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However, this year I learned about the camp months in advance, the location is gorgeous, the price was a bargain and my kids had no other camp scheduled. So I decided to give it a go. My girls are 11 years old now, definitely old enough to be able to count points and cards and not feel like it's school. The camp cost half of what the cheapest camp would have been, and it was 7 nights/8 days all inclusive, as opposed to the usual format of 5 nights/6 days. I admit the price was the deal breaker for me. I could send two kids for the price of one lol
The schedule was intense: 9AM breakfast, 11AM to 1PM bridge lesson, 2PM lunch, 4 to 6PM bridge lesson, 7.30 dinner, 8.30 evening tournament. Not much time to do anything in between, but we managed to take a couple of trips around the camp. The location is beautiful and there were plenty amazing places to visit nearby even for a lazy fat-ass anti-sports person like myself.
Much to my surprise the camp was full of kids, some younger than my girls. The vast majority were somewhere around 14 year old though, but it was close enough for my kids to make friends and not feel excluded. I brought 5 children to this camp: my two daughters, a brother and sister friends with my daughter and a boy from another town friends with a friend of a friend... There I was in charge of 5 kids, 3 of them mostly unknown to me. It was pretty scary but I managed, got them back home safe and sound.
The lessons were split by groups: beginners (3 groups), intermediates (2 groups I think, not sure, haven't attended those) and advanced (one group, mostly adults). I took the advanced classes since I was there anyway and I did not regret it. Learned a lot, from a strong Romanian player with a drinking habit (which only made the lessons more fun)
The teachers for the beginner groups were dedicated and careful with the children - this was what I dreaded the most, what if I send the kids there and the lessons are a joke. They taught mini-bridge, with mini-bridge contests and tournaments in the evening. At the end of the week my girls were familiar with the concept of counting tricks before they start playing, establishing long suits, using trumps and had a bit of an idea about how to bid. They were able to play Just Play Bridge and get the bidding right most of the times, even though they weren't specifically taught how to bid.
Many of Romania's best players joined as well, and played with the juniors. Most pairs at the evening tournaments were expert - beginner, but there were also pairs of juniors or established partnerships.
Late at night, after the evening tourney was over, adults would gather at the bar and play social games (not bridge), drink and chat till morning. It was fun and I met a lot of people that I only knew from BBO or Facebook but had never seen face to face. Unfortunately, since I had to look after 5 kids, I had to behave somewhat responsibly, but it was fun to be with the gang even sober.
To top it all, at the end the kids received prizes and there was a graduation ceremony. Yeah, another meaningless diploma, but they actually appreciated it and wanted to keep it. Thought it means more than the usual "participant" diploma from other camps.
My girls loved the camp, including the bridge, because they had an adorable young teacher and they were in a group of children of the same age. They want to come back next year and they want to go to the club to take more lessons (with THAT teacher only!!!) So, we're going to book next year as well, and I'm taking the whole family with me (hubby and reluctant teenager son).
