Denver Fencing Center presents:

2010 Summer Camps

Denver Fencing Center runs 12 different week long day camps during the summer. Our camps are the perfect way to introduce a beginner to the sport or take your fencing up the the next level. Our camps are a fun way to stay in shape over the summer. We have been doing this for over 5 years and have create over 1,000 successful fencers through our camps.

While our camps are designed for fun and recreation, many of our campers have turned into highly successful fencers. Every year of the summer camp, we have taken one beginner fencer and turned them into a top 20 National ranked fencer or National medalist by the next summer.

Please register early, our summer camp are very popular and tend to fill up early.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: General Public/Current DFC Students: $325; DFC Members: $300 (Family members receive additional 10% discount on the second camper) The cost includes all necessary fencing equipment rental.

Ages: 8 to 18 years old for our Beginner/Competitive Camps. For the theatrical camps, the age requirement is 11-18 years old. (Theatrical fencing require heavier weapons and greater attention spans than sport fencing.)

Potential campers are also invited to tour our facility anytime during our normal business hours.

How to Register:

1. Pick the week of camp you would like to attend.

2. Click on the Register below the camp listing and register your son/daughter.

3. After you register, send in the waiver form and you are all set.

Camp	Dates	Location	Head Coach/Staff
Beginner Foil	June 7 to 11	Denver	John Kissingford	Register
Competitive Camp	June 14 to June 18	Denver	Nathan Anderson	Register
Beginner Foil/Epee	June 21 to June 25	Denver	John Kissingford	Register
US Fencing Nationals Prep	June 28 to July 2	Denver	Nathan Anderson	Register
Int. Theatrical Fencing Camp (Beginner High School Student welcome)	July 5 to July 9	Denver	Paul 'Von' Rentzell Jillian Lietzau	Register
Beginner Theatrical Fencing Camp (ages 11-18)	July 12-16	Denver	Jillian Lietzau	Register
Beginner Foil/Epee	July 19 to July 23	Denver	John Kissingford	Register
Beginner Foil/Sabre	July 26 to July 30	Denver	Nathan Anderson	Register
Beginner Foil/Sabre	August 2 to 6	Denver	Paul 'Von' Rentzell	Register
Beginner Foil	June 7 to 11	Golden	Paul 'Von' Rentzell	Register
Beginner Foil/Epee	June 14 to June 18	Golden	Paul 'Von' Rentzell	Register
Beginner Foil/Sabre	July 19 to July 23	Golden	Paul 'Von' Rentzell	Register
Competitive Camp	July 26 to July 30	Golden	Paul 'Von' Rentzell	Register

 

Beginner Fencing Camps

The day camps introduce kids to the sport of fencing. Students will learn to fence and develop an understanding of how fencing's strategy, rules, and conduct relate to the history of swordsmanship. All equipment and protective gear is provided in the camp fees.

Who should attend?
Boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18 who have had less than 1 year of fencing. Beginners are welcome.

Theatrical Fencing Camps

The theatrical fencing camps are designed to give student-actors the skills to fence onstage safely. Our camp attendees will have 35 hours of training and produce a final one minute scene. As with all theatrical production, safety is paramount. We train the student-actors with foam swords before moving on to stage combat weapons (Broadswords, Rapiers, and daggers). Our instructors are professional high school teachers who have produced many different theatrical productions involving theatrical weapons: Brigadoon, West Side Story, etc.

If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, then this is a YouTube video of a theatrical production of Romeo and Juliet chorographed by our great instructors.

Competitive/U.S. National Fencing Prep.

This camp is designed to take experience fencers and prepare them for all level of competition, including the 2020 U.S. National Championships in Atlanta, GA. This camp helps build confidence to compete in fencing.

This camp is designed to prepare for fence mentally and physically for the rigors of fencing competition. Many of fencers attending will be training for the National Championship.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Do you provide lunches?

It is a responsibility of the campers to bring their own lunch.

2. Is there anything else to bring?
Campers should bring water and/or refillable water bottles labeled with their name.

3. What is the suggested attire?
Campers should wear a t-shirt and thick pants to fence (thick sweat pants are ideal, jeans or cargo pants will work) along with athletic shoes. Campers may bring shorts to change into for outdoor activities, but for safety reasons we do not allow campers to fence in shorts.

4. Can I only come to one day?
Yes, but the single day charge is $80.

5. What is the student: adult ratio?
A maximum of 8 students per adult or camp worker

6. What does the weekly fee cover?
Fencing instruction and all daily activities, all protective gear and equipment including mask, jacket, underarm protector, chest protector, glove, and of course, foil, epee, and saber.

7. What is a "typical" day at the camp?
Each day at DFC camp begins with games that emphasize stretching and proper footwork that are critical to becoming a good fencer. Fencing instruction follows that will allow the campers to improve their skills and learn new strategies each day. The last activity of the morning is open fencing, where the campers get to fence one another, grouped by ability and under close supervision.

After lunch, there is an interactive program related to the swordsmanship, (Knights, Pirates, Calvary, The Princess Bride, etc) and how those influences can affect your fencing strategy. Weather permitting, this will be followed by an outdoor activity at adjacent Ruby Hill Park, or a return to the fencing club for a mini-tournament.

8. What are your facilities like?
The DFC is a 5200 sq. ft, air-conditioned facility dedicated to the sport of fencing. Our stage step floor is same flooring used by dance studios and is designed for maximum support. We have five full regulation electric fencing strips, plus three more strips. So we can have 16 youth fencers fencing at a time. We have on-site parking and a lounge/waiting area.

9. What precautions are taken to insure safety?
The safety of our campers is our primary concern. No camper is ever allowed to even pick up a foil/epee/saber without wearing all of his or her safety gear. First Aid materials are always at hand and there is at least one CPR-certified adult on site at all times.

10. My child wears glasses. Is that a problem?
Many of our students wear glasses and they will fit under the mask.

11. Is there a particular age/size/fitness level appropriate for fencing?
Unlike most other sports, there is no ideal body type for a fencer. When you come to the Denver Fencing Center and look around at our members, they are all different ages, sizes, and body types. Successful fencers will find a way to win no matter their body type. Here at the Denver Fencing Center we train each fencer with techniques to complement their strengths and supplement their weaknesses. Ultimately, if your child sticks with fencing, they will find a way to make their body type work to their advantage.

12. What camp should we pick: Foil, Foil/Epee, Foil/Saber?

All camps are good for beginners. Each camp teaches foil which is the best weapon for a beginner fencer to start with. The Foil/Epee camp will allow them to learn the heavier epee. The Foil/Saber camps will allow them to learn the cutting and slashing saber. For the younger fencers (ages 8-9), they might find it easier to take the foil only camp. For the teenage fencers, the combined camps might be better option so they could find their favorite weapon over a week of camp. These are only guidelines and students who fit the age requirements are welcome to all of the camps.

You are also welcome to tour our facilities during normal business hours of 4pm to 9pm Monday-Thursday, 5pm-7pm Friday, or 9am-12:30pm on Saturday.

For further information, please reference to the Parent's Guide To Fencing under our New to Fencing section.