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Melissa Evans wasn't sure what kind of response she'd get when she offered a "beginning tumbling" class to youngsters in the west end of Sanders County.

That was about six weeks ago. Soon after she announced the class on Facebook, she had 14 kids between the ages of 6 and 12 signed up for a four-week session of tumbling classes at Whitepine Grange. Overwhelmed with the positive response, she added an additional hour to her Monday class schedule, split her students into two groups, and added two more weeks to the class.

For the past several weeks, the tumblers have been meeting after school Monday afternoons at the Grange. Evans pulls out some sophisticated tumbling equipment - blue folding mats, foam squares and wedges, inflatables and foam balance beams - and the joyful kiddos get gentle, carefully supervised instruction on how to do forward rolls, cartwheels, hand stands and more. Every class starts with warm-ups and simple body awareness exercises that help the kids burn off energy while improving their balance, coordination and confidence.

Evans, 42, has been involved in recreational gymnastics virtually all her life. Prior to moving to Montana, she taught gymnastics in Spokane. She and her family later moved to Ronan and then to Trout Creek, where they've lived for the past two years.

"My own daughter was begging for a gymnastics class, so we splurged on some equipment, found a place to hold the class, and here we are," Evans said. "I remember when I opened that first box to see a new, blue folding mat inside, I felt like a little girl again. I was thinking 'I'm 42, it's taken me all this time to get my first mat!'"

Jan Manning

Hadley Evans practices a hand stand during a recent tumbling class.

Initially there were two boys enrolled in the class, but they moved away, leaving her the girls, most of whom are 6 or 7 years old. During class, the parents observe from the sidelines, and once in a while a brave mother will step in to play along and offer moral support to a timid daughter. For the most part, though, Evans's personalized encouragement and active lesson plan captivate each child for the full hour of class.

"My goal is to teach them more than just recreational tumbling," she explains. "I want to help them develop a teachable attitude, the importance of good sportsmanship and supporting each other, and the rewards of working hard.

"It is a blessing to share this experience with my daughter and other children in our community. What a gift to have time and space for them to learn and challenge themselves, to get strong and encourage one another!"

Evans and her tumblers are taking a break now for spring and summer, but she intends to start back up with classes again in the fall. Those interested in enrolling their children can find out more by emailing Evans at [email protected].