MFC SABER SLEEPAWAY CAMP

🏆 Legacy of Excellence

Established in 1996 by Seven-Time Olympic Coach Yury Gelman, our sleepaway fencing camp is the longest-running sleepaway fencing camp in the United States. For nearly three decades, we have set the gold standard in elite saber training and athlete development.

🤺 World-Class Coaching Staff

Campers train under the direct supervision of Coach Gelman and an elite team of U.S. coaches, including Sergey Isayenko, Alexander Sourimto, Alexey Lihachevskiy, Roman Sydorenko, Dmitry Boyko, Andrew Lamianski, Sergei Shachanin, Vladimir Lukashenko, and more. This staff has a proven track record of developing national champions and international medalists.

New for This Year:

We are proud to collaborate with AFFA and Z1 Fencing, welcoming special guest coaches:

• Oleck Ochocki – Princeton University Coach and U.S. Men’s Saber National Team Coach

• Ziad Elsissy – 2x Olympian, former World #1, Grand Prix Champion

This unique collaboration brings together Olympic-level experience, NCAA leadership, and world-class training methodology in one camp environment.

🥇 Proven Success

Our camp has helped prepare 11 Olympians and 7 Olympic medalists, including 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist Feres Ferjani. Alumni such as Keeth Smart, Jason Rogers, Dagmara Wozniak, Monica Aksamit, Daryl Homer, and Emma Baratta have gone on to medal at Cadet, Junior, and Senior World Championships.

🏫 State-of-the-Art Campus

Hosted at Mercersburg Academy, campers enjoy an exceptional boarding school environment featuring newly built dormitories, a top-tier sports center, swimming pool 🏊, squash courts, soccer fields ⚽, game and movie rooms 🎮🎬, and more.

🌍 Elite Training Environment

Campers train alongside a highly competitive and international group of athletes, including Olympic and World Medalists, National Team members, NCAA Champions, and top-ranked fencers from around the world.

🔥 A Complete Camp Experience

While fencing remains the core of our program, our camp is designed to develop the whole student-athlete — physically, mentally, and socially.

📚 Camp Programming

Each year’s programming is thoughtfully curated and may vary based on available opportunities and guest participation. Examples of past and planned offerings include college pathway and recruiting seminars 🎓, sports psychology and mental performance sessions 🧠, referee education seminars ⚖️, student-athlete experiences and panels with fencers from top universities 🎯, outdoor and team-building activities such as hiking, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing 🥾, special outings which in past years have included theme park visits 🎢, musical concerts and creative performance nights 🎶, and guest appearances from accomplished athletes, coaches, and professionals 🌟. Programming evolves annually to ensure a dynamic and engaging experience that complements elite fencing training.

🕒 Sample Daily Schedule

Schedule is representative and may vary by day, group, and programming.

7:40 AM — Wake Up

8:00–8:30 AM — Physical Preparation / Warm-Up

8:30–9:00 AM — Breakfast

10:00 AM–12:30 PM — Morning Fencing Practice

1:00–1:30 PM — Lunch

1:30–3:30 PM — Rest, Recovery & Optional Activities

3:45–5:45 PM — Physical Preparation / Conditioning

6:00–6:30 PM — Dinner

7:30–9:30 PM — Evening Fencing Practice / Programming Sessions

9:30–9:45 PM — Evening Snack & Wind-Down

10:00 PM — Curfew

🤝 Balanced Camp Community

Beyond training, campers build friendships, confidence, and independence in a supportive, inclusive environment, creating memories that last long after camp ends.

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

📍 Location:

Mercersburg Academy

100 Academy Dr

Mercersburg, PA 17236

👥 Special Guests

As we do each year, special camp guests will visit throughout the session. Details will be announced closer to the start of camp.

✅ What’s Included for Summer 2026

Comfortable, air-conditioned dorm rooms 🛏️ (double occupancy), expanded meal program with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening snacks 🍽️ (dietary needs accommodated), two daily fencing practices 🤺 focused on technique, tactics, and mental preparation, personalized instruction with a 1:5 staff-to-camper ratio, team-building activities promoting leadership and collaboration, sports psychology seminar 🧠 focused on performance and mindset, camp-wide tournament and awards ceremony 🏅, traditional camp activities 🎉, musical concert night 🎵 (optional participation), official camp T-shirt 👕, on-site nurse 🏥 for daily medical support, and an off-site whitewater rafting excursion 🌊 (details coming soon).

💰 Early Registration ends March 1st!

Confirmation emails with medical forms, code of conduct, packing list, and check-in/check-out details will be sent in late June / early July.

❗ Cancellation Policy

Before May 5: Full credit toward any Manhattan Fencing Center offering

May 8 – May 20: $250 administrative fee; remaining balance credited

After May 20: No refunds or credits

Please note that this policy is in place to ensure the proper planning and administration of our programs. Thank you for your understanding.