6-08-2023 11:19am

Kids Spot and family: combining athletics and love of learning

Tim Yapp, owner of Kids Spot in Roscoe

Tim Yapp is a very busy guy. He is the owner of Kids Spot Inc, in Roscoe, IL. The umbrella corporation includes five businesses that combine athletics, learning and fun.

They range from Kids Spot Gymnastics, Tumbling, Trampoline, Pre-school Academy, Element Athletics (offering cheer classes), summer camps, Turning Point Dance, and STEM Academy. Yapp acquired Stateline STEM Academy from owner Donna Curtis in April 2023. Curtis remains the director of the STEM program.

Kids Spot and STEM are located next to each other at 9461 N. Second St. in Roscoe. Element Athletics is also under the Kids Spot Inc. umbrella. It is located a few blocks south of Kids Spot at 9135 N. Second St.

Yapp grew up in Belvidere and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor of arts degree in sales and marketing. He moved from Belvidere to Roscoe in 2014, and was employed at Kids Spot, which was then owned by Susan Johnson and Theresa Maloney.

In 2020, Johnson and Maloney approached Yapp about purchasing the business. He jumped at the chance. He has been building and improving Kids Spot Inc. ever since.

“Last year was the largest enrollment to date. We are on track to surpass that enrollment number.”

Yapp believes sports and education go hand-in-hand. Kids Spot and STEM Academy will be combining programs for homeschool students in the fall. Daily and weekly programs will include athletic activities, field trips, STEM learning, and special events.

“In 2023-2024, Kids Spot will bring outreach programs to Prairie Hill School and Kinnikinnick School districts,” Yapp says. “The one-week classes will focus on physical activity.”

“We listen to what the community and families want. If you take care of your community, your community will take care of you.”

More information about Kids Spot and summer programs is available on their summer camp web page or by calling 815-623-5437.