Why Parents & Kids Love Knight Camp

Authentic Swordplay & Archery

Campers train with real historical techniques adapted for safety and fun. We use synthetic practice swords and authentic bows.

Confidence & Courage

Daily challenges and our knightly virtue circle help kids build resilience, leadership, and teamwork.

Award‑Winning Program

Voted “Best Children’s Camp” (Georgia Straight) and featured on CBC & Global TV.

Creative Expression & Imagination

From heraldry and shield-making to medieval dance, campers get to express themselves in ways that go beyond the typical summer camp. Every child becomes the hero of their own story.

Learn History By Living It

We don’t just teach history — we bring it to life. Campers explore the Middle Ages through games, stories, crafts, and hands-on experiences that make learning fun and memorable.

Camps run from 10am to 3:30pm Monday through Thursday, and 10am to 4pm on Friday, with before and after-care available (from 8:30am for before-care; until 5pm for after-care).

Each week will begin with all of the students swearing an oath to their training on Monday morning, and will end with a grand tournament and finale for parents and family to attend on Friday afternoon.

Each day begins with a warm-up and a discussion of Knightly Virtues. Students then learn a variety of the martial and practical skills that all knights of old studied:

• Posture & footwork
• Swordplay
• Staff
• Heraldry
• Archery

During lunch, students learn and play a variety of medieval games.

The day wraps up with sparring (controlled practice swordfights, with protective equipment) and the virtue circle where the students and instructors nominate each other for their virtuous behaviour throughout the day.

On Friday, all of the students show off their skills in a grand finale: a combination of tournament, heraldic display, and show of skill-at-arms capped off with the elevation of each student to the next rank level. Parents, friends, and family are of course welcome to attend the finale!

"My son went to Knight Camp three years ago and was instantly hooked. He still goes to Knight Camp a couple of times a year, takes youth swordplay lessons and attends each and every Open Floor. He loves the things he is learning and the sense of community and camaraderie he gets from Duello. I love the way his confidence has grown as he sees his strength, dexterity and skill continually improve through commitment and hard work. The instructors obviously love what they do and it shows."  - Brian Hirsh

"Such a wonderful camp. The kids are treated with respect and learn so much! Ryan and Finn made new friends and their confidence is soaring! Thank you!" - Anna Campbell

"The qualities of Knighthood [taught in class] are an excellent touch, as it becomes more than just about fighting." - David Lamb

"I liked the fact that I got to touch real weapons. I liked all the [instructors], especially Fraser. Knight Camp is the BEST camp I have ever been to. Seriously, swordplay is awesome!" - Stephanie Han

"Our son simply loves being able to work with the weapons whilst learning the history. The classes and camps that our son has attended over the past year have helped him to grow and mature. He has focus and dedication as a result of his Knight Camp experience."- Hugo Sanchez

"I found it very moving when the leaders spoke to the students and honoured their individual characters and virtues. I found the energy was positive, clear, and focused in terms of structure, speaking and directing the presentation." - Brianna Choi

Knight Camp Values

1. Welcoming - Academie Duello is inclusive and friendly. This is a place where youth of all backgrounds and abilities can engage with history and historical European martial arts.
2. Physical - Students are sent home pleasantly sweaty and satisfied from our classes. This is swordplay in the real world not just in your heads. Fitness and activity are the keys to our physical well-being.
3. Authentic - The arts we teach are based on a historic tradition. We honour this history by using historic training tools and by practicing a true martial art with the care and discipline expected by its first teachers. In turn we foster an environment for our staff and students to be their truest and best selves.
4. Empowering - We give students the tools to be their own best teacher, and encourage them to realize their capabilities and their own personal power to shape their character.
5. Professional - Our space and staff keep a polished, clean, and neat presentation. Classes start on time and run on a schedule. We do everything we can to make sure our customers have the most consistently excellent experience possible.

Knight Camp Virtues

Every day at Knight Camp the students learn about and practice two knightly virtues. At the end of the day, students nominate each other for virtuous behaviour.

1. Obedience and fealty both mean loyalty. As Pages, you show obedience to the Instructors. Obedience is a good thing to practice everyday. We should be obedient to people in charge, like our parents, teachers, policemen etc.
2. Nobility is showing notable behavior. By trying as hard as you can or by helping others be the best they can be, you show ‘Nobility’.
3. Mercy is not taking revenge on people who may have done something wrong. Mercy can also mean not getting angry at someone who may have hurt you by mistake.
4. Justice is having a sense of what is right and wrong. Laws help people to know what is right and what is wrong. Knights or yore helped to make sure that justice was maintained in the kingdom.
5. Integrity is being as honest and truthful as you can be in everything you do. Integrity is when you admit to doing something wrong and try to make it better.
6. Valour is bravely doing what is right against all odds. You can show valor by stopping a fight or getting an adult to help if something is wrong.
7. Charity is giving to those who have less than you. It can be sharing your sandwich or helping someone out. Knights were expected to show charity to the people.
8. Faith is believing in yourself and trusting in those around you. You can show faith by supporting others if they are having trouble learning. Knights had faith that their soldiers would support them in battle, and had faith that their lords had good plans.
9. Courage is making wise decision even when you are afraid. Courage can be going into a dark room even if you are afraid of the dark. You can show courage by trying even if you are not doing well at something.
10. Humility is not showing off when you can do something well, but helping others to learn it too. A Knight is satisfied when they can do something well, and doesn’t need to brag about it.

• On the last day of the week, students have the opportunity to engage in great and mighty tournaments! They will begin the day with a “Grand Melee”; students fight individual challenges until only a single combatant remains on the field.
• After the Grand Melee, the campers will be split into two mighty hosts, who will meet their foes in battle across an open field!
• With a morning of battle behind them, campers are assembled in the afternoon for a tournament of martial skill and virtue. All friends and family are invited to watch and be part of the gallery where they can see the skills and projects that the campers have been working so hard on during the week.
• Following the tournament, all of the campers who successfully completed the tasks laid out before them are elevated to the next knightly rank. Campers are given a few gifts before leaving camp and return home ready to share and spread virtue to the world.

Students of Knight Camp advance their way through six ranks. Named for titles and stages of development in the training of knights and soldiers in Late Medieval and Renaissance Italy, the ranks reflect a student’s physical abilities, martial skills, knowledge of materials taught in class, and practice of knightly virtues.

New students begin in the first rank, Paggio. Every time a student completes a week of Knight Camp, they are elevated to the next rank. Knight Camp students are able to study different subjects as they progress in rank:

1. Paggio (Page): heraldry, history of the sword
2. Armigero (Squire): Archery
3. Ragazzo all’Armi (Gentleman/Gentlewoman-at-Arms): armour
4. Spadaccino (Swordsman/Swordswoman): polearms
5. Guardia (Guardsman/Guardswoman): leadership, tactics
6. Capitano (Captain): instruction, courtly grace

Upon completing the level of Capitano, a camper becomes a Cavaliere su Veglia (Knight on Vigil), and prepares for the five Knightly Trials before they can achieve the rank of Knight. The Knightly Trials are:

1. Trial of the Servant (volunteering & community service)
2. Trial of the Warrior (leadership & swordplay skill)
3. Trial of the Herald (public speaking)
4. Trial of the Courtier (medieval games & knowledge)
5. Trial of the Teacher (mentorship & teaching)

A Cavaliere su Veglia can return to camp as a student to study their choice of subject, or, if they’re at least 12 years old, as a volunteer to help other students on the path to knighthood.

Register Now!

One week of Knight Camp:

Cost: $425 + tax per child

Additional services:

Before & after-care, 8:30-10:00 am / 3:30-5:00 pm: $110 + tax
Before-care only, 8:30-10:00 am: $60 + tax
After-care only, 3:30-5:00 pm: $60 + tax

For a speedier registration/drop-off process, please bring your kids on the first day with filled-out forms. 

Save time and fill out the Youth Safety Waiver here and Camper Information form here.

When making an account please make it for the attendee (your child) rather than yourself, to keep camp rosters accurate!

Knight Camp takes place in Vancouver, however right now camps are also available in Prince Rupert in partnership with Golden Triangle Fencing. Click here for details and registration.