Thank you so much for another wonderful experience. I've been involved in USTA tennis for several years now, and captain a team that takes its tennis very seriously. One of my jobs has been to critique play. TLC has reminded me that all my critiques need to include a positive aspect. ALWAYS! I had been forgetting this. What a timely lesson to receive from TLC!
Bruce Lee, Roseville, MN
THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!
Besides being a wonderful tennis training ground, your program is tremendously inspiring and uplifting. Both last year and this year I left TLC with a strong desire to have a positive outlook in all areas of my life, including my athletic endeavors. I am so grateful for the experience. TLC is something everyone should experience at least once.
Christine Smith, Woodbury, MN, age 50
I FELT SO GREAT ABOUT MYSELF WHEN THE INSTRUCTORS KNEW MY NAME!
It made me feel noticed and not just "a face in the crowd". And when I was asked to play the song I had written, I didn't really know if I would. It's not that good of a song and I just didn't feel like anyone would really notice. Man, I was totally surprised! I loved the clapping I received afterward. I loved how staff and other campers came up to me that night and said what an awesome job I did! Even into the next day people were still talking to me about it! It really made me feel like I had a talent at something. Because of this camp I'm not only motivated to better my tennis, but I'm motivated in so many other ways as well! I'm motivated to better my guitar playing, to say thank you to more people in my life, to act more kindly towards my loved ones, and, most importantly, to grow into a close and personal relationship with God.
Laura Gudka, Ankeny, IA, age 17
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL DAYS SINCE I LEFT THE GUSTAVUS CAMPUS, but I still can't get that affectionate feeling out of my heart. I have been sharing my Gustavus experience with everyone at home, and it has made me realize that a final person I need to share my praise and thanks with is you. My time at Tennis and Life camp has most definitely been the highlight of my summer. When Cindy invited m
e to camp, I had no idea that not only would I be improving my tennis game immensely, but also I would be leaving with a greater respect for everyday life. Attending Tennis and Life Camps has helped my character become stronger, and has given me a passion for sharing these important lessons with others. I cannot wait until my high school season starts so that I can not only put my new tennis strokes to work, but can also work with my entire team to promote a higher level of sportsmanship. There are simply no words grand enough to express my gratitude. Tennis and Life Camps has helped me find a sport that I can appreciate for life. I hope you always understand and never doubt the value of this program, for I am sure that it has not only affected me profoundly, but every single participant that has completed the camp. My world of thanks,
Johanna Mueller, West Bend, WI age 16
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME.
I feel so great and welcome when I come to TLC. I can't wait to come back every year! Please tell the counselors thank you for their support in making me a better tennis player and person. For a while now I have been struggling with appreciating myself. I have been putting myself down and thinking I was not good enough to achieve anything. However, through my experience at this camp I have decided to start anew, to appreciate my blessings, and to love myself. I want to start looking on the positive sides of everyone and everything. It sounds weird, but with all of the joy and kindness I get from all of the counselors, I feel wanted and better about myself each summer. I have the opportunity to surround myself with their positive ness. Thanks again for making me realize the good in everyone and for showing me a whole new way to perceive myself. So next time I hit a bad serve or ground stroke, I will remember to point out the good I did. Your support is tremendous.
Bridget Hooley, Stillwater, MN, age 14
BEST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD!
I just wanted to send you an email on how much fun I had this year at Tennis and Life Camps. When I went a few days ago it was the best time I have ever had. I loved the hard tennis playing, hanging with friends, and the warm-hearted, fun staff. I am so glad that you made Tennis and Life Camps. I have progressed so much in tennis and in life as well. Whenever I go there you always make me do my best and never give up. They don't say "Travis, are you sure you can do this?" or anything like that. They expect me to do the drills like any other person. If they wanted to change a stroke of mine they would tell me what I needed to do to make it better. If the staff wanted me to try something new they would say, "Let s try this and see if it is better. If it is not we can forget it." What I have learned at Tennis and Life Camp is that you should always be positive, never give up, and be a good sport& The Three Crowns& so I just wanted to thank you and your staff for making Tennis and Life Camps possible and so much fun.
*Travis Spangler, New Brighton, MN, age 15
Please read Travis Spangler's story
THE KAREN GIBBS STORY IS INSPIRATIONAL!
Thanks again for a wonderful, motivating and inspiring summer camp experience for each child/adult attending—including those of us who only get to attend the closing ceremony!! I can’t tell you how much we benefit from that annual reminder of Karen’s story, the analysis of the Serenity Prayer, and the evidence of your deep commitment to sportsmanship, positive attitude and life skills through your program, words and example.
Kris and Gus Davis, St. Peter, MN
TLC INSTILLED IMPORTANT VALUES FOR CAREER AS COACH!
I was just reading “Days of Grace” by Arthur Ashe and I was thinking back to my wonderful time at Tennis and Life Camp. Although it has been at least eight years since I attended camp, I still have very vivid memories of you and your staff. This past May, I graduated from Tufts. Now I am the Men and Women’s assistant swimming coach at Connecticut College. I hope to instill many of the values that you taught me at TLC in my swimmers next year. Sportsmanship, positive self-affirmations, and being a team player are all things that you helped instill in my development as an athlete.
Ed Edson, Rochester, MN
I JUST LOVE GOING TO TLC!
The instructors are fun…so outgoing and helpful! Someone is always there to cheer you up and make you laugh! I have now been at TLC for four years, and every year I have enjoyed camp more than the year before! I feel so important! The instructors will help you with anything you need, which is really cool. I always wish I could stay longer!
Jacqueline Noah, Crookston, MN
The experience that we had this past weekend at Family Camp was worth a million bucks! We feel truly blessed to have spent a beautiful weekend with a wonderful group of instructors and campers!
Kevin Manion, Chanhassen, MN
I wanted you to know how much my daughter enjoyed Tennis and Life Camps. She camp home “absolutely” in love with life and with playing tennis. She is not an overly emotional person, but she cried on the way home because she was so sad to leave! What a great experience for a 14 year-old girl!
Ann Bremer, Mound, MN
TLC TEACHES US HOW TO BE BETTER PEOPLE!
Attending family camp for the past four summers has significantly enriched our lives. Not only do you teach us how to improve our tennis game, you teach us how to be better people! And the most brilliant part is that you do it with humor, and love, and without making us feel inadequate in any way. Amazing!
Rebecca Wagner, Edina, MN
HARD WORK IS FUN IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND LAUGH!
I absolutely loved camp! I never thought that I was going to learn SO much, and I never expected everyone to be SO nice! You all have so much knowledge about tennis. It is amazing! You guys influence a lot of people. Heading to camp I didn't know what to expect, but I did not think it would be so much fun. You guys have shown me that hard work can be fun if you have a positive attitude and laugh a lot and compliment others.
Rachel Butterworth, Apple Valley, MN
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH AT TLC!
Only a year ago my heart was pounding out of my chest with excitement at the thought of being an instructor at TLC. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the tremendous opportunity to not only teach tennis but also instill valuable life lessons…and simply love the 1800 lives that passed through here this summer. Yes, I have learned so much about the technical/strategic aspect of tennis…but I’ve also learned a great deal about the power of example, God’s sovereignty, the importance of a single smile, and the value of the two words, “Thank you!
Leah Moberg, Wausau, WI
LET LOVE SERVE!
Let Love Serve. This is how one of our campers signs her emails each time she writes to her friends. When I read it for the first time, I was once again hit by the magnitude of this camp. Tennis and Life Camps is an amazing place, a home for so many. Young people who crave direction in this crazy world receive guidance from TLC and they carry it home with them through memories, pictures, stroke mechanics, analysis cards and even t-shirts.
Leah Wessman, Waseca, MN
| WORKING AT TLC TEACHES US WHO WE WANT TO BE! Working in this remarkable atmosphere has been a great experience! This job is not just about learning how to run a great lesson on court, but learning what kind of person you are and what kind of person you want to become. Every summer we find out more about ourselves. Carrie and Michelle Wiersma, LaCrosse, WI |
TLC HELPS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS!
On the way to camp Laura didn't seem too excited. I was worried that she wouldn't make it and would want to come home early. This was her first overnight camp experience…
We said good-bye, but she asked me to keep my cell phone on. She still needed an escape route. I waited for the call from Laura, asking me to come and rescue her, a call that never came… On the way home, Laura talked constantly for over an hour about all the things she did, all the fun she had and all the new friendships she made. She talked about all the things she's going to do next year when she comes back! She has the names and e-mail addresses of all her new friends and can't wait to get home and talk to them some more. This is more than I ever could have hoped for. This was the greatest Father's Day gift that I could have received! Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter and for creating such an incredible experience for her. We'll see you next year!
Bruce Vircks, Marshalltown, IA
TEACHING AT TLC HAS HELPED ME CHOSE A TEACHING CAREER!
I’ve begun my internship as an English teaching assistant and varsity tennis coach. Thank you for the wonderful experience I had at TLC this last summer. What you are doing is truly changing the world, one camper and staff person at a time. It has affected me deeply, and helped one to chose my profession teaching.
Betsy Mork, Duluth, MN
My son Robert came off the plane with thankfulness, enthusiasm and the most wonderful stories about his four days in your program. He couldn't stop talking about the fantastic counselors. Robert has had a couple of rough months since his Dad (and best buddy) was diagnosed with lymphoma in March. It gave both his Dad and I such joy to see the smiles, the thankfulness and the happiness that he came home with. Perhaps the most impressive thing was indeed the thankfulness, which I attribute to the "life" component of your program.
Nancy Schaffer-Lodding, Niles, IL
Every time I come back from TLC I improve 150%. I can’t stop talking and thinking about it. My confidence and willingness to exercise has improved. And my eating has too. All I ever used to eat was junk food, and now I’ve really tried to have fruits and vegetables every day. And I even feel healthier! I cannot thank you enough for everything you do, not just for me, but for every kid that goes to TLC!
Kari Jo Johnson, Aitkin, MN
YOUR ADVICE ON SPORTSMANSHIP HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE!
Thank you so much for teaching us about good sportsmanship, mostly for encouraging us not to question line calls. Today I had a close match but I lost in a 3rd set tie-breaker. The girl questioned every line call that I made. This made me realize how good your advice was to not question line calls. It only makes your opponent angry and gives you a bad name. I had some calls that I could have questioned too, but I didn’t, because I remembered what you had told us! Your sportsmanship advice has given me more confidence in my game and the camp has made me a much better tennis player. Thank you so much for making my tennis season so great! Camp was awesome and I’ll see you twice again next year! Bye!!
Jessica Astrup, Austin, MN
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WRITING!
Skylar and I both enjoyed attending TLC very much. I enjoy listening to Sky talk with his friends about the great stories he learned of courage, motivation, teamwork, etc. I find it very encouraging there is a camp where the principles of sportsmanship are instructed in a way that can be applied to all aspects of life. I look forward to attending the camp for many years to come with Sky and his younger brothers.
Steven Milne, Apple Valley, MN
TLC GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO BECOME A CERTIFIED LIFEGUARD
Right after tennis camp I took my training to become a certified lifeguard. The leader Stephanie told us we were going to do the 500 ... which was 20 laps back and forth in the pool. All of the people in the class had been on the swim team... but not me... so I was having a hard time. But, I did finish! Then we had to retrieve a ten-pound brick from the bottom of the pool... and swim back to shallow water, without using our hands, and we had to swim on our side.... I was practically drowning... but I did make it!!!
After we got out of the pool Stephanie said to me, " Bethany, you're a good swimmer, but if you want a refund, I’ll give you your money back. This class will be getting harder, and I don't know if you'll be strong enough to handle it. You may want to build up your strength and come back next year. I'm sure you'd be ready by then." I was shocked, but grateful I still had the positive attitude I had learned at tennis camp. “I'm determined, and I will pull through!" I replied. Sure enough, by the end of the day, as we were doing our rescues and retrievals in the water, I was doing much better!! Before I left I asked, " How do you think I'm doing?" and she said “Much better!!” I was the only one of the younger kids who said, “Thank you”... and I think she appreciated that!!
By the end of my sessions I was a fully certified Lifeguard, First-aid, CPR, and Water Front Rescuer!!!! It felt so good to be finished with it!!! But I knew that if I had not kept a positive outlook on the class, I would have taken a refund on day one.
Every year at camp, I always leave feeling positive and outgoing!!! So thank you!!!! Tennis camp isn't just good for tennis.... but for LIFE!!!! Thanks again!! I love you all!
-Bethany Thompson, Aitkin, MN