Welcome to the only authentic knight school for youth (ages 8 – 14) in Canada, where knightly skills are taught in a safe and engaging environment by Academie Duello’s trained instructors. Knight Camp has been voted “The Best Children’s Camp” by the Georgia Straight and takes place at our beautiful 5,000 square foot facility in Downtown Vancouver. Since 2008 we have had more than 1000 children participate in Knight Camp, with a growing group of graduate Knights who now play a role as senior students and camp instructors for the next generation of Knight Campers.

The five-day camp curriculum is focused on the skills of becoming of a knight – from martial arts of the longsword and sword and shield – to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage and integrity. Students at Knight Camp learn about history, leadership, heraldry, archery, medieval games and more.

Everyone uses properly weighted and balanced synthetic swords that give the authentic feel of the real thing – while staying safe and easy to manage. Students will also get the opportunity to interact with real swords and armour as well as create their own shield. At the end-of-week finale, each student will graduate to their next rank.

Check out a video of our camps in action!

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Five 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.

Ten 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 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. It was important for Knights to show charity to their 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 he or she can do something well, they don’t need to brag about it all of the time.

• On the last day of the week, students have the opportunity to engage in great and mighty tournaments and battles! They will begin the day with a “Grand Melee”; students fight individual challenges until only a single student remains on the field, who shall be named “Champion of Courage”!
• After the Grand Melee, the campers will be split into two mighty hosts, who will do battle across an open field, over a bridge spanning a raging river, and finally, siege (or defend) a mighty castle. The battles are a place where campers can cooperate, practice leadership, and work together as a team to accomplish goals.

• 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 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 have a rise in rank. Knight Camp students study different academic subjects at different ranks:

1. Paggio (Page): Heraldry, History of the Sword
2. Armigero (Squire): Archery
3. Regazzo all’Armi (Gentleman/Gentlewoman-at-Arms): Armour
4. Spadaccino (Swordsman/Swordswoman): Polearms
5. Guardia (Guardsman/Guardswoman): Leadership, Tactics
6. Capitano (Captain): Instruction, Courtly Grace

Graduates of the program become a Cavaliere su Veglia (Knight on Vigil), and prepare for the five Knightly Trials before they can achieve the rank of Knight. The Knightly Trials are:

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

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

Our staff range from 14-25 years old, They have been specially trained to capably and safely instruct Knight Camp attendees; they work under the supervision of our Knight Camp Director, who together with the School Director have combined more than three decades of teaching experience. Staff are first aid-certified, empathetic, and well suited to work with kids.