Knight Camp

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 Vancouver has been voted "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 graduated Knights who now play a role as senior students and camp instructors passing on their knowledge to the next generation of Knight Campers.

The five-day camp curriculum is focused on the skills of knighthood, from the martial arts of the longsword and sword & shield, to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage and integrity. Students at Knight Camp learn about history, leadership, heraldry, archery, medieval games & dance 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 in our museum as well as create their own wooden shield with a unique coat of arms. Each week finishes with a grand-finale tournament and demonstration where they get to show off all of they've learned to their parents and friends.

Students who visit Knight Camp more than once progress through a series of levels from page and squire to guard and captain. Each level features special skills, new arts, and opportunities to deepen what they've learned before. Finally students who have passed all of their levels are tasked with a series of knightly trials before being inducted into our knightly order. These trials require students to demonstrate knowledge of history and heraldry, show leadership skills, perform service in the community and at home, and demonstrate their application of knightly virtues. Becoming a knight is no small order.

Learning about knightly principles and virtues can help children contend with today’s modern, ever-changing world. Knightly Virtues are an integral part of the Knight Camp curriculum, which encompasses a wholesome approach to knighthood. Knightly martial skills are taught along with history and virtues such as justice, mercy, charity, nobility, integrity, and courage.

What makes Knight Camp special is that students are not just taught these virtues as abstract principles. Instead, these virtues are deeply instilled by formally recognizing and encouraging benevolence in fellow students.  At the end of each day, students and instructors form what is called a “Virtue Circle,” during which children take turns to appreciate each other by recognizing which knightly virtues they demonstrated that day. This small “award ceremony” helps the children recognize the value in kind and altruistic behavior and makes them strive for it in the future.