U.S. Tennis Association Pacific Northwest hosting camp at Colony High

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Summer Recreation Guide 2026

The U.S. Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW) RecTennis Camp returns to Colony High School this summer. Running from June 1st through July 24th, this camp is designed to bring the sport of tennis to all ages and provide young men and women with an active and outgoing outlet this summer.

There will be two camps offered each day, Monday through Friday throughout the eight week program. Athletes ages five through 10 will meet from 9 a.m. to noon and athletes ages 11-17 will meet from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Equipment is provided and sessions are led by local coahces.

Each day of the week will focus on one of the tennis basics. Athletes that sign up for one week will work hard to receive a good foundation. Those who stay for multiple weeks will continue to grow and expand their skills throughout the course of the program. The curriculum welcomes new tennis players at any time and will meet them at whatever skill level they arrive with.

"These summer camps are designed so that anybody can sign up. They're meant to be as accessible as possible," Associate Director of Recreational Tennis Development USTA PNW Maggie Fiocchi said.

The goal at the end of the season is to have athletes not only knowledgeable and skilled, but confident enough to the point where they could pick up a racket and play a match with their friends. Athletes will take away not only new skills, but make new friends and develop long-lasting character traits that will benefit them on and off the court.

"By the end of it, they've made new friends. They've got some foundational skills and knowledge of how to play the game of tennis. It is a lifelong sport and that's something they can always come back to."

Class sizes range upwards of 20 athletes and can easily split up to work with similar age groups and skill levels. These summer camps provide a supplemental training source for other sports like volleyball, soccer and football and bridges the summer gap between school seasons.

Parents can sign their young athletes up at https://www.ustapnw.org/rectennis/. There they can choose which weeks they would like to sign up for and find more information on the program. Scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance.

These courses have been offered at Colony for multiple years and the continued interest has kept the program going. In a state where courts and materials are limited, these camps provide an affordable and fun way to connect with a new sport. And with the long, cold winter followed by a drawn out spring, young athletes from across the Valley looking to get outside will have a great option to stay active with the tennis camps this summer.

"These summer camps are designed so that anybody can sign up. They're meant to be as accessible as possible."

— Associate Director of Recreational Tennis Development USTA PNW, Maggie Fiocchi

"Our goal is to grow the game in Alaska" Fiocchi said.

RecTennis will be offering adult courses this year in addition to children and teen camps. These sessions will take place at Colony on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for June 9th through June 25th. This new opportunity will help involve the entire family in the sport of tennis this summer.