If your kid is 8, 9, or 10, you’re in the middle bracket. Old enough that basic-daycare camps feel babyish. Young enough that “real training” camps sometimes aren’t sure where to place them. Forge Summer Camp is built with this age in mind — it’s the bracket where most of our campers land.
Six themed weeks. 1:10 coach-to-camper ratio. Early-bird pricing closes May 1.
The 8-10 bracket is the sweet spot
Most of our campers are 8, 9, or 10. Here’s why the bracket works:
- Attention span is there. They can follow a 45-minute technique block without melting down.
- Coordination is unlocking. They can hit a pad target, move their feet in rhythm, and start linking combinations.
- Social dynamics are settling. Less parallel play, more actual team games.
- Pride in progress kicks in. An 8-year-old who lands a clean kick on a heavy bag walks 2 inches taller the rest of the day. You’ll see it at pickup.
The content is pitched right at this bracket. Younger kids (6-7) get more structured support; older kids (11-14) get more intensity. The 8-10 crowd gets the full experience as designed.
What 8-10 year olds actually do at camp
A full-day (8am-5pm) schedule for this age group:
- Morning — technical block. 30-40 min of real technique. Striking fundamentals, footwork, pad work. Same framework as our regular Kids Kickboxing class, compressed into a camp block.
- Mid-morning — skill games + conditioning. Obstacle courses, tag variations, reaction drills. Kids don’t know they’re conditioning.
- Lunch. Campers bring their own. Fridge + microwave available.
- Afternoon — theme work. This is where the week-specific stuff happens (Shadow Warrior ninja obstacles, Karate Kid forms, etc).
- Late afternoon — open mat or open gym. Wind-down with a coach present. Often ends up being the part kids talk about at dinner.
Half-day (9am-12pm) is the morning block only — same technical content, shorter day.
Is my 8-year-old too young?
No. 8-year-olds fit cleanly in this bracket. They’re running pad work, hitting heavy bags (smaller gloves, coach-supervised), and doing light partner drills.
What makes an 8-year-old succeed at camp:
- They can handle being away from a parent for 8 hours (or 3 if half-day).
- They can follow 2-3 step directions from a coach.
- They can get frustrated and keep going.
If your 8-year-old passes those three, they’re ready. If they don’t quite pass the “handle full days” one, the half-day option exists for this reason.
Is my 10-year-old too old?
Not even close. 10 is the sweet spot — old enough to start picking up real striking combinations and resilient enough for a full 8-hour day. If your 10-year-old has already been to a kids’ camp or two and seemed bored, Forge Summer Camp is specifically the antidote.
If your 10-year-old is leaning hard into sparring interest, you might also look at the tween page (ages 10-12) — same camp, framed for the slightly older crowd.
The six themed weeks (and which hit hardest for 8-10)
| Week | Theme | 8-10 fit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Warrior (Ninja) | ⭐ Universal hit — ninja obstacles dominate |
| 2 | Hero Academy | ⭐ Strong — superhero strength challenges |
| 3 | Strike First (Karate Kid) | Best for the 9-10 end of the bracket |
| 4 | Way of the Warrior (Samurai) | ⭐ Strong — padded weapon drills land hard |
| 5 | Forge Games | ⭐ Universal hit — mini-Olympics format |
| 6 | Fight Camp (UFC) | Best for the 10 end, slightly intense for 8 |
Full six-theme breakdown is here.
How kids are grouped
We group by skill and maturity, not strictly by birthday. An 8-year-old who’s been training for a year might sit in the same group as a 10-year-old first-timer for technical blocks. For game blocks, we rotate groups so your kid isn’t stuck with the same 4 faces all day.
Parents sometimes worry about their kid being the youngest or oldest in the room. With an 8-10 bracket running through all 6 weeks, that’s almost never the case.
Pricing — early bird closes May 1
| Option | Early bird (through May 1) | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day (9am-12pm) | $220/week | $220/week (limited) |
| Full-day (8am-5pm) | $280/week | $360/week |
| All 6 weeks full-day | $1,800 | $2,160 |
Sibling discounts available — call before booking online.
Full pricing + deadline: early bird details.
Common questions (8-10 parents)
Does my kid need prior martial arts experience?
No. Most 8-10 campers have never trained before. The morning technical block is pitched to first-timers. If your kid has experience, coaches bump them up a gear.
What if they don’t know anyone?
The 8-10 bracket is the easiest social bracket at camp — kids this age make friends in the first 45 minutes. By Wednesday, most parents hear about “my new friend at camp” at dinner.
My 9-year-old is small for his age. Will he get hurt?
Sparring is not a daily activity, and when it happens it’s coach-supervised with full gear and matched by size, not birthday. The heavy bag and pad work is the bulk of striking — no contact with other kids.
Can I drop off at 7:45 or pick up at 5:15?
Drop-off window is 7:45-8:15am. Pick-up is 4:45-5:15pm. Outside that window, call ahead and we’ll work with you for occasional schedule shifts.
What if my kid hates it?
Day 1 refund — full money back if your kid comes home from the first day and it wasn’t the right fit. No interrogation, no fine print.
About the Day 1 refund
If your kid doesn’t click with the camp on Day 1, we refund that week. The drive home from Day 1 is a good sample; if it wasn’t right, we’d rather refund than push through a week of reluctance.
How to enroll
- Call or text (239) 799-KICK. Fastest path — five minutes and it’s done.
- Visit 1984 Tamiami Trail N, Space G0003, Naples, FL 34102.
- Book online at Forge Summer Camp 2026.
Kid at the edges of this bracket? Six-year-olds page is here · Tween (10-12) page is here.
Ready when you are
- Call or text: (239) 799-KICK
- Visit: 1984 Tamiami Trail N, Space G0003, Naples, FL 34102
- Book online: Forge Summer Camp 2026
- Compare: Why Naples families choose us · All 6 themes
5.0 Google rating from 47+ Naples families. Full refund after Day 1 on every enrollment.
