From First Swing to First Swim - Highland Falls Kids Are Building Lifelong Habits This Summer
Golf Classic Tees Up 48 Kids for Free at the New Highland Falls Course
The 1st Annual Highland Falls Junior Golf Classic turned 48 kids into golfers for life on July 26. Ages 8 to 16, they played a 9-hole scramble at the brand-new Highland Falls Golf Course, which opened in May 2026. First Tee - Metro NY provided clubs and balls at no cost. Entry? Zero dollars. The payoff? Six kids, ages 10 - 12, already qualified for a regional First Tee tournament in August. That’s what happens when a community says yes to its youth. Kids learn a lifelong sport here - and they start swinging on day one.
Triathlon Triumph: 35 Kids Conquer Swim-Bike-Run, 4 Head to State Championships
On June 20, 35 gutsy kids aged 7 to 15 crushed the Highland Falls Youth Triathlon at Falls Lake Park. Fifteen were first-timers. Free weekly “Try-a-Tri” clinics in May and June, run by the Highland Falls Athletic Club and USA Triathlon, turned nervous beginners into unstoppable finishers. Now four of them are packing for the NY State Youth Triathlon Championship in Saratoga Springs on August 14. That’s follow-through - a summer splash that becomes a state-level sprint.
Free Swim Lessons Make a Splash: 112 Kids Enrolled, Drowning Risk Dropping
Water safety is the foundation here, not an afterthought. As of July 28, 112 kids ages 6 - 12 are enrolled in the town’s free “Learn-to-Swim” program at the Highland Falls Municipal Pool. It runs through July 30, fueled by a $75,000 CDC water safety grant. On July 24, 30 kids battled in the Kickboard Challenge - a 50-yard kickboard race. Winners snagged a free month at the pool and a Speedo swim bag. Every lesson, every kickboard lap, cuts drowning risk. That’s a lifelong skill. And a literal lifesaver.
Community Fuel: How Sponsors and Grants Are Turning Courts, Pools, and Fields Into Youth Sport Hubs
Local Businesses Drop $4,700+ in Equipment and Meals for Golf, Volleyball, and Swim Programs
Highland Falls doesn’t just talk about youth sports. It backs them with cash. Local businesses poured more than $4,700 into summer programs. SportZone Outfitters donated $1,500 in volleyball equipment for the July 19 - 23 youth volleyball clinic. Twenty-two kids ages 9 - 12 got free Mikasa V110W volleyballs. Highland Falls Hardware matched that energy with $2,000 for the golf classic. And Subway on Main Street? They kept seven swim challenge days running with $1,200 in free lunches. When kids learn a lifelong sport here, local business owners cheer right alongside them.
USTA Grant Resurfaces Tennis Courts; CDC Grant Keeps Pools Safe for 112 Learners
Two big grants made the difference between cracked asphalt and fresh starts. The USTA Eastern Section dropped a $50,000 grant to resurface the Highland Falls Community Tennis Courts in June 2026 - ready for fall tennis that opens July 30. And the $75,000 CDC water safety grant keeps those 112 kids safe in the pool. These aren’t anonymous dollars. They’re concrete investments in kid-sized futures.
Fall Is for First-Timers - Registration Opens July 30 for Tennis, Lacrosse, and Paddling
Tennis “Little Aces” and “Junior Rallies” Launch with Free Wilson Racquets
Fall registration opens July 30 for “Little Aces” (ages 5 - 8) and “Junior Rallies” (ages 9 - 14) on those freshly resurfaced courts. The 8-week session runs September through October. Cost: just $45 for residents, $65 for non-residents. First-time enrollees get a free Wilson Tour Junior 25 racquet - a $40 value and a lifetime of love for the game. Sign up at the town website now.
Lacrosse Rec League Forms After Try-It Day Nets 14 New Sign-Ups
At the Free “Try It” Lacrosse Day on July 10 - held at West Point High School Turf Fields via partnership - 28 kids grabbed STX starter sticks and soft balls. Fourteen signed up on the spot for a fall rec league starting September 11. Registration is $50, includes jersey and goggles. A stick, a team, a sport that stays with you.
“Parents & Paddles” Kayak Intro on August 15 - Free, Limited to 20 Boats
Mark August 15 at Lake Kanawauke. Ages 10 and up. Free kayak intro - but only 20 boats available. Register now through the town website, first come, first served. Because kids learn lifelong sports here. And so do their parents.
Total summer 2026 participation: 320 kids ages 5 - 16 in lifelong sport programs - golf, tennis, swimming, triathlon, volleyball, lacrosse. That’s a 12% jump from 286 in 2025. Data from Highland Falls Youth Sports Commission.
👉 Check out more youth sports success stories and triathlon training tips. External: First Tee - Metro NY | USA Triathlon Youth
