South County Profile: Darlene Ewart

DARLENE EWART

Teaching young children about gymnastics is a passion for Darlene Ewart.

Ewart is the Tiny Tots Gymnastics Coach at Athletics Unlimited. In that capacity, she oversees 55 to 60 youth in three different age groups ranging from the 2-year-old Tiny Tumble Weeds, 3- and 4-year-old Tumble Tots and the 4- and 5-year-old Super Tots. She also takes care of all of the center's bookkeeping and scheduling. The gym has 240 gymnasts and twelve coaches.

A self-taught gymnast, Ewart has been coaching young children for 15 years.

While growing up in Gerber, south of Red Bluff, she would teach herself to do tricks at home.

Ewart graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1969. When Ewart attended Shasta College, she took a tumbling class, Gymnastics, and learned that there was actually a name for all the things that she was doing since childhood.

She then transferred to the University of Nevada at Reno, graduating with a bachelor's degree in music. Approximately four years ago, Ewart returned to Shasta College to earn enough units in Early Childhood Education to teach pre-school. After teaching for a few years, she took time off to take care of her elderly mother, although she hopes to return to teaching someday.

Ewart and her husband, Phil, moved to Shasta County in 1975 for a job opportunity. It was a chance for Phil Ewart to work in the family-owned grocery store on Lake Boulevard.

Meanwhile, Darlene Ewart enjoys watching and helping the younger children master skills, mostly on the balance beam, since it is an apparatus that scares most children. Once they have the beam mastered and know how to stay on balance, it helps them learn other elements of the sport.

It also teaches them not to be afraid of trying new things, she said.

Ewart enjoys seeing the joy on a child's face when he or she has mastered some new skill.

In the future, Ewart would like to someday build a state-of-the-art gymnastics facility in Anderson. Athletics Unlimited Gymnastics Center has been open for 15 years in April.

Besides raising their own five youngsters, the Ewarts have raised 31 foster children through Youth and Family Programs in Anderson. They currently have three foster children in their home.

Ewart enjoys living in Anderson where everyone knows each other.

Name: Darlene Ewart

Born: Red Bluff, 1951

Occupation: Owner of Athletics Unlimited Gymnastics Center and a foster parent for 16 years.

Marital Status: Married to Phil for 37 years.

Family: Daughters Misti, Veronica and Jennifer; sons Travis and Rene. Also 31 foster children.

Pets: Two dogs and many many birds.

My worst job: I've never had a job I didn't like.

My first job: Picking and boxing prunes in an orchard near Gerber.

In my spare time, I: Garden and do anything else outside.

My favorite book: "Torpedo" by Jeff Edwards.

My favorite movie: Planet Earth.

My favorite saying: "Bloom where you are planted."

My dream car: A hybrid SUV.

My friends like me because: I'm honest and if someone asks me to do something, they know it will get done.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: My family, friends and gardening tools.

The one thing in life I've learned is: There is always more to learn.

The best advice my parents gave me: Always do your best, no matter what the circumstances.

My most embarrassing moment was: Falling off the school bus in front of the high school and many students.

My most irrational act: Opening a gymnastics center.

My most valued material possession: A collection of paintings done by my father.

What I like best about the North State: The mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers and the people.

My hero is: Each of my foster children who choose to make the most of their lives in spite of their backgrounds.

My pet peeve is: People who have no respect for other people's property or feelings.

My fantasy is: A healthy Earth with a happy, healthy population.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Have a better memory... What was the question again?

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: More fun, healthy activities geared towards adolescents and teens.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: Its diversity and unpredictability. It is always an adventure.