Genevieve Loose is always searching for new summer activities for her 10-year-old daughter. However, she says Jasmine resists most suggestions.  "She just wants to stick with tennis," said Genevieve Loose, an Upper Hanover resident.

            For the third straight year, Jasmine is one of 47 students between the ages of

6 to 13 attending the Upper Perkiomen Tennis Camp. Genevieve Loose described the sport as one of her daughter's favorite activities.

            The focus of the camp – which started Monday and concludes Friday – is to teach the fundaments of the sport, which includes serving, forehands, backhands and volleys at the net. Scoring and court placement will also be covered. The purpose is to provide a fun atmosphere for beginner-level instruction to children interested in learning the game. 

            "It's fun to see the kids enjoying themselves," said John Williamson, Upper Perkiomen's boys and girls tennis coach and camp organizer. "We want to keep things light and fun. Tennis should be a fun sport.

            According to Williamson, the camp – in its sixth or seventh year – is necessary to promote the sport in the valley, help develop future players for his team and raise funds for the high school's boys and girls tennis teams.

            Approximately half the campers are new, according to Williamson, who added that he ended the registration period early to keep the number manageable.

            He said he suspects the camp's relative success has helped lead to large groups of ninth graders coming out for the tennis teams in recent years.

            "This sport is growing the valley," said Jim Souder, an instructor at the camp and a member of the Alvernia University men's tennis team. "I see a lot of people playing the sport. This camp has helped a lot."

            Five minutes before noon Monday, Williamson ended the first day of camp by blowing his whistle. The campers encircled him, placed their racquets in the center and recited a cheer.

            "I saw a lot of good things," the coach said. "Let's keep it going tomorrow."

            Williamson relies on 11 young adults – which includes eight current Upper Perkiomen players on the high school team, along with two graduates playing tennis in college – to handle most of the instruction. He said five or six of those instructors attended the camp. Souder, a 2015 graduate of Upper Perkiomen, says teaching the game reinforces his reliance on the fundamentals.

            "Since I'm so enveloped in the game's other aspects, I sometimes forget about those things," said Souder, a Marlborough Township resident. "Teaching kids is a good way to get back to the basics."

            All but 1/6 of the campers have previously played the sport, according to Souder. Genevieve Loose said she could envision her daughter playing tennis for the high school team.

            "Jasmine serves the ball better than I do," Genevieve Loose said.

            Nora Parr's two children Landon, 10, and Sylvia, 8, participated in the camp for the second straight summer.

            "They asked to come back," said Parr, an Upper Hanover resident. "They had a good time last year, and the camp is very well run. Three hours a day is the perfect time."

            Parr said that even though her children play other sports, tennis has emerged as a family activity which they can continue to play throughout their lives.  

            According to Souder, working with the younger kids is equally as rewarding as teaching the more experienced players.  Williamson said he gets special satisfaction when he pulls a child aside and helps them understand a specific facet of the game.

            "It's the same thing with coaching the high school kids," he said.