Discover the Excitement of Pickleball with Our Beginner Lessons!!!

The Islands Pickleball Association (IPA) will again provide adult beginner pickleball lessons in June and July on Saturday mornings at the North Hero courts behind the Elementary School.

There will be two sessions from 8:00am-10:00am and 10:00am-12:00 on four consecutive Saturdays. There are 12 available beginner slots in the 8-10 session and 12 slots available in the 10-12 session. Time slot preferences will be assigned based on a first-come-basis.

Participants need to be able to commit to the four consecutive sessions as each week’s skills build on the prior week’s session. Beginners should wear athletic shoes, ie., no sandals, no hiking boots, etc. and also bring a water bottle. The IPA will provide loaner paddles for all participants.

To reserve a slot in the June beginner training, interested folks should send an email to John Miner, jpminer@bellsouth.net, with their session preference, 8am-10am or 10am-12. Session preferences are not guaranteed and will be based on a first-come-basis.

Summer Pickleball Camp for Grand Isle County Youth!!!

It’s summertime and school’s out!  You know what that means?  More time for pickleball! The fastest growing sport is now a summer camp your kids will love! Pickleball is easy to learn and tons of fun. The camp will teach hand-eye coordination, agility and balance in an encouraging setting utilizing pickleball drills and games. Kids will have so much fun, they won’t realize the cardiovascular benefits they are receiving, which can improve mood and mental wellness. Wear gym/court shoes (no open-toe shoes) and bring a water bottle and snack. All pickleball equipment will be provided.

The camp is open to all Grand Isle County youth, ages 8-12, and will be the week of July 15-19. All sessions will be held at the North Hero courts behind the Elementary School. Cost is $20 for all Grand Isle County youth.

REGISTER HERE FOR PICKLEBALL CAMP

Courts Are Open – The IPA 2024 Season Has Begun!!!

The grass is greening, the sun is getting higher and the Donaldson nets are up!

The schoolyard courts in North Hero, the Alburgh courts and Isle La Motte courts are all open. The North Hero courts will only be scheduled on the weekends until the students get out of school on June 14.

Check on Playtime Scheduler to confirm play times at all locations.

PLEASE NOTE: Prior to signing up to play, it is very important that you complete the 2024 IPA registration.  The registration process automatically builds our 2024 membership contact list, electronically captures the updated 2024 liability waiver form and emergency contact information and most importantly,  it ensures that you will receive all notices regarding IPA pickleball and social activities throughout the 2024 season.  Please click below to register.

Click to REGISTER NOW! for the IPA 2024 Season.

Knight Point State Park – An Update

Through the off-season, Court Perry, Paul O’Leary, Dee Steffan, and Tim O’Reilly have been working with representatives from the Vermont State Parks and Engineering Ventures, a Burlington engineering firm, on the final KPSP designs and permitting issues. Progress has been made and we’re hopeful the permitting will go smoothly and the Request-for-Proposals will be issued in late spring or early summer. Depending on the permitting requirements and the returned bids, the project budget may need to be adjusted. We anticipate court construction will occur this year, but probably not soon enough to see much playing time this season.

Thanks to a $3,000 anonymous matching donation offered at the end of 2023, we saw a $6,000 surge in donations.  Including the State’s $20,000 contribution, we now have $107,618 of the approximately $120,000 needed to build the four courts.  We will continue to fundraise the remaining $13,000 or more, but the State has indicated our current fundraising level is enough to move forward with the KPSP project.

Need the link to make a donation? Donate Now!!!

* IPA TV? Click Here

Latest IPA News!!!

  • Isle LaMotte Court Fencing: New fencing was installed around the courts in Isle LaMotte in 2023; this is a great addition and will help in preserving the investments made by both the Town of Isle LaMotte and the IPA; see the IPA Photo Gallery for more pictures.
  • Alpine Shop, Vermont’s largest pickleball shop, is proud to become the locally owned retail sponsor of the IPA. IPA members will receive 10% OFF Pickleball paddles, balls, shoes & all casual clothing; see Good Deals on New Equipment for more details.

  • North Here Courts: The North Hero school courts were re-surfaced in late 2023 and have new lines; they will be ready for lots of pickleball once school is out. Check the Playtime Scheduler for new schedule and the IPA Photo Gallery page for more pictures.
  • Need a New Paddle? The Islands Pickleball Association (IPA) is pleased to provide its members with three options for purchasing new pickleball paddles or other pickleball equipment at discounted prices.
  • For more details go to Good Deals on New Equipment.

  • Donaldson Shed delivered and leveled by Court, Moose and Tim in 2023; Great Job and Thank You!
  • New Pickleball Machine: There is a now a pickleball machine available for IPA members use at Donaldson. Please read the Safety Precautions and Instructions for use and see Court Perry for access into the shed.

Introduction to Islands Pickleball Association

The Islands Pickleball Association, Inc. (IPA) has the stated mission “to promote the game of Pickleball, and to provide for organization of Pickleball programs and activities in Vermont’s Grand Isle County”.  Pickleball is similar to tennis, and is played on a smaller court with a net, paddle and ball.  It has increased in popularity over the past ten years, particularly among the senior population.  Pickleball promotes increased activity, physical and mental wellness and social networking for all, which is particularly helpful in the senior citizens in the islands.

The IPA offers introductory pickleball sessions each summer. With more courts and more volunteer instructors, interest in Champlain Islands Pickleball continues to expand each summer, and IPA membership continues to grow.  In the broader view, pickleball continues to be the fastest growing sport in the nation, and accordingly, will impact the growth of pickleball in the Champlain Islands.

Islands Pickleball Association