Jeff and Lanette Gordon have been teaching chess in Marin for over nine years. They offer chess summer camps, classes for intermediate and advanced players, and private lessons at multiple locations.

The Osher Marin JCC offers a wealth of children's recreational and educational activities for infants all the way up to teens. Beginning with enrichment and parent-child classes, childcare, preschool and summer and vacation camps, kids' exercise and sports programs, up through character-building and fun challenges for adolescents on the verge of adulthood.

Swimming lessons start with parent-participation classe for infants and toddlers, and continue with small group lessons for ages three to 10. Private and semi-private lessons are also available.

Music, art, science and nature, performing arts, dance, and cooking classes are available, too.

The Sunday Funday family program offers swim time in the indoor heated pool from 1pm-4pm, and often include a playzone (for kids ages six and younger) and sports programs for older children.

A drop-in babysitting service is open 8:15am to 2pm every day, and Mondays & Wednesdays until 7pm.

Summer camp offerings include traditional day camps and teen programs for ages two to 15. Camp includes programming in music, drama, arts & crafts, sports, nature, and Judaic Culture. Campers enjoy swimming each day, field trips once a week, and an overnight per session.

The Teen program includes video production, camping, High Adventure Ropes Course, kayaking, field trips, beaches and more.

The JCC also offers specialty camps in performing arts, sports, video production, Lego engineering, cooking, art, drama, science discovery, and nature.

The Berkeley Chess School is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to sharing the joy of chess with as many young people as possible through in-school instruction and tournament play.

BCS teaches over 7,000 girls and boys in 164 schools throughout Northern California, regardless of their ability to pay. Established in 1982 by Elizabeth Shaughnessy, former
Irish Women's Chess Champion and former president of the Berkeley School Board, BCS also offers regional tournaments and two all-girls tournaments throughout the year.

Each class normally offers twenty minutes of instruction followed by forty minutes of chess play.

The club also meets on Friday nights at the Berkeley City Club (2315 Durant Avenue); the program for kids runs 6:30pm-8pm.

In an effort to promote chess for children, the Mechanics Institute opens its doors every Saturday to young players of all ages, from beginner to advanced. Children may play in a foursome with three other participants of matching strength or, if an uneven number of players participate, in a "mini Swiss" with three rounds. Prizes are given to all participants.

Non-rated and beginning players are welcome to participate. Your child will be given a provisional rating after playing 10 games. For further information, call Anthony Corrales at 415.280.9759 or call the main number.