SKIES is designed to excite, inspire, learn

By Lynsey Beth Futa, Hawaii Army Weekly, U.S. Army Garrison-HawaiiMay 19, 2014

SKIES is designed to excite, inspire, learn
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – I.M. Kang, grand master of Unified Taekwondo of Hawaii, oversees the SKIES Unlimited tae kwon do programs at both Schofield Barracks and Aliamanu Military Reservation. The marshall arts instructor first began teaching 52 years ago at the age of 18 an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
SKIES is designed to excite, inspire, learn
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
SKIES is designed to excite, inspire, learn
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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii SKIES (Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration, and Skills) Unlimited Program, now in it's 11th year, continues to radiate participation and excitement with a variety of programs that encourages movement of the mind and body.

Staffed and operated under the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Child Youth and School (CYS) Services, the programs are open to every child registered as a member of CYS and offer varied programs ranging from "Dance Babies in Motion" to driver's education.

With classes and activities 11 months out of the year, parents can keep their kids busy while lessening their own busy lives.

-- SKIES expands horizons

Schofield Barracks and Aliamanu Military Reservation (AMR) offer classes to kids from the ages of 6 months to 18 years, and classes include various activities, such as hula and tae kwon do. The USAG-HI program is one of the largest in the Army.

On a typical Tuesday afternoon at the open and airy Schofield SKIES studio facility, I.M. Kang, grand master of Unified Taekwondo of Hawaii, and supervisor of the intermediate class, watched as his young protégés opened their class with stretching and motion exercises.

The purpose of the classes, Kang said, is to provide the young people a "short form of life."

"We set them up with goals," said Kang, who began teaching 52 years ago when he was 18 years old. "We teach them to never give up."

"He's really good (Kang)," said mother Cathy Parker, an Army spouse who waited outside the studio while the late afternoon class continued. "The children always respond and never act up. They respect him."

Parker watched through the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the studio, along with the family's 6-month-old Labrador Retriever while 8-year-old son Jack Parker prepared for an upcoming junior black belt test.

The program, she said, fits the family's lifestyle. Son Jack has participated for two and a half years.

"This is easy to use," Parker said. "We sign up monthly and go twice a week, which is good."

-- Defining SKIES

This program allows kids to "expand their knowledge, be inspired, explore, and acquire skills," as SKIES Unlimited pledges on its website.

Kristine Yasuda, CYS instructional program specialist for SKIES, exemplifies the heart of the program, reiterating the importance of creating a fun outlet for kids and their families in the Army community by offering dance, martial arts, theater and music.

Each class is designed to raise energy, create fun and increase learning. Yasuda explains that SKIES encourages families to start their kids in the program at a younger age by offering classes such as "Mini Mozart," seeing that kids absorb the most before they are teenagers.

With hopes of continuing to expand worldwide, SKIES promises to instill "the same core values and good morale, Armywide," Yasuda said.

-- Designed for military families

SKIES is not only a learning playground, but also a consistent beacon for relocated service member families.

For the parents who want to enjoy some time with their kids "Kinder Jam" is a perfect class to take. Kids from 1 years old to 6 years old bring their parents with them to a class of dancing, singing and learning.

Under instructor Tamara Jenkins, "Kinder Jam" is a hoot with silly educational songs and lots of laughter.

When SKIES' classes are in session, the goal is smiling kids and happy parents.

When asked what is the most rewarding part about being affiliated with the SKIES program at Schofield and Aliamanu, Yasuda replied, "Inadvertently watching kids grow and develop you see how proud they are to be a part of something."

-- USAG-HI SKIES

Classes are held at the CYS building at Schofield Barracks and also at Aliamanu Military Reservation in the old AMR Library. For information, call (808) 655-5314 (Schofield) or (808) 833-5393 (AMR).

Related Links:

USAG-Hawaii

USAG-Hawaii FMWR SKIES