In its 10th year, the Minot Park District’s Junior Tennis Camp drew 160 elementary school-aged students, according to Director Marc White. The eight-week program teaches the children proper techniques and begins developing their playing skills.

“The main thing we are also doing is inspiring the kids to be life-long players, life-long park users,” White said.

Open to grades first through eighth, the program held sessions at Hammond Park and the South Hill Complex.

Using a short court with graduated length based on age, rackets sized to young hands and lower compression balls, children are given a positive introduction to learning the game, White said. The camp also has its own terminology to help students remember how to swing or hold their rackets, such as “don’t kill the butterfly,” “shine the flashlight” and “trophy position.” Students learn techniques through playing drill games with names such as “Shark in the Tank” and “Alligator Pit.”

Jill Schramm/MDN A group of students at a July 30 session of Junior Tennis Camp take a break to pose with their instructors in Hammond Park. They are, from left, instructor Colby Opp, students Addi Bannon, Everly Hendrickson, Stella Brown, Eva Hussey, Polly Hackett, Connor Hussey, Jacobi Anderson, and instructors Sylvia Cowper and Marc White.

“It’s a really effective way to help players learn tennis fast and have fun,” White said of the accommodations and curriculum. “If you don’t have fun and success early on and give up and go on to another activity, you’ve lost a whole generation.”

Polly Hackett, who is entering third grade, attended the program for her second year.

“I like hitting the ball and I like playing games,” Hackett said during a session on July 30. She said she enjoys playing a variety of sports but considers tennis one of her favorites.

Eva Hussey, a third grader in her second year in the tennis program, said it was her interest in sports that led her mother to seek out more opportunities for her, discovering the tennis program. Eva said tennis has become her third favorite sport overall but a top sport for summer. Her love for tennis camp is more than fun and games.

“I know lots of people here and can always make new friends,” she said.

By encouraging interest in tennis, the junior program serves as a feeder for competitive programs at the high school level, White said.

“It’s been good for the community,” he said. “If we didn’t do this, then what would happen? All of a sudden, there’s no one who is interested in playing tennis or playing on a high school team, or they don’t have any experience.”

The summer program is offered at minimal cost as part of the park district’s service to the community. In the winter, Cameron Tennis Center offers a Superstars program for youth on Saturdays.

This year’s camp ended with a jamboree, which brought all the students together on the final day for games, drills, matches and prizes.

Children will have another chance to engage in outdoor activities during the park district’s Back to School Bash on Aug. 7 from 10 a.m.-noon at the South Hill Complex. There will be inflatables, food, games, face painting and more. The event is free to attend.