Email   Print   Share By Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious July 5, 2012 | Sports

Kids bounce around during a summer camp at Extreme Cheer & Tumble in Killeen Friday afternoon. SKIESUnlimited’s new partnership with the gym allows Fort Hood children access to Extreme Cheer & Tumble facilities in Killeen and Belton. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

Kids take turns performing acrobatic feats on the trampoline at Extreme Cheer & Tumble Friday afternoon during a summer camp. The SKIESUnlimited gymnastics program recently joined with Extreme Cheer & Tumble to give CYSS members an improved program with better facilities. The new partnership allows Fort Hood Families to use their Army Family Covenant money, while receiving a reduced rate, to enroll with Extreme Cheer & Tumble. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

Kids play on the uneven bars at Extreme Cheer & Tumble Friday afternoon during a summer camp. The SKIESUnlimited gymnastics program recently joined with Extreme Cheer & Tumble to give CYSS members an improved program with better facilities. With no increase in price, Fort Hood Families now have access to both of the Extreme Cheer & Tumble facilities in Killeen and Belton. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

Kids take turns bouncing on the trampolines at Extreme Cheer & Tumble Friday afternoon. SKIESUnlimited members can enroll with the gym using Army Family Covenant money. Daniel Cernero, Sentinel Sports Editor

Fort Hood’s youth have a new place to swing through the air and show off their acrobatics.

As of June, the SKIESUnlimited gymnastics program joined together with Extreme Cheer & Tumble – a local gymnastics facility, with locations in Killeen and

Belton – to take the program to new heights.

Previously housed at the Kouma Village Child Development Center, the program of nearly 60 kids needed a new home.

“From the beginning, ever since I started with SKIES, I’ve wanted to grow the gymnastics program,” said Sky Clarke, who recently transitioned from her position as the

SKIESUnlimited manager to another position within Fort Hood’s Child, Youth and School Services. “I had thought that this might happen at Kouma CDC, but once we saw that we couldn’t bolt down equipment, I started

looking for a new home for our program.”

What she found was the opportunity to partner with Bridget Wiley, the Extreme Cheer & Tumble owner, to give SKIES patrons access to improved facilities and the gym’s reputable and experienced instructors, Clarke said.

“Our partnership benefits kids not only here, but also ones in

Belton,” Clarke added, “and actually, there are a surprising amount of kiddos out in the Belton area that we’ve never served to before.”

Clarke said there has been a mixed reaction among parents, some stating their preference to stay on Fort Hood and others wondering why they wouldn’t enroll

directly through Extreme Cheer & Tumble.

“There are numerous benefits of going through SKIES,” Clarke said, noting a discounted rate as only one reason. “Through SKIES,

you’re paying the same price that you did on Fort Hood, which is $5-10 cheaper than if they went through them.”

With no price increase from before, Clarke said classes remain available for $40-$55, depending on the age of the child. That monthly fee covers four sessions, typically in a once-per-week format.

“And as long as the kids are mobile, they have kiddos from 18

months all the way to 18 years of age,” she said.

In addition to the reduced price, only SKIESUnlimited patrons have the ability to use their Army Family Covenant money toward these gymnastics classes, Clarke said.

She added that parents can continue to expect the support of SKIESUnlimited and Fort Hood to ensure that standards are being met.

“Now, all of their instructors have gone through our national background check, which before they had done local background checks,” Clarke said of the Extreme instructors. “The national background check is a requirement

to work with SKIESUnlimited and CYSS.”

One coach at Extreme Cheer & Tumble, Ali Bennett, said she’s noticed classes have already grown a lot, although she wasn’t sure if that was because of the recent partnership or the arrival of the summer.

Bennett said new customers have the option of a trial period and can sign

up with the gym for as long as they wish.

During the summer, the gym runs summer camps, in addition to the classes, and Bennett noted the gym keeps more of regular schedule during the school year.

The opportunity for SKIESUnlimited kids to enroll in gymnastics over the summer period is a welcomed addition, Clarke said.

“Generally, we stopped gymnastics altogether in the summer, because our facilities host summer camp programs,” she said. “This way, we’re

going to be offering gymnastics year-round.”

For more information about the program or to sign up, call the

SKIESUnlimited office at 287-4592.