About
Junior Programs at Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center offer tennis for youth, including High Performance classes. High Performance classes are available by coach invitation or approval. Reservations are required for participation.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Winter 1 session runs January 5–March 1, 2026, and Winter 2 runs March 2–April 26, with hours of operation Monday–Thursday 6:30am–11:00pm and Friday–Sunday 6:30am–9:00pm
The Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center, also known as The Fort, opened in 2002 and operates as a public tennis facility and 501c3 non-profit organization. The mission of the center is to bring people together of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to embrace the lifelong game of tennis while serving under-resourced youth with the support of the community. Leadership for tennis programming includes Andrea Claassen, Tennis Program Coordinator; Robin Coverdale, Director of Tennis; and Dan Swanson, Manager of Tennis Services, along with Ryan Berkas and Brian Grossman.
Junior Programs are part of a broader youth focus that includes TennisWorks, a youth development program serving grades 3–12 through school and community partnerships. TennisWorks outreach programs are free and engage youth primarily through school and community partnerships to expand access and use tennis to support personal growth and social emotional skill development. At the heart of the program is a stated commitment to a safe, supportive environment with caring adults who reinforce the “Fort Five”: Safety, Respect, Commitment, Integrity, and Kindness. Financial need-based scholarships are available to support equitable access to programming, and as a public tennis facility the center offers some of the most affordable courts and junior and adult tennis programs in the Twin Cities.
The center has received several recognitions, including 2011 USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year, USTA Member Organization of the Year, and PTR Facility of the Year. It was featured in Tennis magazine’s “Heroes” issue in 2013, named an Aspen Institute Project Play Champion in 2018, and recognized by the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion as a National Youth Sports Strategy Champion in 2021. Reported feedback from participants includes that 98.5% of students say they have fun when attending the program, 98.5% say there is an adult they can trust, and 85% identify as a tennis player at the end of sessions.
Last updated February 23, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Winter 1 session runs January 5–March 1, 2026, and Winter 2 runs March 2–April 26, with hours of operation Monday–Thursday 6:30am–11:00pm and Friday–Sunday 6:30am–9:00pm
The Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center, also known as The Fort, opened in 2002 and operates as a public tennis facility and 501c3 non-profit organization. The mission of the center is to bring people together of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to embrace the lifelong game of tennis while serving under-resourced youth with the support of the community. Leadership for tennis programming includes Andrea Claassen, Tennis Program Coordinator; Robin Coverdale, Director of Tennis; and Dan Swanson, Manager of Tennis Services, along with Ryan Berkas and Brian Grossman.
Junior Programs are part of a broader youth focus that includes TennisWorks, a youth development program serving grades 3–12 through school and community partnerships. TennisWorks outreach programs are free and engage youth primarily through school and community partnerships to expand access and use tennis to support personal growth and social emotional skill development. At the heart of the program is a stated commitment to a safe, supportive environment with caring adults who reinforce the “Fort Five”: Safety, Respect, Commitment, Integrity, and Kindness. Financial need-based scholarships are available to support equitable access to programming, and as a public tennis facility the center offers some of the most affordable courts and junior and adult tennis programs in the Twin Cities.
The center has received several recognitions, including 2011 USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year, USTA Member Organization of the Year, and PTR Facility of the Year. It was featured in Tennis magazine’s “Heroes” issue in 2013, named an Aspen Institute Project Play Champion in 2018, and recognized by the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion as a National Youth Sports Strategy Champion in 2021. Reported feedback from participants includes that 98.5% of students say they have fun when attending the program, 98.5% say there is an adult they can trust, and 85% identify as a tennis player at the end of sessions.
Last updated February 23, 2026.
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