Cascadia Chess

For 2nd - 5th grades. Sign-up by Wednesday February 4, 2026.

Cascadia students in 2nd - 5th grades are invited to join the...

Cascadia Chess Club!

Learn and play chess! The game of queens, and the king of games! We'll learn together, practice together, play together, and compete in big Saturday tournaments together as a team.
Starting Thursday February 5 we'll meet Thursdays before school from 8am to 9am for eleven sessions. Club is for students in 2nd-5th grades.
Where, when, cost? Club meets in the Cascadia Library before school, Thursdays weekly from Feb. 5 to April 23, and goes for one hour. Club is free. You'll need a chess set at home.
But I don't know how to play chess. That's okay. We'll all learn and improve together! We'll also learn chess etiquette, sportsmanship, chess clock smarts, how to read and write chess notation, bughouse chess, strategies, tactics, some chess history, and how to make friends with chess.
Who's teaching? Coach Kaech will be instructing. And a few parent helpers (no chess knowledge needed) would enhance the club.
How do I sign up? Fill out the online form by Wednesday February 4, 2026.

Cascadia Chess Information and FAQ
Cascadia Chess Club dates - 11 Thursday meetings, mark your calendar:
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 16, 23.
Note: No club on spring break.

2026 Chess Tournament Dates -- participation in one or more of these is requested.
Feb 21: Custer Chessfest K-8, Custer
Mar 7: Wade King Tournament, K-8, Bellingham
Mar 21: Parkview State Qualifier Tournament K-8, Bellingham

What happens if we sign up for the Cascadia Chess Club, and it's full?
You will be notified.
What online chess learning tools are there?
Boat loads!
Here's a good starter video on How To Play Chess.
You can practice against the bots at Sparkchess.com.
And we hope to set up each student with a free ChessKid.com account. The basic free membership allows live chess with other Ferndale kids, slow chess and access to articles. ChessKid Gold unlocks the video library, guided lessons, computer workouts and puzzles.
And for smartphones?
If you're going on a long car trip, there are many good smartphone chess apps appropriate for kids, such as Play Magnus, Dr. Wolf, and ChessMatec.
Why should I introduce my child to chess?
Because chess is excellent for mental and social development, and can provide lifelong enjoyment. For example, your child may get better grades and make friends due to chess. Bonus: It's affordable and multicultural. See Benefits of Chess for Youth.
What's the format of a normal chess club meeting?
For our first meetings, we'll start with announcements, a puzzle and a lesson (around 15 minutes), followed by practice and play. For the next meetings, the primary activity will be one slow chess game, as we hold our own Eagleridge Club Championship, often a five round Swiss tournament. Our final meeting will be a musical party where the students can play the fun chess variants we have learned, like bughouse chess, duck chess, giveaway chess, etc.
Will there be homework?
More like home play. Chess ability, like learning a musical instrument or a sport, benefits from regular practice. Students will be asked to do something with chess every day, i.e. play one chess game, or solve chess puzzles, or read a chess book. There will be a one page handout most weeks.
Can my first grader join? She knows how to play chess.
Alas, we only have room for so many at this class. But it's true, even preschool children can learn chess, when it's a fun, low-stress activity they do with their parents at a leisurely pace, one piece at a time, using mini-games.
Most Saturday tournaments in Whatcom County feature a Kindergarten-1st grade division. Kindergarten players who score two wins (out of five games) in a Saturday tourney are qualified to enter the Washington State Elementary Championships, which typically attracts around 80 players in the Kindergarten division.

Chess Resources for Parents

Learn To Play Chess video

Whatcom County Scholastic Chess FAQ

Northwest Chess Ratings and Tournament Reports

NW WA Scholastic Chess Facebook Page and Emailing List