Jedis in training

As the flashes of red, blue, green and orange started, 7-year-old Max Coine flew down a slide as the battle began, running across the playground to meet his first foe.

“No one takes me alive,” Max said, brandishing his lightsaber.

Five- to 12-year-old boys scrambled around a jungle gym at the city gym and pool fiercely wielding their lightsabers, some barely taller than their weapon, battling their fellows, as the fallen lay crumpled on the grass.

Battling is just one of the activities at the “Star Wars” camp, where lightsabers play a vital role.

“They really live for the battle,” said Matt Claybrooks, the camp supervisor. “Really, if they could do it all day, they would.”

The battle allowed the boys to practice using their minds, instead of their physical strengths, Alyssa Chaffey, one of the teachers, said. The Jedis pretended to fight, until they got hit in the torso three times and “died.”

Max Shea, 6, said he liked to battle because he gets to fight people, which is one of the reasons he likes “Star Wars.” In the weeklong day camp, the future Jedis learned concentration, agility and how to put on a play. The 22 campers broke up in groups and performed six scenes from “Star Wars” for their parents Friday, while two groups created their own original scenes inspired by the movies.

“The kids are really excited. They told their parents there is a surprise and to bring their video cameras to film them,” Chaffey said.

The boys spent the week rehearsing lines, choreographing the scenes and learning to project their voices.

“I like to do the battles, and when I heard we were doing the scenes, I was excited,” Daniel Moss, 9, said.

Niko Boone, 8, got to play his favorite character, Luke Skywalker.

“First I kill Count Dooku and then Darth Vader kills others,” Niko said. “Then Darth Vader cuts off my arm and then I stab him.”

Niko works his own form of movie magic by putting his arm under his shirt to give the appearance of having lost a limb.

“I like doing stuff and memorizing stuff and being with other people,” Niko said.

Besides battling with lightsabers and rehearsing scenes, the boys practiced Jedi agility and concentration. Dante Guardi, 7, said he likes the word searches and drawings for concentration. The boys practiced their agility by trying to hit a foam rocket with a bat without looking at it.

“Matt teaches us how to do the Force,” Max said.

The “Star Wars” camp is adding an additional week from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 to 7. Tuition is $150. For more information, see the Summer Sands recreation guide at www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us.