(Tuesday, October 2, New York) – New York Junior Tennis & Learning is expanding its STEAM offerings throughout its ACES Afterschool and Community Tennis Programs at this year’s Fall Festival. After three years of running the very successful NYJTL STEAM Expo, the organization is including STEAM activities in its outdoor back-to-school Fall Festival Monday, October 8. Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics are at the core of all ACES Afterschool teaching.
Arthur Ashe, founding father of the National Junior Tennis & Learning model, knew that tennis was the hook to teach children about things more important than tennis and NYJTL has learned that their expertise in sports, activity, and motion combined with STEAM learning is the perfect recipe for fun, engagement, and long-term skill acquisition.
“STEAM is infused in all of our everyday activities, including tennis. That’s why it made sense to include it in our fall festival offerings,” said Jen Wohl NYJTL Chief Education Officer. “Making STEAM activities accessible, engaging, and fun is the best way for young children to learn.”
The event runs from 10 am to 3 pm and takes place in Crotona Park, home of the NYJTL flagship, the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the heart of the Bronx.
Over 1,000 children from NYJTL’s five borough network and local Bronx children and families will experience the outdoor celebration that incudes tennis, STEAM activities, African Drum Dance, Zumba, face painting as well as experience the interactive Bronx museum bus where children and families learn the science behind the workings of the local Bronx River.
In addition, due to NYJTL’s partnership with First Book, children who attend the event will enjoy visiting reading tents. Children will be able to leave the day with a free book of their own to bring back home.
As part of its mentorship and volunteer training, high performance players from the Intensive Training Program and Advanced Training Program will give back time by assisting the on-court tennis training element for the day.
NYJTL believes that life skills gained through tennis and education are a catalyst for long-term academic achievement and the non-profit is investing heavily in the model of combined sports and education learning.
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About New York Junior Tennis & Learning
The mission of New York Junior Tennis & Learning is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. Since 1971, NYJTL has changed lives through tennis, education, healthy living, and character development programs. Today, it is the largest youth tennis and education non-profit in the nation, reaching more than 85,000 K-12 New York City youth.
In June 2015, the $26.5 million Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning opened its doors as the flagship home of NYJTL in the heart of the Bronx. In April 2017, the center completed its final phase of construction and opened the Pershing Square Stadium, the Victor Kiam Stadium, and the Dalia and Larry Leeds Viewing Bridge. The Cary Leeds Center provides more than 6,000 hours of free tennis court time annually to the community’s under resourced youth.
NYJTL celebrates the diversity of the children who participate in every program, providing 3,000,000 hours of year-round programming that serves youth from all five boroughs. All NYJTL Community Tennis and Afterschool programs are offered at no cost to its participants.
For more information, contact:
Joe Ceriello, NYJTL Marketing & Communications, (917) 693-6672; jceriello@nyjtl.org
The ACES Afterschool program uses tennis as an avenue to teach children the life skills necessary for success later on in life, though it doesn’t stop there. Activity specialists also offer instruction in everything from art and dance to robotics and cooking in order to develop character and ignite a passion for learning in children that goes beyond the classroom.
