When the opportunity arises for my 5- and 7-year-old boys to plan their perfect day (that doesn’t include organized activity, such as school or camp), they undoubtedly want to go to Sector 6.
Sector 6 Extreme Air Sports is one of the premier trampoline parks in America. The facility has over 12,000 square feet of connected world-class trampolines in a 44,000-square-foot indoor enclosure. To test one’s vertical skills, the trampoline grid features over 60 trampolines, including angled walls, launching decks and foam pits. Other standard offerings include: extreme dodge ball (played on a caged trampoline for intense fun), a ninja obstacle course, the Air Dunk (which allows the jumper to launch themselves on a trampoline and dunk into the basket) and the Slack Line suspended over hundreds of foam cubes (so that one might test their balancing skills). Even more intense opportunities include the Trapeze, where one can sail through the air just like the circus pros and land in a pillowy bed of foam.
Long considered a training and competition tool for gymnasts, and recreationally for high flying fun, the trampoline is nothing new. Yet the idea of an indoor trampoline park open to the general public didn’t really become mainstream until 2004. Since then it has launched, no pun intended, into a new and sometimes risky form of fun.
Undoubtedly, injuries do occur, since jumping on a trampoline like any other activity involves risk. The rules at Sector 6 are very clear and a waiver must be signed before jumping. When respectfully followed, the rules are effective at mitigating risk. The park is rife with referees that keep jumpers within safe confines, and you can be sure that if you push the boundaries a whistle will be blown.
What makes the Sector 6 experience so much fun is that it isn’t only targeted towards kids. Moms and dads often find themselves tapping into their inner child alongside their children. Jumping isn’t only loads of fun, but is also a healthy fitness inspired experience that gives families an opportunity to stay active. Not to worry if a parent isn’t a jumper: the park has massage chairs for an added fee on the viewing platforms so that caretakers can actually relax while they watch the kids jump for joy.
Sector 6 is also a very popular place to host birthday parties (especially for those turning 6). All birthday packages include a one-hour flight ticket, exclusive use of a party room for 45 minutes after flying, a flight shirt for the birthday flyer and a party hostess to assist with setup and cleanup. In addition to private parties, Sector 6 offers field trips, slumber parties, fundraisers and corporate events in their park.
As a mom, the very best thing about Sector 6 is that even on a rainy New Orleans day, I can take my boys somewhere where they’re sure to jump out all their energy and I can join in the fun and get some exercise, too, while knowing that it’s one of their most sought-after activities. Exercise, fun, happy kids and a cool parent is about as good as it gets with kids play!
Just the Facts:
612 Distributors Row
539-4224
Sector6.us
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday
9-10 a.m.: KidJump (6 & under only)
10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Open Jump (all ages)
Friday-Saturday
9-10 a.m.: KidJump
10 a.m.-9 p.m.: Open Jump
9 p.m.-Midnight: Club6 (ages 15+)
Sunday
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Everyone who enters must sign a waiver; all participants under the age of 18 must have it signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Flights take-off every half-hour, so arrive 15 minutes early. Anyone under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
You can only jump barefoot or in Sector 6’s special “gripper socks.”
