Saber Sleepaway Camp

Legacy of Excellence: Established in 1996 by Seven-Time Olympic Coach Yury Gelman, we are the longest-running sleepaway fencing camp in the United States. For over two decades, we've been setting the standard for saber training.

World-Class Coaching Staff: Your child will train under the supervision of Coach Gelman and an elite team of U.S. coaches, including Oleck Ochocki, Sergey Isayenko, Alexander Sourimto, Alexey Lihachevskiy, Roman Sydorenko, Dmitry Boyko, Andrew Lamianski, Sergei Shachanin, Vladimir Lukashenko, and more. These coaches have a proven track record of producing champions who consistently win national medals.

Proven Success: Our camp has helped prepare 11 Olympians and 7 Olympic medalists, including the 2024 silver medalist Feres Ferjani. Notable alumni like Keeth Smart, Jason Rogers, Dagmara Wozniak, Monica Aksamit, and Daryl Homer, Emma Baratta and more have become medalists in Cadet, Junior, and Senior World Championships.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our host facility offers everything needed for an extraordinary camp experience:

Newly built dorms
Top-tier sports center
Swimming pool
Squash courts
Soccer fields
Game and movie rooms
And much more!

Elite Training Environment: Your child will join a community of top-tier fencers, including Olympic and World Medalists, National and NCAA Champions, and National Team members from around the globe.

Balanced Camp Experience: Beyond world-class fencing instruction, campers will make new friends, share unforgettable experiences, and build lifelong memories in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Ideal for fencers ages 11+ with at least one year of competitive saber experience.

Location: 100 Academy Dr, Mercersburg, PA 17236

We’re excited to announce that, as we do each year, special camp guests will visit throughout the camp! Stay tuned for updates closer to the start to see who will be joining us and when!

Camp includes:

• ​Comfortable rooms accommodating 2 people
• Nourishing meals throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with snacks in the evening; catering to all allergies and dietary restrictions
• Two daily fencing practices focusing on technique, tactics, and psychology
• Engaging team-building activities to enhance collaboration and teamwork
• Personalized instruction from our experienced and dedicated coaches, ensuring a low 1-to-5 coach-to-camper ratio for individualized attention and support.
• Camp t-shirt, Nurse
• A camp-wide tournament and award ceremony to showcase skills and celebrate achievements
• Opportunities to relax, connect, and enjoy traditional camp activities with fellow fencers
• A musical concert night where campers can showcase their talents—whether on piano, guitar, violin, or another instrument—either in their dorm or on stage for the whole camp to enjoy

Transportation services from Manhattan Fencing Center's NYC location to and from camp available at an additional fee