Our Programs
Developmental Tennis Programs
Tennis programs for youth ages 7 to 18 provides year-round (indoors from October to June and outdoors from July to September) tennis training for beginners to tournament level players. Programs include: 10 and Under; Beginners and Advanced Beginners; Middle to High School Players; Future Novice Players and Tournament Players. For youth ages 6 to 14, LTS provides year-round tennis programming at the Kroc Center; specifically after school during the school year and June through August. The goal of this programming is to encourage participants to matriculate into the College Readiness Program.
Workforce Development Apprenticeship Teaching & Training
This program prepares youth and young adults with the teaching skills necessary to be hired to provide tennis instruction at Chicago Park District sites and various other recreational tennis program sites. Once trained, our young coaches can also help run our other programs and lead community sports days. Components of the on-court curriculum utilized has been endorsed by the United States Professional Tennis Registry and the United States Olympic Committee.
Youth Mental Health & Wellness
Mental health and wellness is a crucial but often under-addressed aspect of youth in under-resourced communities. Love to Serve's initiative meets youth where they are while ensuring that they understand how self-care is crucial to their mental health and personal growth and development. Youth are taught how to identify their own areas of personal strength and understanding of health and wellness through a series of workshops, field trips and products and supplies that will help round out their wellness survival kit.
Beyond Borders
As a Love To Serve / National Junior Tennis League affiliate Chapter of the United States Tennis Association Governing Body of Tennis and in partnership with Winward Academy; we provide access to the comprehensive online SAT/ACT Prep for Ethiopian students in grades 9th-12th. Haile-Manas Academy located in Debre Birhan, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, is our international partner. This is a premier private college preparatory boarding school for the country’s most promising and motivated secondary school students, admitted independent of financial circumstance.
Pathway to Excellence:
College Readiness & ACT/SAT Prep
LTS helps develop and prepare students to be successful in their home lives, both on the tennis court and in the classroom. Specifically, the program will provide student athletes with academic support, educational enrichment, college preparation and tennis training. Students will receive tennis training throughout the week and workshops conducted throughout the year in the following areas: ACT/SAT Preparation, Scholarship Application Completion; College Application and Essay Preparation, and Resume Writing. Every student’s academic achievement and college readiness will be closely monitored to ensure that the student is on track for success. Participants of the program should expect to improve their GPA and ACT/SAT scores; and be able to qualify for an NCAA scholarship or academic scholarship upon graduation. ACT and SAT tutoring is provided in partnership with Winward Academy to students in both Chicago and Ethiopia.
