11 Pros, 11 Courts, and Zero Pressure: How Our Tennis Program Builds Lifetime Athletes
For a lot of parents, finding the right sports program feels like a series of compromises. You want your child to sharpen their backhand or find their balance on a waterski, but you’re likely wary of the “toxic” intensity that often comes with elite sports academies. You want them to grow, but you also want them to be part of a community that values being a good person just as much as being a good athlete.
Since 1948, when the Soloway brothers founded this camp, our mission has been to help kids reach their full potential while contributing to something bigger than themselves. That includes our athletics. Here, your child isn’t a “tennis camper”, they’re a well-rounded individual who happens to love the game.
High-Level Instruction from Mentors, Not Just Coaches
The secret to our program is the people on the court. We don’t just hire enthusiasts; we bring in 11 college tennis pros and former collegiate athletes to lead our sessions. These are mentors who have lived the grind of the varsity circuit and understand the technical details, the footwork, the serve mechanics, and the strategy, that actually help a child improve.
But more importantly, our pros are “Walt Whitman people.” They recognize that we are in the business of raising great kids. Instead of obsessing over rankings, they focus on passing down technical mastery and the simple, pure joy of a well-played match. They show our campers that you can push yourself to be an elite athlete while remaining a kind, down-to-earth friend.
The Bunk Family Connection
The biggest difference between us and a sports academy is our belief in the “summer family.”
After a morning of intensive drills on one of our 11 courts, our athletes don’t retreat to a sterile dorm to over-analyze match stats. Instead, they head back to their camp cabin to be with their bunkmates and staff members.
They go from perfecting a volley to jumping off the dock with their best friends, or heading to the dining hall for a noisy, laughter-filled lunch. Because our boys and girls eat meals together and participate in evening activities as one community, they learn to respect everyone as equals.
This balance ensures that their identity is never tied solely to the scoreboard. They are supported by a community that values them for the kind of person they are, not just how many aces they served.
Learn more about our warm & welcoming community.
The Multi-Sport Advantage: From the Court to the Lake
We don’t believe in early specialization. In fact, we find that our best tennis players are often our best waterskiers, too. The balance required to stay upright on a wakeboard, the focus needed to hit a bullseye in archery, and the resilience built during a team soccer match all feed back into a child’s performance on the tennis court.
By participating in a variety of summer camp activities for kids, our campers develop a diverse physical “vocabulary.” They aren’t just training muscles; they are training their brains to adapt, compete, and enjoy movement in all its forms.
Join the Camp Walt Whitman Family
If you’ve been looking for sleepaway summer camps that offer a professional level of coaching within a warm, caring atmosphere, you’ve found the right place. We invite your child to step onto the court, feel the lake breeze between sets, and discover that reaching your full potential is a team sport.
Ready to see the difference a “hands-on” approach makes?
- Learn more about our athletics and balanced programs.
- Take a virtual tour of our spectacular setting.
- Read more about our history and the Soloway legacy
