Arlington Community Education

Considered one of the greatest games ever invented, chess teaches many important life concepts such as concentration, sportsmanship, how to win graciously, and how to accept defeat with dignity. Learn chess rules, positional tactics, and basic to more advanced moves with the guidance of an experienced chess master. We will be divided into groups according to experience, and end the week with a mini-chess tournament. All levels welcome.

Pass through a spider’s web, create the strongest bridge using only popsicle sticks, or decipher a puzzle and solve a scavenger hunt. You and your classmates will face new challenges involving a combination of intellect, strength, and teamwork. Enter each day looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead, then have a blast coming up with your solution.

Role Playing games give players experience with a variety of skills including improvisation, critical thinking, math and public speaking. We will use Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules to guide us through the process of creating characters and then testing their might through an interactive story. Everyone will be taught—at a comfortable skill level—how to make characters and serve as dungeon masters. Please note: Feel free to register for both morning and afternoon classes as we will create different storylines and characters. Please note: The AM & PM sessions of this camp will have a different interactive storyline, with different characters and plot. Students can sign up for one or both sessions but should be aware they will be making a different character for AM and PM. We discourage students from creating characters before the first day of class. Instructors and students will collaborate to determine what kind of story they will be created and in the past, students who arrived with a character in hand have been disappointed if their character doesn't fit the group decision.

Please note: This is a full day program 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Live Action Role Play (LARP) allows you to participate in an interactive narrative, similar to the “choose your own adventure” books using a combination of theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design. We combine these arts with critical thinking, creative problem solving, and community leadership skills. Join us for hands-on creative activities as we explore everything from game systems and character development, to prop and costume building. Physically portray your characters and enact a plot within a fictional setting while interacting with each other. Mornings will be spent primarily outdoors for LARP Games and the afternoon LARP Makerspace will be for prop and costume design and build. In the AM: LARP Games In the first half of the day, we will focus on the physical activities and basic rules of playing in LARPs. This time will be primarily outdoors to provide students an opportunity to run around but with direction that will make them practice tactical and critical thinking skills. In the PM: LARP Makerspace Students will learn how to build the various props that make LARPs immersive events. This includes a variety of activities from boffer building to costuming. Our instructors will help students understand how their design choices can affect those around them while also allowing them to express themselves creatively.

Spend a week having fun with your favorite teenage wizard. We’ll make wands, test our trivia knowledge, play Muggle Quidditch, practice spells, scrutinize movies, make Potter-themed t-shirts, and care for magical creatures. At the same time you’ll be earning points for your Hogwarts House! To fully enjoy this week, you should have read the entire Potter series (at least once!).