User:Clinehan/Skyhawks Sports Academy

Skyhawks Sports Academy is a youth sports camp organization based in Mead, Washington. The organization was founded by Jeff Heimbigner in 1979 with the goal of developing a sports program where children could learn sports in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment. Skyhawks offer camps in 11 different sports for children ages 3-15 in 24 states and Canada. The format includes traditional week-long summer camps and year-round after-school programs that range from 45 minutes to 6 hours, per day. The camps and programs follow progressive curriculum for youth at each stage of development.

Public-Private partnerships
Skyhawks Sports offers sports camps through public-private partnerships. City recreation departments, youth sport organizations, youth soccer clubs, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, school districts, and religious institutions, whose remits include community sports programs for children have formed partnerships with Skyhawks Sports.

1980s
In 1980, Skyhawks Sports offered its first soccer camp in partnership with Spokane Youth Sports Association. Throughout the ‘80s Skyhawks Sports offered soccer camps throughout the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon).

1990s
In the ‘90s Skyhawks Sports expanded its operations to include California, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Minnesota. In 1991 Skyhawks Sports created its Mini-Hawk program, which combined soccer, baseball and basketball for children between the ages of four and seven. Skyhawks Sports also added Roller Hockey, Golf, and Flag Football. After-school programs, a Skyhawks Sport website and online camper registration process were also added to Skyhawks Sports in the ‘90s.

2000s
In the 2000s Skyhawks Sports introduced Tennis, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Skateboarding, and Track & Field. Skyhawks Sports expanded into New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri.

Vision and purpose
The vision of Skyhawks Sports is to establish camps and programs in every community across North America. Its purpose is to teach life skills through sports.

Progressive curriculum
The company applies a five-step curriculum for children, who are grouped by age cohort:
 * Introduce
 * For children ages 3-5- Introduce the active lifestyle. First steps towards fitness and sports
 * Discover
 * For children ages 4-6- Discover sports. Concentrates on children’s attainments and self-discovery
 * Develop
 * For children ages 6-8- Develop the love of the game. Increase skills and strength
 * Refine
 * For children ages 6-12- Refining of skills. Advanced skills
 * Master
 * For children ages 9-15- Master the game. Highest level of achievement and skill

Safety
Skyhawks primary goal is to provide safe programs. Skyhawks Sports most well-known safety measures is the “Gate System and Parking Lot Duty.” Coaches greet parents and campers in the parking lot on arrival, and guide them via a check-in/check-out gate system into the field or court.

Sports

 * Soccer
 * Basketball
 * Flag Football
 * Baseball
 * Volleyball
 * Golf
 * Cheerleading
 * Multi-Sport
 * Tennis
 * Track and Field
 * Lacrosse

Staff
Skyhawks Sports' coaches' and site directors' job is to emphasize teamwork and learning life skills through sports. All Skyhawks Sports staff are required to complete a certification process that includes:
 * Interview & tryout screening
 * Proof of strong athletic skills
 * Proof of being a great role model for kids and a minimum 3.0 GPA
 * National background check
 * CPR and first-aid certification
 * Testing on and off the field or court
 * Training and skill development workshops

Skyhawks Cares
Skyhawks Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The goal of Skyhawks Cares is to help children raise their level of physical fitness while teaching life lessons through sports. Skyhawks Cares is a community-based organization to expand physical education opportunities for children through year-round sports programs.

ITP
Skyhawks Sports has created web-based data management solutions for the sports camp industry. Skyhawks Camp Manager system manages all camp data. Overseeing the development and maintenance of this technology is Interactive Technology Professionals, LLC (iTP). iTP is a subsidiary of Skyhawks Sports Academy, iTP’s predecessor was Thriva, LLC, which Skyhawks owned from 2002 until 2005. iTP is a group of technology specialists that provides technology solutions to its clients and partners. iTP offers web design, website hosting and application development. iTP's goal is to deliver superior technology that efficiently facilitates communication and clearly disseminates information to its end users.

Franchising
Skyhawks Sports began offering franchising opportunities in 2007. Local franchisees can now own and operate their own Skyhawks Sports camp. The Skyhawks Sports Program includes marketing strategies and the technology to manage events, marketing, and staff -- all of these are included in the Confidential Operations Manual.