Mental Strength Training with Alex Freuman

Week of February 14, 2026

We all know that play is an essential mechanism for cognitive development in young children, but few of us recognize how essential playing is to our brain into adulthood and especially as we age!  Games and problem-solving activate new and different neural pathways that help maintain cognitive function throughout our lives. Chess coach and puzzle enthusiast Alex Freuman brings an array of fun activities to give your brain as much of a workout this week as your body is getting … don’t miss this chance to stretch your mind after a satisfying day of physical exertion!

Social Chess
Join Alex and your fellow chess enthusiasts nightly from Sunday through Wednesday at 7pm for social chess games. Play social chess games with others, or participate in informal chess lessons if you’d like to learn!

Escape Room! (60 minutes)
If problem solving, puzzle decoding and relying on your wits to get out of sticky situations are skills in your wheelhouse, then come team up with your fellow Ranchers to collaboratively try to  solve an Escape Room challenge!  In this team activity, your group will put your heads together to race against the clock and escape the room before time runs out!

Juggling
Juggling is a great way to build ‘muscle memory’ and practice the type of coordination that works out your brain… and it’s a fabulous party trick to liven up a gathering and impress your family and friends!  Join Alex to learn the basics of 3 ball juggling; those with basic knowledge of juggling will learn more advanced skills.  After you start to learn the basics, you can practice all week with special juggling balls and bring home a new skill from your week at the Ranch!

Alex Freuman, MS, BA, is a high school STEM teacher who holds a BA in mathematics from Oberlin College and an MS in mathematics education from Hunter College in New York City.   At Oberlin, Alex was a founding member of the Juggling Club, where he honed many circus skills, including fire juggling, fire eating and balancing tricks. Also, a long-time chess and puzzle enthusiast, Alex coaches the chess team at Nyack Highschool (Nyack, NY), is faculty advisor for the Nyack Highschool Puzzle Club, is the founder and President of the Rockland County Chess Club, and is a certified US Chess Tournament Director.  His current United States Chess Federation (UCSF) rating is 1900, and he hopes to break 2000 before his children beat him to it. Alex is passionate about creating community and fostering multi-generational connections through the joy of chess.