# NCF Boulder (Northern Colorado Fencers)

> Epee specialist fencing club in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 1979. Youth and adult programs coached by a USA Fencing Hall of Fame coach, with 46 national champions developed on the floor. The first lesson is a one-on-one coached introduction to epee, with a full loaner kit fitted on-site and no charge to try it.

Key facts:
- Location: 1949 33rd Street, Boulder, CO
- Founded: 1979 by Gary Copeland, Founder and Head Coach
- Weapon: epee only, trained as a single-weapon specialty
- Ages: 7 and up, with separate youth and adult programs
- First lesson: a one-on-one assessment and introduction to epee footwork and blade work, with a full loaner kit (mask, jacket, glove, weapon) fitted on-site by a coach. Complimentary for new fencers.
- About 30 percent of NCF youth fencers go on to fence in college

## Programs
- [Programs overview](https://ncfboulder.com/programs/): The full youth and adult training ladder.
- [Youth programs](https://ncfboulder.com/youth-programs/): The youth epee ladder from Foundation through Competitive.
- [Adult programs](https://ncfboulder.com/adult-programs/): Coached adult epee from beginner to competitive.
- [Six-Week Challenge](https://ncfboulder.com/six-week-challenge/): A 12-session structured introduction to competitive epee over six weeks, all gear included.
- [Summer camps](https://ncfboulder.com/summer-camps/): Half-day youth epee camps in Boulder, CO for ages 7 to 13. Weekly Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 12 PM, capped at 12 kids a week with a 1:5 coach-to-camper ratio. All gear included, beginners welcome, Friday in-house tournament, Day-1 money-back guarantee. The 2026 season finished on August 7 and is fully booked. The page now takes interest for summer 2027 and points families to fall programming.
- [Fall 2026 and the pre-season camp](https://ncfboulder.com/fall/): The fall hub for Boulder fencing families. A three-day pre-season camp runs Saturday August 8 to Monday August 10, 2026, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day, capped at 12 fencers, closing with a Monday season briefing for parents. $277, or $196 plus one session for monthly plan and punch card members. Every fencer needs a valid USA Fencing membership by Saturday, August 8, the first day of camp, because that membership carries the insurance covering training at the club. The free 90 Day Trial meets the bar and you apply online at https://member.usafencing.org/free-trial. Fall classes start after Wednesday August 12, 2026. The page also covers club membership tiers, the equipment deadline, and how to order gear through the club.
- [Pricing](https://ncfboulder.com/pricing/): Membership tiers and per-session rates.

## Getting started
- [Your first lesson](https://ncfboulder.com/first-lesson/): What the introductory lesson covers, how the one-on-one session runs, and how to book it.
- [The epee difference](https://ncfboulder.com/epee-difference/): Why NCF Boulder trains one weapon deeply.
- [NCAA fencing pathway](https://ncfboulder.com/ncaa-fencing-pathway/): How fencing opens a college recruiting path.

## About
- [About NCF Boulder](https://ncfboulder.com/about/): Club history, coaching, and approach.
- [Hall of Fame 2027](https://ncfboulder.com/news/hall-of-fame-2027/): Gary Copeland named to the USA Fencing Hall of Fame, Class of 2027.

## Writing
- [Blog](https://ncfboulder.com/blog/): Articles for parents on youth fencing, focus, safety, and the college pathway.