North Carolina Esports Academy — Local services in Cary

My son participated in the Fortnite league over the summer. He loved it! Game days and practice days were his favorite thing to do all week!

As parents, my wife and I were admittedly a little skeptical of the concept of eSports at first. We hadn't previously heard of the concept and we weren't sure how we felt about our son playing more video games. I have to admit though, we were both shocked at how many positive impressions we walked away with after we gave it a chance. Some of our favorite surprises were:

Team work, communication, and practice were essential to competing with other teams. The games put a big emphasis on planning, strategic thinking, and problem solving. The participants build real friendships with other kids that extend beyond the facility where they play. The coach was very skilled at connecting with the kids on their level. He was super patient. He kept it fun for the kids, while still providing structure and guidance. On several occasions we overheard the owner talking with the kids about the importance of taking a break from video games and playing outside. The healthy emphasis on balance was music to our ears. The owner, coach, and staff all made sure that the language and conversations in the facility stayed appropriate and kid friendly. The location was fantastic. Parking was never an issue. There are tons of great places to eat within walking distance. There was even an outdoor playground and park area for our youngest to play while her brother was practicing/competing.

In summary - We liked it a lot. We'll be back. It's worth...

My son had a birthday party with 4 guests and the experience was not as expected. We were the only customers there with 2 employees at 1130 Sunday morning. The kids were unfamiliar with PC usage and all wanted to play on the same server. The kids were loud and all talking at the same time and doing their thing so I kept trying to relay what they wanted to employees. One employee was not able to instruct the kids how to do that. He even said “they can probably figure it out quicker than me.” The other sat in a chair and played with a fidget spinner. I had to keep an eye on the kids and tell the employees when they needed help since they weren’t paying attention. this was an addition to having set up everything in the party room . They were not capable enough to manage five children I can’t imagine having 10 kids in there as the party package allowed. Supposedly snacks and drinks were to be provided, but I had to get all of that myself as well. It was not offered even when the pizza arrived. Prior to the party, my communication by email received quick responses so I was impressed. However, my in person experience was not great. I would recommend that anyone think twice for younger children or children that do not have experiences using a PC. Another party appeared to arrive as we were leaving, and the employees engaged them as a group in a way that they did not with us. We all left...

Don't waste your money. Believe the other reviews of an "unsafe" environment and staff that "can't be bothered". Counselors seemed very young and the times I saw them, they were always scrolling on their phones, not interacting with or watching the kids. They do lunch and free time in the grass area of Waverly Place and make zero effort to monitor the kids and ensure their safety in such a public area. I was working at a nearby cafe and watched the counselors sit and scroll on their phones while the kids were running about the plaza. Anyone can approach these kids and walk off with them without the counselors ever noticing. Even the owner was present and did not bother to inquire who I was and why I had approached one of his campers. He said he "figured" I was fine inspite of having no idea who I was. If you own the camp, then you own whatever happens to these kids.

I never leave harsh reviews because that's not my style, but I wish I had known prior to spending $350 for a week of camp that besides being unsupervised, my child would be doing the exact same thing as if he were at home. There were no team-building or "educational" activities to speak of. Today was my child's first and last day at this "camp". To the little high schooler counselor that rolled his eyes at me: I hope this message makes you roll them even harder now. Grow some...