Paddles Up Pickleball
Groups: Explorers (Grades 5-8)
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country. Millions of people have picked up a paddle in the last few years, wondering why they waited so long. This summer our Explorers get to find out what all the noise is about firsthand at Paddles Up Pickleball in East Setauket, one of Long Island’s premier indoor pickleball facilities. Eight indoor courts. Paddles provided. Instruction included. No experience necessary. Just show up in sneakers and get ready to fall in love with a sport that has absolutely taken over America!
- Trip Dates: Check your campus calendar for scheduling.
- Location: Paddles Up Pickleball, 5 South Jersey Ave, East Setauket, NY 11733
- Lunch: Lunch is not provided on this trip. Campers should bring lunch from home.
- Snacks: A snack will be provided during the visit.
- Paddles: Provided by Paddles Up. Campers do not need to bring anything except themselves and their sneakers. (of course, campers can bring their favorite pickleball paddle if they choose)
- Spending Money: Not needed and not necessary. There is nothing to purchase on this trip. We are there for pickleball!
- Footwear: Sneakers are required on all courts. Sandals, flip flops, and Crocs are not permitted under any circumstances. Please send your camper in proper athletic sneakers.
- Phones and Cameras: Not permitted. CRU is a phone-free and camera-free environment across all trips and programs.
- This Trip Runs Rain or Shine. Paddles Up is a fully indoor climate controlled facility, so weather is never a factor.
- Transportation: Camps ‘R’ Us provides transportation to and from this trip from your home campus only. Departure times, arrival times, and return times will be communicated through the CampMinder app, exclusively available to enrolled CRU families.
What Campers Experience
Paddles Up Pickleball in East Setauket is one of Long Island’s premier indoor pickleball facilities, featuring eight indoor courts in a climate controlled environment purpose built for the sport. The day begins with a quick tutorial covering the basics: how to hold the paddle, the rules of the game, and the essential techniques that give every first-time player a real foundation to build on. From there the courts open up and the competition begins.
Campers rotate through doubles matches, pairing up with different partners throughout the session and getting the full pickleball experience of quick rallies, strategic shots, and the very specific joy of a perfectly placed drink that your opponent simply cannot reach. Paddles, balls, and court time are all provided. CRU counselors are on the floor throughout offering tips, encouragement, and the kind of enthusiastic support that makes every point feel significant. Water breaks and a campus snack keep energy high throughout the session, and by the time the last match wraps up, most campers are already asking when they get to come back.
Highlights
- The Fastest Growing Sport in the Country. Pickleball has exploded in popularity across every age group in America and for good reason. It is fast, it is strategic, it is social, and it is genuinely one of the most fun sports you can play regardless of your athletic background. Our Explorers get to experience it firsthand at one of Long Island’s professional facilities.
- Eight Indoor Climate Controlled Courts. Paddles Up East Setauket features eight professional indoor pickleball courts in a climate controlled environment. No weather concerns, no outdoor heat, just great pickleball in a purpose built space.
- Everything Provided. Paddles, balls, and court time are all provided by Paddles Up. Campers just need to show up in sneakers and bring their competitive energy.
- Doubles Format. Every match is played in doubles, meaning every camper is partnered up throughout the session. The rotating partner format means new connections are made with every match and the social element of the sport is front and center all day.
- Professional Instruction. The session begins with professional instruction so every camper regardless of prior experience starts with the same foundation. By the time the first match begins everyone knows the basics and from there anything can happen.
- A Sport Worth Keeping. For many of our Explorers this will be their first time playing pickleball. For some of them it will not be their last. Paddles Up offers lessons, clinics, open play, and memberships for anyone who wants to keep playing after the summer ends.
Why We Love It
We added Paddles Up to the Explorer trip schedule because we believe in introducing our campers to experiences that genuinely expand their world. Pickleball is not just a trend. It is the fastest growing sport in the country and it is growing because it is genuinely great, accessible, competitive, and social in equal measure. A sport where a camper who has never picked up a paddle can be competitive with someone who has played for years within their very first session is a rare thing and it is exactly the kind of confidence building experience that fits the CRU Explorer program perfectly.
We also love the setting. Paddles Up is a first class facility run by the best. People who are passionate about the sport and know how to make a first time player feel welcome on the court. By the end of the session the competitive spirit in that facility is going to be real, the rallies are going to be impressive, and more than a few Explorers are going to leave with a new favorite sport. We are here for all of it.
FAQ
Paddles Up is an Explorer program trip available to all campers in Grades 5 through 8.
Yes. Paddles Up is included as part of the Camps ‘R’ Us Explorer program at no additional cost.
Not at all. The session begins with a professional tutorial covering everything a first time player needs to know. No prior experience is necessary and campers of all skill levels are welcome on the court.
Yes. Paddles, balls, and court time are all provided by Paddles Up Pickleball. Campers do not need to bring any equipment.
Proper athletic sneakers are required on all courts at Paddles Up. Sandals, flip flops, and Crocs are not permitted under any circumstances. Please make sure your camper arrives in proper athletic sneakers. This is a firm requirement from the facility and CRU and campers without appropriate footwear may not be able to participate on the courts.
No. Your camper does not need to bring money to fully enjoy this trip. Everything is included and there is nothing to purchase at the venue. Honestly, we are there for pickleball and nothing else.
Lunch is not provided at the venue. Please send your camper with lunch from home. A regular campus snack will be provided during the visit.
No. CRU is a phone-free and camera-free environment for all campers across every trip and every program. Personal devices are never permitted. All photography is handled exclusively by designated CRU staff who have undergone extensive background checks.
Nothing changes. Paddles Up is a fully indoor climate controlled facility. This trip runs rain or shine, no exceptions.
Yes! Paddles Up Pickleball offers lessons, clinics, open play, and memberships for players of all levels. Visit paddlesupny.com for more information on how to keep the game going after the summer ends.
This Trip Is Part of Something Bigger
Paddles Up is one of the many field trips included as part of the Camps ‘R’ Us Explorer program, one of Long Island’s most trusted day camp experiences for kids in grades 5 through 8. With campuses across Nassau and Suffolk County including Syosset, Farmingdale, Massapequa, Bellmore, Hicksville, East Rockaway, Saint James, Kings Park, Williston Park and more, CRU offers families a screen-free, activity-packed summer built around confidence, friendship, and adventure. All programs are ACA accredited, and transportation to and from every trip is included from your home campus.
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