Updated August 22, 2023
BridgeWhiz – Fall 2023 Registration now open!
BridgeWhiz, a program created and developed by the ACBL Educational Foundation, is a FREE, online course designed to teach children in grades 4 through 12 the essentials of a fascinating game whose benefits, intellectual stimulation, and adventure will last a lifetime.
You can read more and access the registration page HERE.
Jane Lamont will again be serving as a BridgeWhiz instructor. If you have questions or would like to learn more, feel free to contact Jane.
Scroll down or click on any link below to jump to that section of this page.
What Is BridgeWhiz? Posted August 12, 2021
How You Can Help Updated August 12, 2022
Lessons and Structure Updated August 12, 2022
How To Register Updated August 12, 2022
Schedule Posted August 12, 2021
Curriculum Posted August 12, 2021
Videos, Links and Documents Updated August 12, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions Updated August 12, 2022
Posted December 20, 2021
BridgeWhiz – Winter Registration now open!
The BridgeWhiz program launched this past fall was a huge success! All the available time slots were filled, with 2100 kids enrolled and a couple of hundred kids on a waiting list.
The ACBL Educational Foundation is now offering a second set of classes beginning in January. You can read more and access the ACBLEF registration page HERE.
You may be interested to know that Canadian registrations for the fall program were primarily from B.C. and Ontario. For the upcoming winter program, classes have even been added for the U.K. and South Africa!
Posted September 19, 2021
1400+ Students Have Already Registered for BridgeWhiz!
The original goal was to register 1000 young people. With several weeks remaining in the registration period, enrollment in BridgeWhiz has surpassed that goal.
BridgeWhiz is a free, online, after-school beginning bridge program launched by ACBLEF.
The ACBL Educational Foundation has partnered with Double Dummy filmmaker and bridge lover, John McAllister, not only to get people excited about BridgeWhiz, but to support the program. Check out the Videos section HERE for information about how to watch Double Dummy.
Posted August 12, 2021
BridgeWhiz is coming soon.
Jane Lamont has been accepted to serve as a BridgeWhiz teacher in our area. If you have questions or would like to learn more, feel free to contact Jane.
The ACBL Educational Foundation is also recruiting teacher assistants to help implement this program. The teacher assistant is a volunteer position. More about the duties of the teacher assistant can be found in the “How You Can Help” section which follows. For information about how to apply, contact Jane.
What Is BridgeWhiz?
August 12, 2021
The ACBL Educational Foundation has announced an initiative to teach thousands of young people across North America to play bridge, using an online teaching model developed by Bridge for Youth (B4Y) in the Seattle area. The program will be launched in cooperation with B4Y-Seattle, the American Bridge Teachers’ Association, Shark Bridge and the ACBL.
Contract bridge is an intriguing game with benefits that will last a lifetime. It “bridges” the generations, appealing to grandparents and youngsters alike. Not only is bridge great fun … it is intellectually stimulating and competitively exciting.
Classes will be free for students.
How You Can Help
Updated August 12, 2022
All current ACBL members can help make BridgeWhiz a success.
Register your children or grandchildren. Tell your friends. Spread the word to schools and community organizations. Mobilize your local bridge club to recruit students and/or become a “Classy Club” which financially sponsors a class.
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Volunteer to serve as a teacher assistant. A teacher assistant needs to be comfortable with, not only teaching bridge but, teaching young people. Knowledge of online tools (Zoom, SharkBridge) is also required. Responsibilities of a teacher assistant will include the following:
| 1. | Launch Zoom meeting if the main teacher is unable to do so. The Assistant will be listed as co-host of the Zoom meeting. |
| 2. | Take attendance. |
| 3. | Watch the Zoom waiting room. Often students lose internet connection and must rejoin. |
| 4. | Help students log-in to SharkBridge. |
| 5. | Serve as table monitor on SharkBridge, especially for students needing extra help. |
| 6. | Monitor for any unacceptable behaviour. |
| 7. | Help respond to student questions. |
| 8. | Other assistance as arranged with the teacher. |
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You can also help by donating to BridgeWhiz through the ACBL Educational Foundation or by offering to volunteer your time. Click HERE to learn more at the ACBLEF website.
Lessons and Structure
Updated August 12, 2022
The course is open to children and young adults in grades 4 through 12. It is primarily targeted at beginner bridge players, but as students graduate from the Basic Bridge course, they are offered the opportunity to register for the Improver course, followed by the intermediate course, and then the Advanced course.
Classes consist of both static content and a live session on the Shark Bridge platform with a teacher. The live session uses 8×8 Meet for audio and video. To access content, students log into the BridgeWhiz platform and go to the course they registered for. They can participate in the lessons with static content at any time. To attend a live class, click on the live link 10-15 minutes before the selected class time.
The BridgeWhiz course is offered in modules. The first module is 8 weeks long. Each live lesson is 90 minutes. Classes are offered weekly. You will select your preferred day and time when you register.
How to Register
Updated August 12, 2022
Registration is now open and is through the BridgeWhiz website. Click HERE to visit the BridgeWhiz registration page.
The BridgeWhiz program is free for students grades 4-12 and requires contact information for a parent/guardian and for the student.
Schedule
August 12, 2021
Coming soon.
Curriculum
August 12, 2021
Coming soon.
Videos, Links and Documents
Updated August 12, 2022
Double Dummy: Bridge is Not Just for Seniors.
View this updated and celebrated film anytime between October 1-11, 2021 and half of the $15 ticket cost will be directly donated to the BridgeWhiz program.
This event has ended. You may click here to view the trailer.
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ACBL Educational Foundation – BridgeWhiz main page
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Toronto Bridge for Beginners – CBC Toronto (3 minutes)
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Toronto Youth NABC – Attracting Youth to Bridge (8 minutes … youth-specific at roughly 5 minutes)
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated August 12, 2022
Click HERE to access the BridgeWhiz page of Frequently Asked Questions.
This page is maintained by the Calgary Unit 390 of the American Contract Bridge League. The instructor(s) and programs described here operate independently and Calgary Unit 390 has no responsibility for course content, unless noted.