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About NCC

In 2006, Bruce Nashman (Director Emeritus of Camp Wahanowin) and Ted Winick (Founder and Emeritus

of Chess Institute of Canada), met to discuss the addition of chess to the programs offered at National Music Camp.  With only two Faculty and nine campers, National Chess Camp was born.  

 

Today National Chess Camp continues to thrive with outstanding faculty, fabulous facilities, creative programming and the opportunity for young chess players to flourish as budding Grandmasters while enjoying the finest camping available, and the added benefit of sharing the enriching experience of the musical environment through daily concerts provided by the finest musicians in Canada.

Chess Programming

Canada’s leading chess instructors offer campers a unique opportunity to make a remarkable leap in their chess level, in only one week. We will endeavour to present on a great range of topics appropriate to each student’s level, including strategy and tactics used by world champions, openings and endgames, dynamic versus static play, secrets of attack and defence, king storms and sacrifices, and much, much more.

 

Each student will be assessed and placed in the appropriate small group for chess instruction purposes. For tournament play all students will be included with opportunities provided for every student to play not only those at the same level but also more advanced players. Campers will not only advance their chess, but also learrn important life lessons like teamwork, sportsmanship, cooperation, and independence, improving their confidence and boosting their self-esteem in the process.  Every camper will learn and grow, with amazing results in just a few short days.

Facilities

 

National Chess Camp prides itself on the finest facilities and programming, ensuring the ultimate experience for every camper in our care. Featuring:

 

  • Spacious instruction rooms and tournament halls

  • Outdoor fields, courts, adventure and Aqua-Centres

  • Brand new, state-of-the-art theatre/concert hall

  • Scenic dining hall overlooking Lake Couchiching

  • Fully-equipped health centre, with Doctor and two health care staff

  • Camper cabins: built-in bunk beds, spacious, washrooms and showers, electricity

Recreational Activites

 

Rec Staff are staff hired by Camp Wahanowin (the host camp for NCC) to lead camp activities and evening programs. They are University and College students from around the world with expertise in waterfront, land sports, creative arts and adventure programs. Every day NCC campers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of camp activities, as well as a fun, exciting and innovative evening program.

 

Recreational activities include*:

  • Climbing wall

  • Trapeze

  • Tennis

  • Golf

  • Soccer

  • Basketball

  • Baseball

  • Hockey

  • Archery

  • Beach volleyball

  •  Swimming

  •  Inflatable water park

  •  Water slide

  •  Waterskiing

  •  Wakeboarding

  •  Canoeing

  •  Kayaking

  •  Stand-up paddleboards

  •  Ropes course

  • Arts & crafts

*equipment for all activities is provided

Food

 

We are our proud of our standard of excellence with food service.  Our kitchen staff work incredibly hard to maintain our reputation for fabulous food – and lots of it!  We can accommodate most dietary needs, and provide delicious and nutritious meals for campers and staff who are vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, kosher/halal or gluten-free*.
We are also a nut-safe camp and do not serve any products with peanuts or other nut-related ingredients.
*Additional fee approx. $60 per week for kosher/halal, gluten-free/celiac meals. 

              Typical Daily Schedule

 

8:00am                            Wake up

8:30                                 Breakfast

9:30-10:20                       Period A – Chess 

10:30-11:20                     Period B – Chess 

11:30-12:50pm               Period C – Recreation

1:00                                 Lunch 

2:30-3:20                         Period D – Chess 

3:30-4:20                         Period E – Chess 

4:30-5:50                         Period F – Recreation

6:00                                 Dinner

7:00                                 Faculty Concert

8:00                                 Evening Program 

9:15                                 Snack 

9:30                                 Bedtime

Location

 

National Chess Camp is just 90 minutes north of Toronto on beautiful Lake Couchiching.   Tucked in a quiet bay, the picturesque 120 acres of NMC includes rolling countryside, spacious open fields, tall forests and sandy shores making the ideal setting for learning, fun and friendships.

Using a GPS to locate National Chess Camp (Camp Wahanowin)?  We suggest that you do not use a GPS device to locate the National Chess Camp (Camp Wahanowin site) on Rama Road. Your GPS is handy when providing directions to Rama Road, but once you are on Rama Road please go by the street address to locate the Camp Wahanowin site – 6726 Rama Road (directly next door to YMCA Geneva Park).

 

Health Centre

 

 

Your child’s health is extremely important to us.  That is why we go to great lengths to provide excellent health care at camp:

 

 

  • Doctor on-site and on-call 24 hours per day

  • Two health care staff on-site 24 hours per day

  • Fully equipped health centre

  • All medications stored and dispensed in our health centre

  • AED on-site

  • Orillia’s Soldiers Memorial Hospital just 15 minutes from camp

Safety and Security

 

We are committed to providing a safe and secure camping environment for all campers in our care:

 

  • Four staff live in every camper cabin

  • All waterfront staff are certified lifeguards

  • Many staff are first aid and CPR certified

  • 24/7 supervision

  • Overnight security staff on duty

  • National Chess Camp is OCA accredited

  • Risk management of site, facilities and activity areas strictly enforced

  • Emergency procedures explained and practiced each session

  • First aid kits located throughout camp

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