A Tennis Camp in Vermont for Serious Junior Players
By Nifer Hoehn, Director
Yes. Windridge was founded as a tennis camp in 1968, and serious players can train as much as they want each day on 21 clay courts, with a 1:4 coach to camper ratio, daily match play, and competition against other camps and clubs. Here is what a competitive junior's day actually looks like, and how to tell if Windridge is the right fit for your child.
The short answer for tennis families
| Key factors | At Windridge |
|---|---|
| Court time | Two tennis majors a day: 3 hours of coached training, plus tennis electives for up to eight periods a day on court |
| Surface | 21 clay courts: 13 red clay and 8 Har-Tru |
| Coaching | 1:4 instructor to camper ratio; most coaches are current college players |
| Grouping | Assessed on day one and grouped by ability, not age |
| Competition | Challenge ladders, singles and doubles tournaments, and matches against nearby camps and clubs |
| Session length | 17 days, long enough to see real improvement |
How much tennis can a serious player get?
The Windridge day has eight periods of about 45 minutes each. A tennis major is a double period, and a camper can take two tennis majors a day, which is four periods of structured training.
The other periods are electives, and serious players can fill them with more tennis: match play, singles, intensive tennis, and ball machine work. A committed player can spend most of the day on court, then sit by the campfire at night.
Coaching built around the player
With one instructor for every four campers, coaches coach. Every session includes individual feedback on technique, footwork, and tactics, not just drills run for a crowd.
Campers are evaluated on the first day and grouped by ability, so a strong 12 year old trains with players at their level, not with beginners their age. Many of our coaches are current college players who know what competitive junior tennis demands, and the program is led by Tennis Director and owner, Ramsey Hoehn.
Want more individual attention? Every tennis major includes one complimentary private lesson. Families can add a package of two private lessons for $160. After that, we can often fit in more lessons at $80 each, depending on weather and court availability, with a limit of one lesson per day. Private lessons are limited to 25 spots across all sessions, so we recommend booking early.
Clay is a competitive advantage
Most camps play on hard courts. Every Windridge court is clay, and that matters for a developing competitor. Clay slows the ball, which rewards consistency, heavy topspin, footwork, and building a point, the habits that win matches on any surface. It's also gentler on growing joints during weeks of daily training. Read more about red clay vs Har-Tru.
Real match play, not just practice
- Challenge ladders run throughout the session, so players always have the chance to set up a match and work on their game in a real match setting.
- A singles tournament by ability level runs in the middle of each session
- A doubles tournament mixes players into evenly matched teams.
- Matches against nearby camps and clubs give players opponents they haven't seen all summer
Is Windridge the right fit for your player?
Windridge is a great fit if your child:
- Plays tournaments or is working toward them, and wants a lot of court time over the summer
- Wants serious coaching and serious competition, without giving up the friendships and traditions of overnight camp
- Is between 7 and 15 and would benefit from two weeks of daily training on clay
Unlike a year round academy, Windridge pairs serious training with the rest of camp life: cabins, Teela Games, evening activities, and friends from 33 countries. That balance keeps players hungry, and it's a big part of why so many campers return summer after summer.
Tennis FAQs
Ready to train on clay this summer?
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