News from the American Go Association

May 3, 2006

Special Camp Edition Issue:
SERIOUS FUN FOR KIDS
GO PLAY
GO CAMP WEST
GO CAMP EAST
LOGISTICS
MAKING GO DREAMS COME TRUE

SERIOUS FUN FOR KIDS: Starting young is one of the keys to becoming a strong go player, and every summer since the Youth Go Camp began in 1998, kids age 8 to 18 from all over the US and abroad have met for a week to study go in a traditional summer camp setting. For the second consecutive year, there will be two youth go camps in 2006, one on each coast. In this special edition of the E-Journal, we cover this year's Youth Go Camp scene; even if you're not a youngster or a parent of a young player, we hope you'll pass along the word to anyone who might be interested. You may also want to consider financial support for the future of American go (see MAKING GO DREAMS COME TRUE below). See photos of the 2005 camps at http://www.usgo.org/gocamp/camp_2005.asp

GO PLAY: About half of the time at Youth Camp is devoted to go instruction. Campers are divided into groups according to ability and enjoy lectures, simultaneous games and paired games with post-game analysis. The other half of the time is spent on a wide variety of typical summer camp activities, including physical sports, swimming, barbecues, outings and more. "It was a LOT of fun. I learned a LOT," said Sarah. "I am definitely coming back." Added Marshall, "I really improved my game." Said Jay, "I liked it because I learned a lot about go and made new friends." Playing strength ranges from 30 kyu to 7 dan and everything in between. See a video, photos and more at http://www.usgo.org/gocamp/index.asp

GO CAMP WEST: The West Coast Youth Go Camp runs July 15-22 at Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, WA, where Chief Instructor Ming-jiu Jiang 9P is joined by Instructors Jin Chen and Scott Arnold. Jon Boley returns as Director and this year is also the Organizer. Counselors Deborah Niedermeyer, Barbara Burrall and Steve Burrall round out the team. "Our 2006 Camp will feature a day trip to the highest peak in the Cascade Range, Mt. Rainier," says Boley. "This beautiful volcano dominates the view from Tacoma and provides an inspiring backdrop for the study of go." NOTE: as of presstime, there are just 17 spots remaining for the West Coast Go Camp!
     INFO: westagagocamp@usgo.org

GO CAMP EAST: The East Coast Youth Go Camp runs August 5-12 at the Pocono Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA and features Michael Redmond 9P and XianXian Niu 3P as instructors. Born in Santa Barbara, California, Redmond became a Nihon Ki-in insei at age 14 and became 9-dan in 2000, the first Western Go Professional to ever reach 9P. Karen Jordan is the Camp Director and David Dinhofer is the Organizer. "The camp is so close to the Delaware Water Gap National Park that you can touch it," says Dinhofer. "The park includes the head waters of the Delaware River and I am going to make great use of those resources for the camp. What do you think about tubing down the Delaware, water parks? How about a late night swim in the pool? Not enough? Play more go than you have ever played and try lots of fun go activities you wouldn't believe."
     INFO: eastagagocamp@usgo.org
EAST COAST EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Sign up for the East Coast Go Camp by June 1 and you'll get the $50 Early Bird Discount, plus you'll be eligible to win a copy of Michael Redmond's book "ABC's of Attack and Defense" (a $22 value), report camp organizers. Register early for the best chance of winning, as campers who sign up early will be entered again in later drawings for the book. At least one book will be given away for every 15 Early Bird campers.

LOGISTICS: Applications can be downloaded at http://www.usgo.org/gocamp/index.asp  SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE! Parents and experienced camp organizers are in charge at the Youth Go Camps, so the children who attend camp are safe and well cared for. Everything is organized to the last detail, beginning from the pickup at the airport to the last moment when organizers see the kids off boarding the home-bound flight. YOUR CHILD IS SAFE; we welcome parents to contact former campers' parents, and parents are welcome to attend camp and help out.

MAKING GO DREAMS COME TRUE: Tax deductible donations can help make young go campers' dreams come true when you support the American Go Foundation (AGF) and the AGA Go Camps. The AGF - the charity arm of American go - has been supporting the US go camps for years with thousands of dollars raised from go players who want to help the next generation of players learn to enjoy the game. For the 2006 Go Camps, the AGF has committed $7,000 in support of scholarships and professional expenses but it needs to replace those precious funds. Please give if you can. Donations are tax deductible and should be sent to: American Go Foundation, c/o Laird, 211 West 106th St. Apt. 3C, New York, NY 10025 with a note "Support the Go Camp."

Published by the American Go Association; text material published in the AMERICAN GO E JOURNAL may be reproduced by any recipient: please credit the AGEJ as the source. PLEASE NOTE that commented game record files MAY NOT BE published, re-distributed, or made available on the web without the explicit written permission of the Editor of the E-Journal. Please direct inquiries to journal@usgo.org

Articles appearing in the E-Journal represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the American Go Association. To make name or address corrections, notify us at the email address below. Story suggestions, event announcements, Letters to the Editor and other material are welcome, subject to editing for clarity and space, and should be directed to:
Editor: Chris Garlock
journal@usgo.org

American Go Association
P.O. Box 397
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0397