“Like” our facebook page and get access to videos and documents that contain clues and hints about this summer’s exciting story!

https://www.facebook.com/swordcamp

See you there!

If you are considering joining us this summer for camp, please register today… we are filling up quickly! 

Top 10 Reasons for parents to let their Hero join us for camp this summer: 

1. We provide full day coverage for schools that end mid week – register for just a few days or the entire remainder of the week. 
2. We have Extended Day coverage for Day Camps which allows pickup as late as 6pm
3. We have Quest Camp (ages 10+) where campers can experience our Overnight Camp during the day and return home each night – with transportation provided from points between Burlington and Worcester.
4. New Online Registration allows for easy and secure application process – parents can fill out forms ONCE and just make adjustments each year.
5. Multi-Session Discounts make it more affordable to attend an entire summer of camp.
6. The average age of our camp staff is 30 – not 18!
7. We have a 4:1 camper to staff ratio – one of the very best ratios in the industry
8. Our ongoing storyline means our campers are never bored – the decisions they make determine the outcome of the story.
9. Our camps are run by parents – and some of our own children are in attendance
10. Where else can your child or teen be a Hero in their own Adventure?

Okay… it’s time to answer that recurring question – are we a “Harry Potter Summer Camp”?

As you know, Harry Potter is a huge phenomenon across the globe.   We are not an official Harry Potter Summer Camp because we are not affiliated with or licensed by the corporation that owns these rights.  However, many of our campers are huge fans of the world of Hogwarts and love to integrate their knowledge into their camp experience.  We encourage our campers to read and bring their passion for literature to our camp.

That being said, we do have a lot of similarities with the Harry Potter series.  Feel free to check out our shared attributes at our “Harry Potter Summer Camp“ page.

Guard Up Inc (the parent company to Wizards & Warriors Camp) is now offering a camp scholarship and financial aid program for families in need.  For more information, please view our Camp Scholarship Flyer.

Video Game Camps without the Computers

According to a study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children spend an average of almost 11 hours a day staring at screens (television, computers, cell phones). Obesity is on the rise and inactivity is the primary culprit. Team and individual sports are suitable for some kids… but others crave something more creative. That’s where Guard Up comes in.

Imagine a place where kids can play a hero in their own adventure… where they battle fierce monsters, solve ancient mysteries and win hordes of treasure. Sound like video game camps? It’s the same idea… except that at Guard Up, Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts kids are “unplugged” from the computers and experience their adventures “live” at Guard Up’s Wizards & Warriors and NERF Zombie Invasion camps and programs.  Not only that, these young heroes are actively learning about science, history, mythology, literature and more.

“Our kids and teens are bright, creative, and passionate about stories. They love the autonomy and diversity of being able to choose among limitless solutions instead of a narrowly defined answer” says Meghan Gardner, Director of Guard Up, Inc. “The adventures they participate in require a high degree of teamwork, focus, and problem solving. The heroes have to decide on the best course of action and deal with the consequences as a team. It’s exciting to see some of our quietest kids speak up because they have information or skills necessary to the success of the team.”

In the summer, teens travel from all over the globe to attend both the NERF Zombie Camp and the Wizards & Warriors Overnight Summer Camp held in Westford, MA.  At these video game camps (without the computers), gamers have a chance to experience what they see on a screen – but right there, in front of them, in live reality.

“It’s really great because it’s like a video game brought to life,” says Sebastian Biber, 14, from Switzerland, “Everything acts on your decisions and the story changes in that way. That’s what I think is cool about this camp.” Campers from Chile, Australia, England and many other countries found out about the camp through their website – a testament that creativity does not have borders.

The thrill of action and the dramatic costumes, props and special effects aren’t even the best part of this experience. The most frequent comments from the kids are how they have made new friends who share their interests and how exhausted they are at the end of the day from the intensity of the adventure.

“When there are 100 people on the battle field and these kids stand in tactical formation with their friends, raise their house banners and call out their battle cry, it can get super intense,” says Chris Wiley, Instructor Director at Guard Up and professional actor, “It’s a bonding experience that allows each kid to shine. All the kids know the primary code of a hero: Courage, Compassion and Honor, and have a chance to explore what those words mean to them.”

Guard Up takes their fun and education seriously.  The majority of their staff are either teachers or adults working on their Masters of Education degree.  The reason for this is that these exciting adventures are filled with real-world learning.  In Potion-Making class, kids learn basic chemistry.  All of the magical scrolls are written in Latin, so the kids are motivated to learn this ancient language in order to solve the mysteries.  As well, all of the primary characters and monsters that the campers interact with are taken from real world history, literature and mythology.  This encourages the kids to read more outside of camp because their knowledge of these subjects helps them to succeed in the game.

Kids from all over the world have a chance to experience the adventure normally reserved for video game camps or the movies. They “unplug” and run around, making friends in real life, and living the stories of great conquest. Today’s technology may spark their imagination… but at Guard Up, the power of creation, imagination and education isn’t contained in a screen.  It’s alive and it’s heroic.

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Publications: For more information, photos and videos about Guard Up’s Wizards & Warriors Camp and NERF Zombie Camp, call Meghan Gardner at (781) 270-4800.