Board Games Summer Camp (Ages 10+, July 13 - July 17)

Dive into a world of strategy and fun at Game Kastle College Park’s board game camp for kids and teens! They will learn about the various types and genres of tabletop and hobby games, how to play several of them, and how to use a rulebook to both learn the rules of a game and teach it to others. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to sign up today! This camp is intended for children ages 10 and up. Since most board games are played in groups of 4-6, we will endeavor to group campers by age where possible.

Game Kastle isn’t just an average hobby game store. Game Kastle offers hard-to-find items, an outstanding selection of amazing products, an impressive gaming space, daily scheduled events, and a staff that genuinely wants to help.

As a retailer, Game Kastle supplies customers with both newly released and evergreen titles. As an event space provider, Game Kastle hosts open play and tournaments to grow our amazing community. We have hosted summer gaming camps since 2022, and we are excited to expand our camp offerings year after year!

At Game Kastle’s board game camp, we cover traditional board games played on a tabletop, and add card games and miniatures games to the mix. These games often involve elements of strategy and luck, and can be competitive, cooperative, or an engaging combination of the two! Board games have long served as a setting for social interaction and critical thinking.

Camp runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. There will be a morning session of learning and guided play, followed by lunch and free play of other games in the Game Kastle College Park demo library. After lunch and free play, campers will reconvene for an afternoon session of guided play. Each day campers can expect to learn and play a new board game, as well as learn more about the genre that game exists in. There will be a snack in the middle of the afternoon session. Game Kastle College Park will provide a daily boxed lunch and snack to the students as part of their tuition.

Many board game tournaments involve prizes for top players. At Game Kastle’s board game camp, everyone is a top player! We also want to help kick-start campers’ foray into the board game hobby. To these ends, each camper will receive:

• A copy of Gateway Island, an anthology of games designed to showcase all the board game hobby has to offer.
• A $25 gift certificate to Game Kastle College Park!

Play is an integral part of a child’s development. Before they can even understand the rules of the simplest game, children are playing! The American Academy of Pediatrics has even published a report ( https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/3/e20182058/38649/) about the importance of play for children, including:

• Healthy brain development, including creative problem-solving and critical thinking
• Building social relationships with peers and authority figures
• Safely confronting fears and failures

Most importantly, board games provide an alternative avenue for entertainment from our screen-filled world. At GKCP, we encourage every student to read printed materials rather than digital, and to engage with their peers who are physically present with them.

At our day camp, we prioritize the health and satisfaction of every camper. Our lunches are provided by a local business that we work with, New York Deli. We have chosen New York Deli for their commitment to quality and variety, ensuring that our campers receive nutritious and delicious meals every day. We understand that each camper has unique dietary needs or preferences. Within the bounds of what New York Deli is able to accommodate, we are happy to tailor lunch options to suit each camper. Whether it is allergies, dietary restrictions, or personal preferences, we strive to provide a suitable meal for everyone.

Due to our contractual agreement with New York Deli, we are unable to make pricing adjustments to the meals provided. The cost of each meal is fixed, and while we can make accommodations within the menu, this does not affect the pricing structure. If you have specific dietary needs or preferences for your child, please reach out to us before the start of camp so that we can coordinate with New York Deli to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in working within these guidelines to provide the best possible dining experience for all campers.

Black Friday Weekend Registration: $500 through December 1

Early Bird Registration: $550 through December 31

Regular Registration: $650 through April 30

Late Registration: $750 beginning May 1

Game Kastle closely monitors the waitlist to gauge demand for a specific week of camp. Historically, we have been able to add extra sessions when demand is high enough. If this camp’s registration is full, we strongly encourage you to join the waitlist!

Game Kastle College Park invites parents and guardians to stay with their children during camp if they wish. The store provides public gaming space with seating for more than 70 people and responsible adults are welcome to work or play at that space while camp is in session. Because Game Kastle is not a professional childcare provider, we cannot legally take responsibility for your children and their safety while they are at camp. The instructor, Game Kastle College Park, and its employees take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of all individuals that visit the store either to shop or to use our play space, including campers.

Refund requests made by April 30 will be honored in full, aside from any processing fees levied by Eventbrite. Refund requests made starting May 1 may be honored at Game Kastle College Park's discretion. In most cases we are unable to refund Eventbrite’s processing fees, which are included in the registration price.

As Game Kastle College Park’s summer camp program has grown, we’ve met the qualifications to be regulated as a legal summer camp by the Maryland Department of Health. Game Kastle is currently applying for that required certification. While we anticipate being certified, we will refund all tuition in the unlikely event that we are not certified.

Also check out other Kids events & activities in College Park.