Tennis, Pickleball, and the Joy of the Game at Maine Camps

Tennis and pickleball are a popular part of the Maine camp summer experience. These racquet sports give campers the opportunity to learn new skills, compete, challenge themselves, practice good sportsmanship, and have fun. For some campers, camp is where a lifelong love of tennis or pickleball begins. For others, it’s a chance to take a sport they already enjoy to the next level.

Either way, the courts at Maine Camps are places where campers learn how to hit a ball and much more!

Tennis: Learn and Play

Tennis has long been a favorite at Maine Camps, with camps providing comprehensive instruction throughout the summer. Campers, many of whom play several times a week, learn the fundamentals, including footwork, grips, serves, forehands, backhands, volleys and the strategy behind building a point.

Campers learn the rules, how to keep score and how to play an actual match. They practice their skills through singles and doubles games with friends, counselors and other campers.

For those who want more tennis, many camps offer additional opportunities during free time or as electives, including extra instruction and match play.

And then there are the ladders. At many camps, tennis ladders give campers a fun way to challenge one another and work their way up by playing matches throughout the summer. It adds a little friendly competition and gives players something to work toward, regardless of their experience level.

For more competitive players, tennis can extend beyond camp. Many Maine Camps participate in intercamp matches and tournaments, giving campers the opportunity to represent their camp, compete against players from other camps and experience the excitement of playing on a bigger stage.

Whether a camper is working on their first serve or preparing for an intercamp tournament, the goal is the same: learn, improve and enjoy the game.

Pickleball: Another Racquet Sport Favorite

Pickleball is another racquet sport favorite.

The sport is active, social and accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities. With a smaller court, lower net and underhand serve, pickleball can be easy for beginners to pick up and start playing.

But there’s still plenty to learn.

Campers work on serving, groundstrokes, volleys, positioning, footwork and strategy. They learn the rules and scoring, then put those skills into practice through games with friends and campmates.

Because pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, it’s also a great way to get on the court with a partner and spend time together.

Many Maine Camps have added dedicated pickleball courts, while others have added pickleball lines to existing tennis courts. The result is more opportunities for campers to grab a paddle, learn something new, and get in the game.

For some campers, pickleball becomes a new favorite sport. For others, it’s simply another fun way to spend an afternoon with friends.

At camp, both are good reasons to get on the court.

More Than a Game

Whether it’s tennis or pickleball, one of the best things about racquet sports at camp is that campers learn by playing.

They learn to serve. They learn to rally. They learn how to keep score. They learn what it feels like to win a close match and what it feels like to lose one.

And they learn how to handle both.

Sportsmanship is an important part of playing sports at camp. Campers learn to compete hard while respecting their opponent, celebrate a good shot without rubbing it in and congratulate the other player when the match is over.

We’ve been reminded of that during this year’s US Open. For instance, after his hard-fought quarterfinal loss to Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz responded with grace, praising his opponent and expressing pride in the fight he had given on the court. It was a good reminder that even at the highest levels of competition, how you respond to a loss says a lot about you.

That lesson is just as important at camp. You don’t have to win every match to have a great summer.

Sometimes the victory is learning a new skill. Sometimes it’s finally getting that serve over the net. Sometimes it’s moving up the ladder. Sometimes it’s playing in your first intercamp tournament. And sometimes it’s simply having a great rally with a friend.

Find Your Game

At Maine Camps, there are plenty of ways to get on the court.

Maybe you’re a tennis player who loves the competition. Maybe you discover pickleball for the first time and can’t put the paddle down. Maybe you play both.

There’s room for all of it.

Because summer camp isn’t just about becoming a better athlete. It’s about trying something new, challenging yourself, playing with friends and learning lessons that stay with you long after the final point.

Game, set, tennis match. And maybe a some pickleball, too!

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful Select-A-Camp tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth. Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.