About Us
About Milwaukee & Tennis Education Foundation
Operating as both a United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter and a Community Tennis Association (CTA), MTEF provides year-round tennis and youth development programs to help students reach their greatest potential. Through life skills training and positive adult coaches and mentors, MTEF empowers students to develop strong characters and critical life skills that will lead them to success.
Combining the benefits of high-quality tennis instruction with youth development helps MTEF to prepare its young participants to meet the challenges of adolescence to achieve their full potential. Through tennis activities and experiences, we offer much-needed opportunities for youth to develop social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies.
Our tennis program is built on four pillars: Wellness, Community Awareness, Like Skills and Academics.
Wellness: How to improve physical health through exercise (tennis) and nutrition.
Community Awareness: How to actively contribute to the community by serving as a role model and mentor to younger tennis players.
Life Skills: How to use skills learned through tennis (sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, perseverance, honesty, integrity, emotion control, etc.) in daily life.
Academics: How to transfer lessons and successes on the tennis court (time management, preparation, problem solving, responsibility, accepting feedback and adapting) into positive outcomes in the classroom.
Our Core Values
Integrity: We offer what we can deliver and work hard to achieve it.
Responsibility: We are responsible for our actions and their consequences.
Perseverance: We do our best in spite of any challenge.
Fun: We find enjoyment on the court, in the classroom and in our interactions.
Learning & Growth: We seek to constantly improve, learning from our everyday experiences.
Our Mission
Improve the lives and futures of Milwaukee youth through tennis, education and mentoring.
Our Vision
MTEF strives to create opportunities for children in Milwaukee, especially those from low-income families and communities, to learn a lifetime sport and, more importantly, develop into healthy, well-rounded, well-educated, tolerant, and compassionate human beings who will contribute to making their community and the world a better place.
Our Programs
To harness the power of tennis as a tool for youth development, MTEF provides a pipeline of neighborhood-based, low-cost activities.
MTEF Summer Tennis Camp offers 6 weeks of full and half‐day programming open to youth players (ages 8-18) of all abilities. MTEF coaches/mentors provide instruction on fundamental tennis skills and strategies while weaving in life skills, academic enrichment sessions, social and emotional learning, and camp fun and hijinks. One week of camp is held in rural Fredonia, Wisconsin to offer participants the opportunity to embrace the outdoors and spend time in a picturesque setting. The location also has tennis courts so campers can continue their tennis instruction. Last year, more than 120 children participated in our summer camp.
TEAM (Tennis Education And Mentoring) is our school-year program, serving around 60 children in grades 4-12 each year. Through this program, volunteer mentors and coaches empower a community of student-athletes to lead successful lives and make a positive impact on their communities. With a focus on building character, participants engage in weekly activities including tennis, tutoring, educational enrichment and more.
Community outreach programs provide the opportunity for us to introduce MTEF and tennis to youth that might not normally have the opportunity to enjoy the sport or have any exposure to it. Through the convenience of portable tennis nets, MTEF can be anywhere the kids are – gyms, playgrounds, schools, etc.
More About MTEF
MTEF programs are offered at various sites throughout the city of Milwaukee, but the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club is MTEF’s official home (3000 N. Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53210).
MTEF is run by a volunteer board of directors, with the day-to-day operations being assumed by Executive Director, Rachael Badt.
Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
