Knight Camp

A Summer Adventure for Kids 8 – 14!

Welcome to the only authentic knight school for youth (ages 9 – 14) in the USA where knightly martial arts and chivalric virtues are taught in an engaging and safe environment by trained instructors!

Camps take place at our beautiful 5,000 square foot facility in Chicago’s Ravenswood art district. We are within 1 blocks of the Brown Line and Metra Montrose Ave exit.

Daily Schedule

Camp runs from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, with before and after care available (8:30am for before care, 5pm for after care).

The two-week curriculum is focused on the skills of becoming of a knight – from the martial arts of the two-handed sword, staff and wrestling,  to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage and courtesy. However, Knight Camp is more than just another youth martial arts camp; instead we combine fitness and physical skills with lessons in medieval games, history, heraldry, arms and armour study and much more.

Each day of this unique program follows a set schedule:

9:30 – 10:00 AM: Chivalry

An introduction of one of the chivalric virtues, and how the students can apply them in their lives today.

10:00 – 10:30 AM: Warm-up and Exercise

A unique physical fitness warm-up, taught through games played by medieval children centuries ago!

10:30 – Noon: Knightly Arts, Part One

Students learn a variety of the martial skills that the knights of old had to know: Wrestling, swordplay, and quarterstaff.

Noon – 12:30 PM: Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 PM: The Lesson

A daily topic on one aspect medieval life, accompanied with show and tell or some sort of hands-on project.

1:30 – 3:00 PM: Knightly Martial Arts Part Two

A second martial arts lesson, building on the first, combined with controlled sparring (using padded weapons and protective equipment).

3:00 – 3: 30: Chivalric Circle

Students review the day’s lesson, explain what they learned and nominate one of their number for who best exemplified that day’s virtue.

Tournament-at-Arms

Finally, the last day of camp ends with a Tournament-at-Arms, where students will show off their skills in a special event that combines all they have learned: martial arts, heraldic display, good sportsmanship and chivalric behavior, and will choose a First-Amongst-Equals as the victor of the day. Of course, parents, friends, and family are welcome to attend the Tournament!

Before & After Care

To make things easier for parents, we offer before and after care services starting at 8:30am each morning and from 3:30 to 5:00pm each day. Kids are welcome to work on activities provided during the camp, play games we have on site, or bring their own activities from home. Although time is largely self-directed, there is full adult supervision, and we’ll make sure that after each day of camp, there is much to keep their minds occupied as there was their bodies!

Required Equipment

Every student will need the following for each day of the camp:

• Lunch, plus one or two snacks and a refillable water bottle
• Clothing comfortable for movement and physical activity: sweat pants, track pants, or shorts along with a t-shirt and an additional long-sleeved shirt for sparring
• Comfortable and flexible footwear, such as an indoor running shoe, with non-marking soles
• Leather or cotton gloves

The following equipment is required for sparring and certain sections of class. Without these items your child will not be allowed to fully participate in camp activities.

• Protective sport groin protection
• Elbow pads and knee pads (roller-blading pads are perfect)

Head protection, in the form of fencing masks, is provided by the studio, but students are free to bring their own fencing masks if they’ve got them.

Registration

No previous classes or training is necessary. Students need only register for the week in which they want to participate. Registration by phone  and in-person also available.

Registration Form

Please bring your kids in with filled-out forms to speed up the registration/drop-off process.

Program registration forms for Knight Camp are available here!

Special Needs & Medical Concerns?

If your child has any allergies or other special medical concerns, please let us know before the camp starts so that we can take whatever steps necessary to ensure a spectacular experience for all campers and parents!