Dates Attended: June 16–20
Reviewed by: Anabel Capalbo, Portland parent and co-founder of School’s Out
TL;DR:
- 🕑 Half-day pickleball camp
- 🅿️ Parking is a breeze (read on for the pro tip)
- 🌞 Awesome indoor choice for hot summer weeks
- ✅ Prior experience helpful but not necessary
- 💯 Would do it again!
Jumbo’s Pickleball! We hadn’t planned anything for the first week of summer—until a friend suggested their Smash n’ Summer pickleball camp. It ended up being the perfect way to ease into that wonderful chaos known as summer break.
Ford, my 9-year-old, is no stranger to racquet sports. He’s done RecTennis camps and a few rounds of tennis lessons, but he was newer to pickleball. That didn’t slow him down one bit.
Getting There: Save Yourself a Trek
Let me spare you my Day 1 mistake: don’t enter from the Lloyd Center’s main level. Instead, drive straight up to the top floor of the parking garage. There’s plenty of parking and the entrance to Jumbo’s is right there.
The Vibe
The space is so nice—bright, airy, and clean. It's tucked into the top floor of the Lloyd Center and check-in was smooth every morning.
Ford brought his own paddle, but no stress if your kid doesn’t have one—loaners are available at the front desk.
The Experience
Coach Brendon was upbeat and welcoming, and the kids jumped in right away. The week was a mix of games, drills, and tons of on-court fun. On the final day, they wrapped up with popsicles to celebrate—a small gesture, but one the kids loved.
As we walked out, Ford immediately asked if he could go back. His summer’s already packed, but we’ll definitely be returning to Jumbo’s for open play soon!
