Chess league to change summer camp to online access
MADISON – Madison City Chess League or MCCL again will host its summer chess camp, but the league has changed the 2020 camp to an online format.
“Registration is now open for the 2020 Online Summer Chess Camp for our competitive players,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said. School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic warranted the change to online sources. The camp will start on June 29 and continue through July 3.
The camp will focus on competitive chess players. “For those students wanting to learn how to play chess, MCCL recommends ChessKid.com, which offers video lessons on how pieces move and quizzes for kids to increase their chess level knowledge,” Bartlett said.
“CM Jonathan Rasberry, who also serves as ACF President, will be Summer Camp Director. Coach Jonathan has worked with our MCCL kids at numerous state and national tournaments, as well as previous summer chess camps,” Bartlett said.
Rasberry has invited several experienced adult players to help teach rotations for multiple levels of competitive players. These mentors are LM Scott Varagona, state chess champion for multiple years; CM Will Stevenson, former state chess champion and coach for Rainbow elementary; David Hayes, coach for Mill Creek and Heritage elementary; and Michael Guthrie, coach for Rainbow elementary and All Star Chess Club.
Camp classes are arranged according to the students’ peak USCF rating. “This is a camp for students who know how to play chess and want to improve competitive tournament play. Half-day and full-day options are available,” Bartlett said.
Morning camps will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Multiple instructors will instruct on strategies and plays for beginning, intermediate and intermediate/advanced levels of competition camps. Camp fee is $150.
Afternoon camp hours will be 1 to 4 p.m. Multiple instructors will train for both intermediate and intermediate/advanced competition camps. Varagona and Rasberry will explain advanced camp plays. Camp fee is $150.
The full-day camp hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Various instructors will train campers about intermediate and intermediate/advanced sessions. Camp fee with a lunch break option is $225.
For more information, visit madisonchess.com, click the “Events” dropdown menu and then click “Upcoming Events.” Scroll down and click “2020 Online Summer Chess Camp.”
