Every week Orcas kids gather for an afternoon of tumbling, handstands, vaulting, and back flips.

Led by Shelly Russell, Orcas Gymnastics offers classes to children ages five and up at Oddfellows Hall.

“I’m more of a girls coach and the equipment I have is for girls,” Russell said. “I want to start a boys tumbling class, but for now the boys are interspersed with the girls.”

Russell has taught gymnastics for 20 years, first in Alabama and then Utah, after being a competitor herself. She moved to Orcas five years ago with her husband David, who runs a medical practice on the island. They have two young sons.

Russell taught a little at Orcas Christian School, but decided to give her own classes in artistic gymnastics last fall. She plans to form a competitive team with several of the students next year.

With the bar, beam, vault, and floor mats, kids learn about tumbling, rolls, handstands, cartwheels, handsprings, back flips, bar circles, and more.

Call Russell at 472-1353 to enroll.

“I love working with the kids and seeing the discipline of sport stay with them throughout their whole lives,” Russell said. “They set a goal and they work towards it.”