Summer Camps

[Shayna'sMom]

Hello -

My DD, age 11, is rather "new" to fencing. She did about 1 year of recreational fencing (1x/week - 30 min). For the last six months, she has been in a competetive program (2x/week - 2 hours/day). She is also practicing at home. She has just started going to RYCs.

Her "holiday wish" was to go to a fencing camp. She has previous experience at sleep away camps from age 9 and 10 (4 and then 8 weeks away from home) so being away doesn't effect her.

She would like to go somewhere where she could receive good training, experience and meet other young female fencers. She would also like somewhere with a "routine" (her words) where "camp" is a little more than "Just fencing". (after all she is 11 years old)

I would like somewhere in the Northeast or Mid Atlantic.

Are there any suggestions with pros/cons ?
Is camp really worth the money ?

Thanks for all suggestions !
Shayna's Mom

[rustica]

Which weapon?

I have to say, with my kids at least, the camps were well worth the money. As the older children became, well, older, the camps became a chore and a grind. They just weren't as fun. But at 11? Perfect age. Up to about 15 years old worked for us.

Sorry, can't tell you a thing about mid-atlantic or eastern camps. Stanford, NWFC and OFA camps, on the other hand.....

[Fencing Mom]

Penn State should meet all her requirements.

[Shayna'sMom]

We were thinking of Penn State. DD fences foil.

My DD is very curious what a day there is like during camp. Obviously, she is going for the fencing - but keeps asking "do we do anything else". Do they have a daily activity (can be physical) besides fencing ? How is the day organized ?

Also - from a mom's perspective - what are sleeping arrangements / counselor arrangements like ?

I think (if I remember correctly) it is a five day camp experience - right ? Should she go for 2 sessions ? Is one session enough ?

She has gone away to camp in the past for 4 weeks (age 9) and 8 weeks (age 10). Going away for her is NOT a problem.

She is also curious what the age population is like ?

Thanks !
Shayna's Mom

[Cookeit]

I would contact the people at the camp...

[Shayna'sMom]

Hello again -
Yes, I have contacted the summer camps - however - I was hoping for a personal opinion from a parent of a child who has attended.

Besides Penn State, I found Brandies, Brown and Princeton that all offer similiar programs to Penn State.

If your child has attended any of these on the East Coast - and you can offer feedback and/or opinions - that would be fabulous !

Thanks again,
Shayna's mom

[brtech]

I've sent three kids to Penn State's camp. It's great, sounds perfect for your DD. My youngest outgrew it after 3 years. Skill wise, it's entry to advanced youth, but not real competitive fencer (points list) territory. If you need one of them, try Mr Ma's camps.

What's a day like? Maybe I'll get my D to write a more detailed answer but it's something like drills in the am, bouting in the PM, and enough time between them for the pool, and visiting the Creamery ice cream shop. Food is what you expect, dorms are just what you expect . All kids had lots of FUN, which is a good thing, and advanced their fencing. The instructors are great, all of them still say "hi" to my D at NACs.

Dorms are the real dorms in Penn State. It's usually coed by building. Two kids to a room. Counselor per floor, maybe 20-30 campers per floor. All the fencers are on the same floors (there are a LOT of camps going on at the same time). It's a couple block walk from the dorms to the fencing room. It's a few hundred yards to the dining hall. Security is pretty good, but the kids wander the campus at will. Bring a FAN for the windows; no A/C.

Ages ranged from 10 to maybe 15 or 16. I think one session is enough.

If you go, stop at Clem's BBQ on the way there and the way back -- yum!

[oiuyt]

Besides Penn State, I found Brandies, Brown and Princeton that all offer similiar programs to Penn State.

As do Penn, UNC, Cornell, probably a bunch more college-based programs, and loads of USFA clubs.

The USFA usually starts listing summer camps in the spring, including both on their website and in American Fencing.

-B

[Fencing Mom]

Ditto to everything BRtech said. Penn State is a good first fencing camp - real fencing instruction, but not so competitive as to be intimidating.

And for preteens and young teenagers, it appears to be great fun. It is Happy Valley, after all.

[journalmom]

Does going to the college summer camp good for getting to know the college coaches for the future admission to that college? Or should a fencer go to a club's camp? What's your opinion?

[oiuyt]

Does going to the college summer camp good for getting to know the college coaches for the future admission to that college? Or should a fencer go to a club's camp? What's your opinion?

Going to a college's camp will generally serve that purpose, as well as allow the fencer to get acquianted with the campus and environs (albeit in a different mode than during the semester).

It can also serve as an introduction to collegiate coaches from other schools as well, as many of the coaches bounce around to various camps.

-B

*Note: Temple doesn't host a fencing camp*

[Fencing Mom]

Does going to the college summer camp good for getting to know the college coaches for the future admission to that college? Or should a fencer go to a club's camp? What's your opinion?

The majority of young fencers from Western PA sooner or later go to Penn State for a fencing camp. They also compete in Penn State’s junior tournament and open held in the fall and any Mid-Atlantic sectional tournaments scheduled for Penn State. I’ve seen the coaches, particularly Wes Glon, offer a friendly Hi-how’d-you-do? to W. PA fencers at national tournaments – including newbies attending their first JO’s. By the time fencers are juniors-seniors in high school the coaches know them.

Does it help W. PA fencers get on the Penn State fencing team? Can’t say for sure, after all I'm a mom and not a coach, but if the kids are good fencers, it may help. There are usually one or two W. PA kids on the Penn State team – not necessarily starters, no athletic scholarships, and recently none has made it to NCAA’s. Still, the kids are practicing with the team and attending and competing in many of the tournaments.

My opinion and observation is that the fencers at the top of the cadet-jr. point lists don’t have to worry about this. Coaches know who they are. But good fencers who are working their way up, those who get points at some but not all national tournaments – those are the kids who might want to make themselves known to the elite fencing college coaches.

[Zilverzmurfen]

My DD...

Ok I'm sorry, but I have to ask...what's a DD..?

[Phincer]

Ok I'm sorry, but I have to ask...what's a DD..?

DD= Dear Daughter
DS= Dear Son
DF= Dear Fencer

Others that may be preceded by a "D"-

H- Husband (although the 'D' my mean 'damn' sometimes)
BIL- brotherinlaw
SIL....

Names the relationship of the person w/o the naming the name!

[Zilverzmurfen]

DD= Dear Daughter
DS= Dear Son
DF= Dear Fencer

Others that may be preceded by a "D"-

H- Husband (although the 'D' my mean 'damn' sometimes)
BIL- brotherinlaw
SIL....

Names the relationship of the person w/o the naming the name!

You americans with all your abbreviations...

[uhl-mann]

I would say that Penn State would be a great one. I went there last year and had a great time. This year i'm going for 2 weeks. There are a lot of 14-16 year olds but there are a few younger kids there. There are three sessions one is learning about form and techneque another is conditioning and the last is controled bouts. There is a lot of free time I believe it was 3 hours or so. There is many things you can do hang around or swim you can do whatever. Also the instructors give lectures on equpitment and strategy. There is also an amorer to asist you with your problems. There are different groups so you don't have a lot of people in your group. Also they have streeching and conditioning. It is a good camp and it's fun.

[mnorrie]

Like Shayna's Mom, I am seeking a summer camp for my 14-year-old son. He has been fencing sabre for about 2 years. He just attended his first competition. Penn State sounds very interesting. Do any of you have experience with other camps? Cornell looks like it has potential. Thanks.

[daveappr]

FWIW, my son, a sabre fencer, really enjoyed the summer camp run by Mr. Ma in South Jersey. He enjoyed it enough to go back for the winter camp as well

[brtech]

I think Mr Ma's camp is more appropriate for fencers with experience, although he does get quite a range of experience. My youngest DD, who is a good fencer, got a lot out of his camp. The Penn State camp is great for beginners as well as the medium experienced fencers. All three of my kids went to the Penn State camps multiple times when they were starting out.

The living and food arrangements for Mr. Ma's camp is not as good I think. Either you are placed with a family, or you sleep at the fencing center and order out. The Penn State camp is dorm room doubles with an on-floor counselor and food in the dining hall. With Mr. Ma's camp, it's fencing, fencing and just fencing. With Penn State, there is the pool, the creamery, and the entire campus as well as a lot of fencing.

[daveappr]

The living and food arrangements for Mr. Ma's camp is not as good I think. Either you are placed with a family, or you sleep at the fencing center and order out. The Penn State camp is dorm room doubles with an on-floor counselor and food in the dining hall. With Mr. Ma's camp, it's fencing, fencing and just fencing. With Penn State, there is the pool, the creamery, and the entire campus as well as a lot of fencing.

This point I will agree with whole heartedly. I forgot about the sleeping arrangements he had while there. Another fencer from our club went to Penn State- she enjoyed it immensely. I think she went for two summers