Chess Camp
The McLean Community Center offers a Chess Camp for various skill levels, focusing on strategy, tactics, and sportsmanship for young players.
▌ Editor's read The McLean Community Center's Chess Camp is a day camp program offered through a municipal organization. The camp is designed for children aged 6-12, with different sessions catering to beginner, intermediate, and advanced players, focusing on chess fundamentals, strategy, and sportsmanship. The McLean Community Center has a Google rating of 4.6 stars based on 159 reviews, indicating general community satisfaction with its offerings. The camp website does not mention ACA accreditation or specific staff-to-camper ratios. Social media handles for the McLean Community Center are @mcleancenter on Instagram and mcleancenter on Facebook. The center's website lists a variety of other camps and programs, suggesting a broad operational scope.
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Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
Chess Camp fits middle-elementary campers — old enough for skill-building to land, young enough that friend-group dynamics and counselor warmth still matter more than program rigor. Parents at this age band tend to prioritize a balanced rhythm of structured activity and unstructured play, which is the actual differentiator inside any given academic program.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Municipal parks department
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Academic
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Address: 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
- Phone: (703) 790-0123
- Cost notes: 2026 pricing TBD as of 2026-04-16.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Chess Camp
- What ages does Chess Camp accept?
- Chess Camp is open to children ages 5–12. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Chess Camp cost?
- Chess Camp doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. 2026 pricing TBD as of 2026-04-16. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
- What are Chess Camp's hours?
- Chess Camp runs 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Chess Camp?
- Chess Camp is operated by the local parks department. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Chess Camp provide lunch?
- Chess Camp does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Chess Camp with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Chess Camp.
- OFC Summer Camp Trips · McLean · Ages 5–12
- StringTime Violin, Viola, and Cello Camp · Trinity United Methodist Church · Ages 5–18