Jacksonville Teen Pickleball Summer Camp: More than 40 local teens are spending their summer making memories at the Jack Amyette Recreation Center in Jacksonville. The city’s eight-week teen summer camp, for ages 12 to 15, runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers a variety of fun and educational activities.
Reopened Center Offers New Opportunities
The Jack Amyette Recreation Center reopened in February 2023 after being closed for over four years due to damage from Hurricane Florence. More than $5 million was spent on repairs and improvements.
Honytia Harris, supervisor at the center, said it’s great to have the building full of life again.
“To open this building was amazing,” Honytia Harris said. “It took some time getting here, but to open it, to see people walk through the door with a smile on their face, people that, you know, grew up in this area. They come back and they enjoy it as well.”
Packed Schedule Keeps Teens Active
The camp includes games, crafts, and field trips. So far, teens have gone ice skating and visited Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park in Wilmington. An upcoming trip to Top Golf in Myrtle Beach is also planned.
“If I was home, I’d probably be sitting inside,” said 15-year-old Demecha Simpler. “It’s good for me to be out.”
Phones are not allowed during the day, which helps campers stay active and social.
“It’s really fun,” said 14-year-old Robert Ortiz. “I get to play a lot of games with my friends, and every year, even if they age out, there’s always new people and it’s super fun.”
Pickleball and Other Camp Favorites
Pickleball is one of the most popular activities at the camp. Robert Ortiz said it’s his favorite game, and adults often join the teens on the court.
“This place now — amazing,” Robert Ortiz said. “The facility — perfect. Free pickleball courts, basketball courts, amazing.”
Campers also enjoy games like spider ball, kayaking, and learning card games like spades.
“I’ve been going to the camp for a while,” said 12-year-old Lauryn Ostrander. “This place is really fun, and all my friends are here.”
Staff Makes a Lasting Impact
Campers say the caring staff makes the experience special. Many teens return each year, and Honytia Harris enjoys seeing them grow.
“You see them walk through the door, ‘Hey, Ms. Honytia,’ and smiling, having a good time, that’s one of my main goals,” Honytia Harris said. “When I go over the rules, I tell them, I want you to have fun, you’re here to have fun.”
Older teens also help younger kids feel welcome and learn responsibility.
“I feel like there’s a lot more responsibility when you get into the older camp, because there’s new kids and they’re a lot older, so you have to be nice and stuff, and they’re really nice,” Lauryn Ostrander said. “I thought they were gonna be mean, but they’re really not.”
Building Friendships and Confidence
The teen camp is one of several run by the city of Jacksonville this summer. Other camps are taking place at Jacksonville Commons, Northwoods and Kerr Street recreation centers, as well as Jacksonville Commons Middle School and Parkwood Elementary School.
Honytia Harris hopes every camper leaves with new friends and happy memories.
News in Brief: Jacksonville Teen Pickleball Summer Camp
Teens in Jacksonville are enjoying games, trips, and pickleball at the Jack Amyette Recreation Center’s summer camp. The center reopened in 2023 after storm repairs. Campers aged 12 to 15 spend time learning teamwork, having fun, and making new friends in a safe, active environment.
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