EAST BAY - As a youngster, Jorge Sammour-Hasbun would stumble in on his father and brother playing chess, knocking over pieces and disrupting their game. Both chess masters, they had a great understanding of the intricate game. They told young Jorge that he could not come in unless he learned the rules.
A chess genius in his own right, Sammour-Hasbun went on to become the youngest master in history, becoming both the World Under 10 and World Under 12 champion, as well as the U.S. Under 21 champion.
Now, 28-year-old Sammour-Hasbun is teaching a summer chess camp at St. Andrews School in Barrington along with fellow chess master Sinclair Banks.
"We met at a chess tournament in Providence when he was 15. He's been teaching since he was 8 or 9. When we play chess, he completely wipes me out, and I'm in the top 1 percent in the U.S." said Mr. Banks.
According to Mr. Banks, teaching chess is much more relaxing than playing it. The camp will focus on a wide skill level, from beginner to advanced.
"People like having their children taught chess, because it's intellectually good for them. It improves grades, and helps them analyze and focus better, though it's hard to prove this link," said Mr. Banks.
The chess camp, open children ages 6-17, is part of a new movement at St. Andrews. "We're now trying to match our school year in the summer, hoping to balance both mental and physical acuity," said Harold Sands, the school's director of summer programs.
Although most people visualize hikes through the woods or a game of pick-up basketball when they think of summer camp, specialized camps have been gaining in popularity over the years.
St. Andrew's has no shortage of such camps, such as its popular "adventure camp," which is used as a leadership program in teaching kids to trust themselves and others.
Two instructors from URI are teaching the camp, which incorporates paintball courses and a ropes course. An ex-army officer is coming to help the campers determine their strengths and weaknesses, as well as to teach strategy. The paintball portion of the camp is being done by Riptide Paintball.
The goal of the camp is to teach responsibility to kids ages 10-17. "We want the kids to learn more about themselves in a positive way, so it's not just fun and games but a true learning experience," said Mr. Sands.
In the morning, the campers will learn the ropes course and gain individual growth. In the afternoon, they'll work as a team in paintball and learn about using their strengths to benefit the group.
The school also offers an "Authors and Illustrators" program, co-hosted with the Dunn Institute and taught by two of the school's faculty members. During this week-long camp, students ages 7-10 will create a bound book from scratch.
In the morning, campers will be divided into specific age groups and learn how to form paragraphs and sentences. In the afternoon, they'll work on illustrating their books. "I think it's a great way to get the imagination going, and they get something concrete when they're through," said Mr. Sands.
Baby sitters brush up on skills
Good baby sitters are hard to find, perhaps because too few of them get any formal training.
But it's available to them, thanks to a baby-sitting camp run by Janet Searles, an administrative associate at Women & Infants' Hospital.
The camp has been taking place in the summer for many years, and has expanded to include five locations in North Attleboro, Providence, Woonsocket, East Greenwich and South Kingstown. The week-long program runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, with sessions available throughout the summer.
Participants receive a book on CPR as well as a book on first aid and accident prevention. "The kids are pretty well covered in terms of what to do in case of bumps and bruises," said Ms. Searles, adding that once the participants have completed the training, they receive a certificate.
The class costs $50 and includes accident prevention, choking and CPR training, and role playing to help the students think on their feet. There are anywhere from 12-15 kids in each class, and students must be at least 11 years old to participate.
"It really is a fun class. It's a great mixture of talking, sharing information, doing hands on with the dolls so that they can learn how to diaper, swaddle, and help with bottle feeding. We also talk about positive reinforcement and discipline," said Ms. Searles.
The students are recommended to work as "mother's helpers," where a parent is in the house while the new baby sitter is taking care of a child under supervision. "We hope that families will wean their baby sitters into full responsibility," said Ms. Searles.
New at the Y
Sometimes camp directors tweak their programs to serve the needs of participants as well the trends they're seeing.
Amanda Choinere, camp director at the Bayside YMCA in Barrington, helped create several new summer camps this year. "We've totally redesigned the summer camp and created all new programs," she said.
The overhaul is in response to children returning year after year and attending the same summer camps, she said.
"Surf and Turf" and "So You Think You Can Dance?" are two new additions to the summer roster.
The aqua camp includes nostalgic games such as tetherball, four squares, kickball, dodge ball, volleyball, badminton, tug of war, and a tire obstacles course. "We wanted something new, and we're hoping bringing back the classics will create a renewed interest," she said.
As well as playing all the classic games, campers will have also have a swim lesson. "They'll be tested each week by our lifeguards and put in groups with other swimmers with similar abilities. Each group will also have and instructor assigned to them," said Ms. Choiniere.
"So You Think You Can Dance?" aims at teaching dance basics during a modern lyrical jazz camp which is a collaboration with Fusionworks dance company, a nationally recognized dance studio. Three days a week, instructors will come for an hour and teach jazz basics to each age group. At the end of the two-week program, campers will perform for family and friends. Campers don't need any prior experience, not any specific shoes or attire.
"We've had lots of interest in a dance camp from kids and parents. I hope the kids have fun and learn something new. I really hope it will peak an interest in dance," said Ms. Choiniere.
Seekonk's Newman YMCA is also taking part in the performing arts, offering a new six-week summer theater program instructed by a theater director from Martin Middle School. The new program will include two talent shows and two short plays performed by campers.
Throughout the six weeks, campers ages 7-10 will learn the basics of theater and gain a general understanding of concepts such as costuming, makeup, stage combat, positioning on stage and developing characters.
By Diana Perla
life@eastbaynewspapers.com