Forteza “KnightCamp” on WGN Around Town
KnightCamp 2021: Tales of Robin Hood has been off to a great start, and today Ana Belaval and the Around Town crew popped in for a visit!
KnightCamp 2021: Tales of Robin Hood has been off to a great start, and today Ana Belaval and the Around Town crew popped in for a visit!
A UNIQUE SUMMER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUR CHILD’S MIND AND BODY, INSTILL SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND PROMOTE TEAMWORK.
Session I: July 12 to July 23
Session II: July 26 – August 6
Teen Session: Aug 9 – Aug 20
Welcome
To an authentic “knight school” for youth (ages 8 – 12) where medieval 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 one block of the Brown Line and Montrose Ave exit for the Metra.
Program
Our unique, two-week camp combines physical fitness training and swordplay and authentic medieval games, lessons on heraldry, arms and armour and medieval life. This year our theme is “The Legend of Robin Hood” and will add archery and quarterstaff to the mix!
Campers will design their heraldry, paint a shield and have that and their own sword to keep!
Underlying all of those activities is a daily lesson on the knightly Code of Chivalry and how the virtues it espouses — Prowess, Courage, Humility, Courtesy, Largesse (Generosity), Mercy and Temperance (Balance) — are relevant to living life today!
Daily Schedule
09:00 – 9:30 AM CHIVALRIC CIRCLE
An introduction of one of the seven chivalric virtues and how the students can apply them in their lives today.
9:30 – 10:00 AM: WARM-UPs & EXERCISE
A unique physical fitness warm-up, taught through games played by medieval children centuries ago!
10:00 – 10:30 AM: SWORDPLAY
Students learn a variety of the martial skills that the knights of old had to know: sword & shield, two-handed sword, and quarterstaff.
11:00 – NOON: ARCHERY
NOON – 12:30 PM: LUNCH
12:30 – 1:30 PM: MEDIEVAL LIFE
A daily topic on one aspect Medieval life, accompanied with show and tell or some sort of hands-on project or medieval game.
1:30 -3:000 PM: SWORDPLAY, PART II
A second martial arts lesson, building on the first, combined with controlled sparring (using padded weapons and protective equipment).
3:00 – 3:30 PM: THE LESSON
Students review the day’s lesson, explain what they learned and nominate one of their number for who best exemplified that day’s virtue.
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 is their bodies!
Everyone’s safety as the pandemic winds down is our first concern. We are devising the camp to combine outdoor and indoor activities, with masks and extensive cleaning protocols. We are happy to share our COVID Preparedness document with parents and answer any questions.
A key part of keeping camp safe is keeping it to small groups (no more than a dozen), so registration is limited.
Spaces are limited, so choose the options that work best for you and JOIN NOW!
Welcome to the only authentic knight school for youth (ages 8 – 14) in the USA where knightly martial arts and chivalric virtues are taught in an engaging and safe environment by trained instructors.
More than just another martial arts class, our summer camp follows the same guiding principle as our popular Youth Swordplay Program: developing life skills and ethical, self-confident young men and women, through the traditional, chivalric virtues of the medieval knight. Classes interweave physical training with teamwork exercises, lessons on medieval and Renaissance military history, heraldry and arms and armour to hone students’ minds as surely as their bodies.
Camps take place at our beautiful 5,000 square foot facility in Chicago’s Ravenswood art district. We are within one block of the Brown Line and Montrose Ave exit for the Metra.
Our unique, two-week camp combines physical fitness training and swordplay and authentic medieval games, lessons on heraldry, arms and armour and castle life. Underlying all of those activities is a daily lesson on the knightly Code of Chivalry and how the virtues it espouses — Prowess, Courage, Humility, Courtesy, Largesse (Generosity), Mercy and Temperance (Balance) — are relevant to living life today!
9:30 – 10 AM Chivalry
An introduction of one of the seven chivalric virtues and how the students can apply them in their lives today.
10 – 10:30 AM Warm-Ups
A unique physical fitness warm-up, taught through games played by medieval children centuries ago!
10:30 – Noon: Knightly Arts, Part I
Students learn a variety of the martial skills that the knights of old had to know: Wrestling, swordplay, and quarterstaff.
Noon – 12:30: Lunch
12:30 – 1:30: 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 Arts Part II
A second martial arts lesson, building on the first, combined with controlled sparring (using padded weapons and protective equipment).
3:00 – 3:30 PM: 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.
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 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!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 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!
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 is their bodies!
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 ensure a special experience for all campers and parents.
We are pleased to present what we believe to be Chicagoland’s most unique and holistic youth summer martial arts program. Please contact us with any questions or better yet, sign your son or daughter up today!
Summer 2017 Dates
Session One: June 26 – 30
Session Two: July 10 – 14
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.
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