American Go E-Journal » Youth

What’s a typical day at the AGA Go Camp like? Joe, age 12, writes “I studied everyday with my friends and my teacher, and I had a lot of good times with them. We played games with each other, learned new go problems, joseki, and fuseki, and played in fun tournaments each day. When I left camp, I was sad because I would miss all my new friends, but when I came back home, I was happy because I was beating everyone and showing that I improved.”

Yuga, age 8, writes, “I learned go from morning until evening, and that was my first time studying go for so long. I spent time with a great teacher and lots of new friends, and we played go and talked about go. It made me want to play more and improve more. I learned so much from Mr. Yilun Yang. I learned new josekis. I tried them on KGS, and I feel like my territory is safer than before. I also learned crazy moves that are really good to confuse your opponent. I tried them when I played stronger players, and I won the games!”

Mulan, age 8, sums up everyone’s feelings nicely: “I’m glad I came to the Go Camp because I got to learn new things and learn from players that were stronger than me. It was fun to make new friends and meet up with old friends from the Go Congress and other tournaments.”

Yilun Yang will be joining the Go Camp again this summer as its professional teacher. The camp itself is the week before the Go Congress,  at YMCA Camp Kresge in White Haven, PA, about 2 hours outside of New York City. Youth who played in the NAKC or the Redmond Cup are eligible for a $400 scholarship, and need-based scholarships of up to $250 are available. For more information on the latest camp-related news, and to download the registration forms, please visit the camp website at http://www.gocampeast.org/ or e-mail Amanda Miller at agagocampeast@gmail.com. – Story and photo by Amanda Miller, Go Camp Director. Photo: Campers at the Pair Go Tournament.

The School Team Tournament drew 84 kids and teens, reports organizer Calvin Sun 1P. Held on KGS, March 22 and 29, the event is organized by the American Go Honor Society (AGHS) every year. “28 teams of three competed in four divisions to claim the title of best youth team in North America,” said Sun, “ranks ranged from 25k to 6d.” Top honors in the Varsity division went to Diamond Bar High School, CA. “I want to thank AGHS and our tournament organizers for running such an amazing event,”  said team leader Yunxuan Li 6d. “It was very fun and exciting to compete with other go clubs throughout North America. Our club started this school year (see E-J 11-5-13) and I was pretty surprised that we won the tournament after such a short time period. We got lucky in a lot of our games.  This is a great event for our youth players and it is really wonderful to see new clubs playing in it and enjoying it every year.”

The Junior Varsity division was topped by reigning champions, Cary Christian School, from North Carolina, who have fielded multiple teams for the past several year, often winning one or more divisions. “The kids really enjoyed it,” said Team Advisor Jeff Kuang, “especially, the kids in CCS Team one (who took first place).  They learned not only go skills but also online playing experience and etiquette.” Another new team, David Douglas High School, from Portland, OR, took top honors in the Intermediate division. “It was a very pleasant surprise,” said club president Andrew Nguy 19k, “it was our first tournament, and none of us really expected to even place, much less win first.”  Rounding out the winners list in the Novice division was a team from CNY Chinese School in Manlius New York, which was coached by the 2013 AGF Teacher of the Year Richard Moseson. “This was my first online tournament,” said 8-year-old Liya Luk, who played first board. “I liked it because it lasted two Saturdays, so our team could prepare in between the Saturdays. I had lots of fun doing the tournament.” -Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo by Siddhartha Avila: Youth from Mexico City competed from the public library.  Avila’s students from multiple locations, fielded five teams.

The Boulder Kids and Teens Go Club celebrated its tenth anniversary on Easter.  “Dave Weiss and I are both Jewish,”  says Paul Barchilon, who co-founded the club with Weiss, “so we had no idea it was Easter when we scheduled our first meeting, back in 2004. A few kids actually did show up though, and since then, we have grown and thrived.  We still try to celebrate each anniversary with cake – it is a kids club after all.”

This year’s cake was decorated with Junior Mints and Mentos (right), and is pictured with three longtime veterans.  Kellin Pelrine 6d (left) first came to the club when he was 11.  Now 18, he gives stones to almost everyone at club. Matthew Harwit 5d (in red) and his twin brother Nathan 4d (in green) both started around the age of 8.  Many kids have come and gone over the years, and the club has at times attracted as many as 30 players in a given session.
– photo by Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor

“The AGA Go Camp is excited to announce that Yilun Yang 7P will be joining us for the summer of 2014,” reports Camp Director Nano Rivera. Yang became a professional at the age of 14 in 1973. He has trained many notable players, including Rui Naiwei (9P), Chang Hao (9P), and Hua Zueming (7P). He is an excellent and experienced teacher, who has been teaching in the United States since 1986. Mr. Yang is also the author of many popular Go books, such as the Fundamental Principles of Go, Life and Death by the Numbers, and Life and Death in Chinese Characters. Rivera and co-director Amanda Miller  “welcome all campers to join us for a week of go-playing and fun.” If you’re a go player between the ages of 8 and 18 “and would like an opportunity to study go for a week with a professional teacher, then the AGA East Go Camp is for you,” says Rivera.

Anyone who participated in the NAKC or the Redmond Cup is eligible to receive $400 off the price of the Go Camp. If you did not play in either tournament, but still need financial assistance, AGF scholarships are available here.  Visit the Go Camp website for general information, pictures from past camps, and news regarding this year’s Go Camp, which is scheduled for August 3-9. If you have any questions about the camp, contact the directors at  agagocampeast@gmail.com – Paul Barchilon, E-J Youth Editor.  Photo by Amanda Miller: Yang teaching at last year’s Go Camp.