Does CMSCA Offer Free Chess Lessons and Robotics Programs?

Yes. CMSCA (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Scholastic Chess Association) states on its website that it offers free chess lessons alongside its tournaments, and that it runs a robotics program which launched recently and quickly reached maximum capacity. Both are aimed at youth through 12th grade. The main caveat: because the robotics program filled up, new students may need to wait for future openings or ask about availability by email.

What CMSCA Says It Offers

According to the CMSCA homepage, the organization's activities include:

• Chess tournaments — a season of scheduled events (see dates below)
• Free chess lessons — described as open to all youth through 12th grade
• A robotics program — newly launched, and reported to have reached maximum capacity quickly
• Coding — named in the site's mission line ("Inspiring Minds Through Chess, Coding, Robotics, and More")

The site frames these as part of one community of "young thinkers and innovators," so the chess and robotics sides are presented together rather than as separate organizations.

Who Can Participate

CMSCA explicitly invites students whether homeschooled or enrolled in public, private, or parochial schools, across the Southeast region. Eligibility is stated as all youth through 12th grade.

That means the free lessons and the robotics program are not restricted to students in a particular school system — the invitation is broader than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area alone.

The Robotics Program: What to Expect

The homepage shares the success of the "newly launched robotics program," noting it quickly reached maximum capacity. Two practical implications:

1. Capacity is limited. Unlike the free chess lessons, which are described as open, the robotics program appears to have a fixed number of spots.
2. Timing matters. If you are interested, the useful move is to ask about the next session or waitlist rather than assume a spot is available now.

The site does not publish robotics meeting times, age brackets within the K–12 range, or fees on the homepage excerpt — so those details would need to come from a direct inquiry.

Upcoming Tournament Dates (for context)

The same page lists the 2025–2026 tournament schedule:

Each listing is paired with "Info & Registration" links on the site. The homepage also notes that donations are appreciated so CMSCA can continue to offer these events — which is consistent with the events being described as free.

How to Get More Information

The site points to two channels:

• Email — the homepage says "For any inquiries or further information, please contact us via email," and there is an "Email Contact Us" link in the navigation.
• Mailing list — a signup form is provided "to stay informed about our latest events and opportunities." This is likely the most reliable way to hear about robotics openings or new lesson sessions.

CMSCA also maintains a social presence on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and GitHub, linked in the site footer.

Quick Answers

Are the chess lessons really free? The site describes them as free chess lessons, and separately notes donations are appreciated to keep events free.

Is the robotics program free too? The homepage does not state a price for robotics. Pricing signals on the site include PayPal, but no fee is published in the available page text — so confirm cost when you inquire.

Can my child join if we don't live in Mecklenburg County? The invitation extends to students across the Southeast region, so the answer is not limited to one county.

What if robotics is full? Ask via email or join the mailing list to be notified about the next session.