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Area youngsters learn tennis at JCC camp
youngstown
Three days a week in the hot summer months, a group of third and fourth graders from around Youngstown are taking part in a sport not known to many in the inner city — tennis.
More than 20 children from the Youngstown area are picking up rackets at the Youngstown Jewish Community Center and discovering new opportunities.
The camp is a collaboration between United Way, Israel Tennis Centers and Success After 6, an after-school group that specializes in providing extra opportunities for inner-city students. It began last year and was a tremendous success with the campers.
“At the beginning it was shaky because it’s not basketball or football,” said Brenda Scott, the Director of Success After 6. “They learned everything from scratch, including how to hold a racket and what the lines on the court meant. But they wanted to keep doing it. They were out there in 90 degree weather giving everything.”
Every participant from last year is back for more this year.
“The goal of the group is to teach tennis but tennis is the vehicle to teach those life skills like patience, sportsmanship, teamwork, paying attention and what it’s like to win or lose,” Sarah Wilschek, Program Coordinator for the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation said.
Wilschek said many of the kids were hooked when a volunteer brought in a book about Serena Williams.
“The kids were like ‘Oh my God she looks like me!’”, Wilschek said. “They were so excited.”
Ce’Ona Green, one of the 10-year-olds at the camp said that’s partly why she was initially drawn to the sport when the camp started.
“I want to be like Venus and Serena,” Green said. “I started playing in my backyard once I found out it was really fun.”
Scott said there will absolutely be a third year next summer.
“Parents agreed to it last year but this year they were banging down my door saying ,‘When is tennis signing up?’” Scott said. “It was an easy pitch this year.”
While tennis is a big selling point, the group also takes six swim classes during the month and gets exposed to other cultural activities. The group recently learned how to write their names in Hebrew. Their handprints and Hebrew names are hanging in a wall in Akko, Israel, where Israel Tennis Centers are located.
“We’ll also do things like challah baking, Israeli dance, art classes, screen printings or something else cultural,” Wilschek said.
Those interested in more information, becoming volunteers or donating to extend opportunities into the fall should email Wilschek at sarahwilschek@jewishyoungstown.org.