super-Fun Chess Summer Camps are the perfect fit for the young chess enthusiast from ages 5 to 15 and will be the most fun your child has ever had playing and learning about chess!
REGISTER TODAY!
Receive 10% off summer camps with code JV6ZRX5F
Last Chance Deadline is May 1st!
Meet the McConnell Family, PALS' New Owners
Kevin, Kori, Griffin, Sullivan and Moira (the McConnell family) are super excited to be the new owners of PALS Chess Academy! Chess has been a huge part of our family’s life for the past 13 years and we are deeply honored to share our passion for chess education. For the past 10 years, PALS has been the premier organization for before and after-school chess clubs, scholastic chess tournaments and quality group and private chess lessons. Coach Lior Lapid (PALS founder) was a critical part of Sullivan and Griffin’s chess journey to becoming National Masters. The boys now hold 16 Colorado State chess championship titles between them. Griffin started the non-profit “ChessAbilities Inc.” two years ago and held the first “North American Chess Camp for Children with Disabilities”. Our family is dedicated to growing PALS and we will work tirelessly to inspire life-long chess players!
Connect with PALS Chess Academy via website, Facebook, and Instagram.
