Orion Jean Baptiste, a 9-year-old from Port St. Lucie, founded a new junior chess club to introduce his community to the game he loves. The club has already attracted more than 36 young members and meets every Friday in Port St. Lucie. Baptiste's passion for chess started at age 5 when he began playing with his family. Now he wants to share that enthusiasm with other children and draw attention away from technology toward classic board games. "Everybody's more focused on like tech stuff," Baptiste said. "I'm hoping that more people have respect for board games."
Diana Cowan Kempton, the club's program director, believes chess offers significant benefits to young players. She sees the game as a tool for developing important life skills in the next generation of leaders. "It will help to build leaders or members that are more focused, more patient, more strategic and thoughtful in their decision making," Kempton said. The club welcomes players at all skill levels, from complete beginners to more experienced players, creating an inclusive environment where children can learn and grow together.
Parents have responded positively to the new chess club. Thomas Furlong, whose children joined the program, described it as an ideal opportunity for his family. He sees the club as a chance for his daughter to learn chess from the beginning while his son can continue improving his skills. The friendly competition between siblings adds another benefit to their participation. Francesca Furlong, one of the club's newest members and a child at the club, enjoys the social aspect most. "I like playing with other kids," she said.
The Atlantis Chess Club continues to expand beyond its original Port St. Lucie location. In addition to its Friday meetings in Port St. Lucie, the club plans to launch two additional programs at the Fenn Center in Fort Pierce. This growth reflects the community's enthusiasm for Baptiste's vision of promoting chess among young people. For Baptiste, the mission remains simple and clear. "I just wanted kids to learn about chess," he said. The club provides a structured setting where young players can develop strategic thinking skills while forming meaningful connections across Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce.