Do you have a child that would be interested in joining the Grand Rapids Chess Center? We have so many opportunities for your child to get involved in. See more information below. From 6:30-8:00 each night we run our GRCC Kidz program. Students get opportunities for competitive play, lessons, structured measurements of success (see Level-Up program below!), and have a whole bunch of fun!
Have your child join the chess center for just $25/ a year and be apart of this great community! We meet from September through June each year.
GRCC Kidz Opportunties!
Chess Center Coaches
– Light Instruction Weekly
– Sportsmanship
– Encouragement and Fun
Improve Your Game
– Monthly Training
– Personal Coaching
– Consulting
Have Lots of Fun!
– Monthly Tournaments
– Fun Challenges
– Friends and Community
Start with a Membership!
To join the Grand Rapids Chess Center, you will need a membership. This will give you access to ALL of the benefits listed above! Memberships for students 18 years old and under are just $25 per year. Discounts are available for larger families. Go to the membership page to download the form and fill it out.
Start Attending!
Join our weekly meetings from 6:30 to 8:00. Students need to play! That is the best way to improve when they are new. Then, as they gain more confidence and experience should join our monthly Junior Training Sessions. Tournaments and special events will take place from 6:45 to 7:30 each week. We meet from September through May.
Program Activities
Grouped Competition
Our LEVEL-UP program is perfect for students! Students will be placed into groups with roughly the same skill level. Pawns, Passed Pawns, Knights, Bishops, and Rooks. As students improve they can move up into the next groups. This is a great motivator for students.
Monthly Hershey Challenge
The first meeting of each month kicks off with a Hershey King Challenge! For $5 a GRCC Kidz member, can compete in a one-night tournament. The winner gets a King Size Hershey and all participants get a Hershey bar out of the deal.
Junior Training Sessions
The second week of each month, for $10, students get a 30-minute lesson built around active learning and collaboration.
GRCC Kidz Level-Up Program!
Our GRCC Kidz program is booming! To facilitate growth, structure, and opportunities for our students. So, we will be offering a Level-Up program as part of our GRCC Kidz membership and participation. Learn more about it below!
Exciting things are happening with GRCC Kidz! We offer a LEVEL-UP program. This program is designed to give our students quality games with other students at a similar level. It will also provide a path toward improvement and recognition as students LEVEL-UP! A student will LEVEL-UP based on their results within their group and our Hersey Challenge. For example, if a student wins the Hersey Challenge three times consecutively they will be asked if they want to LEVEL-UP. Certificates for LEVEL-UP will be presented during the GRCC Kidz! We will ask for parental approval on all students we recommend for LEVEL-UP.
- New students will be placed in appropriate levels based on experience. Most will start as Pawns.
- New students will move up a level when they accomplish prescribed standards.
- Hersey Challenge and other Tournaments will be played within groups.
Grand Rapids Chess Center 