Youth Tennis: USTA to offer summer camps for kids in Kelso

The United State Tennis Association will be offering a series of week-long youth camps for aspiring racquet swingers in Southwest Washington this summer at Kelso High School.

While not sponsored directly by the Kelso School District, the camps do come with an endorsement of Kelso tennis coach Mary Chennault.

“It’s been a long time since I took youth lessons,” Chennault admitted. “(But) I have taken lots of classes and clinics through USTA. They do an excellent job.”

The camps will be open to tennis players of all skill levels ages 5-17 and the cost is $150 per week.

“Participants will not only refine their tennis skills but engage in enjoyable activities, fostering a lifelong love of the sport,” noted a press release from USTA PNW.

The camps will run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until noon., and 1-4 p.m. The first date is set for June 17 with sessions continuing through Aug. 23. Players ages 5-10 will get the morning shift while players ages 11-17 will take the courts in the afternoon.

Equipment will be provided for anyone who needs it.

“There are lots of scholarship opportunities so people should be sure to reach out,” noted Lauren Skelly, regional manager of RecTennis for Southwest Washington. “The scholarships are in most cases 75% but can go up to as much as 100%.”