FAQ

Fill out this waiver form and bring a signed copy to camp with you, please.

Monday through Friday we follow the same routine so that campers and staffers can remain consistent and on schedule.

8:30 drop off opens and by 9 am we begin with team building activities that brings students of all ages together to showcase their unique talent and perspective. These team games are designed specifically for mixed ages, skills, and talents. We also play badminton, and ping pong.

10:00 break and snack time

10:30 - 12 FUNdations. Feats of dexterity and stretch for all ages. Fencing footwork and body movement, hand eye coordination drills, conditioning, strength building and flexibility. Fencing open play often with a 1- touch tourney that thrills and excites while teaching concentration.

12pm to 1:30 pm Out to lunch with an adult lead excursion into town to buy lunch or brown bag it. Students choose daily between taco, burgers, pizza, farmers market, hotdogs or even sushi. All students are supervised by adults unless parents write a permission letter allowing their tween/teen to go to lunch unsupervised. WE MUST have a letter on file (email not text).

1:30 Group chess lesson and play time

2:00 pm Archery, chess and fencing sessions running every 30 minutes to 4 pm. Students get to choose what they want to do more of. During this period students get to devote more time to something they are passionate about. Typically the instruction level and expectation is higher and more demanding for competitive results oriented players. Again, coaches will assess and meet campers where they are. Tournaments are also run in the afternoon on Thursday and Fridays.

4 pm Dismissal

5 pm to 7 pm Monday, Wednesday, Fridays only. Invitational competitive fencing evening program for students that want to explore fencing on a deeper more competitive level.

We have a mix of ages as you might expect. Historically, we have a good balance of kids in the following age classifications. I check the enrollments and notify parents if I see a gross imbalance that needs to be addressed. You can also contact us and ask about the makeup of the class from week to week.
6-8
9-10
11-12
13-14
15+ (includes CIT's)

Our summer staff includes:
Michael Martin - Director
Abe - Fencing Coach
Alberto - Fencing Coach
Anya - Fencing Coach
Nielsen - Chess Coach
Ryan - Assistant Coach
Simon - Archery Coach
Sydney - CIT
Elana - CIT
Fritzi - CIT

Yes, parents are welcome to visit and watch at anytime. You can also join us for lunch in town if you like as well.

We follow all CDC guidelines. Currently, mask optional.

Way of the Sword is unique and different culturally. From the very first day you will feel included and boosted by the coaches and staff but equally by the other campers with previous experience. We believe that a rising tide raises ALL ships and as such we are comfortable having new kids side by side with those with experience. The added value or a positive role model and leader serves for the new student to draft up quicker than being in a "self-contained" group.

Specifically, our onboarding process includes daily team building, mentoring and breakout groups to support new students in each of our disciplines.

Everyone should come prepared to participate in athletic activities. T- shirt, sneakers, shorts or light pants. Please no heavy sweats. Bring a reusable water bottle not plastic please. All specialized equipment is provided but if you own your own fencing, archery or chess sets bring that along if you like.

Pack snacks for break times, maybe a book or something to do if sitting and resting is required. Younger kids might want to also pack a blanket to nap on the bench or just to wrap themselves for comfort.

Pack lunch of bring money. See QA regarding lunch time

Every camper will receive their own dedicated cleaned uniform that no one will share. Chess and archery equipment is cleaned before and after every use.

We go out to eat on main street daily. All daily lunch time excursions are adult supervised and we cross the street like a train with a locomotive leading and a caboose taking up the rear.

Lunch time is a special experience where kids get to be a little autonomous and eat out at their favorite places. Kids choose from pizza, taco, sushi, or burgers. We will manage money in a zip lock bag for our youngest kids not ready to have cash in hand just yet. We also help kids learn about making change and being responsible with money as an added value.

Tweens/teens can go to lunch unsupervised provided we have a permission form on file to release them on their own. Once released we are no longer responsible nor can protect your child until they return back to the studio.
Parents must send me an email giving me permission to to release their child during lunch time breaks. No letter, no release.

Yes, we believe in the value of creating a positive and healthy competitive spirit be it team or individual. Being a competitive person, to us, simply means a willingness to be "measured" to accept the results and move on to the next challenge. Perseverance combined with doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong is at the very core of everything we do here.

If you are a competitive results oriented fencer there will be high level training offered every day of the week. Not everyone is cut out for this regime but it runs concurrent to our less demanding programs allowing some kids to bridge over. The entire program is designed to meet kids where they are and take them to the next personal level.

Yes, come and go as you please. Just let us know so we can dismiss your child properly.

A week of camp:
WAY members -$100

10% discount for teachers, first responders, military or
10% second child
20% third child

You can pay by Venmo, Zelle, or Credit Card sorry NO checks.

Venmo to Michael-Martin-1152 (pin 2427 if asked)

Zelle to. [email protected]

Credit Card (contact us to take your info over the phone or come in person). Call or text 1 203 914 2427

Yes, we have a half day option which cost $60.00.
9 to 12
12-1:30 lunch (join if you want)
1:30 to 4

We are highly specialized here. We cap attendance at 30 but historically our numbers are closer to 10 or 15 per week.
We keep kids seperated by age for safety and sanity except during chess playing times. Ages vary camp to camp 6 to 16. There are always teenage kids at every camp often doing double duty as campers and CIT.

If you write us a week before the camp we are happy to share with you the demographic breakdown so you know who is coming more or less.