Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Kids are able to be active and fit, while also developing valuable life lessons and skills through first-of-its-kind Hot Ground Gym (HGG).
Initially founded in 2013 in Illinois, the HGG brand is owned by military veterans and former first responders, using an approach that combines obstacle course-based fitness and teambuilding challenges to provide a unique and fun experience for the kids who participate.
At the local level, the Dripping Springs location — the fifth to be built and first to be franchised — opened in October 2024 by a family of local veterans who had their kids in HGG’s programs up north before relocating.
“[We said] if there was a way to bring it down to Texas, we would and then, we moved down here. I started working building houses and we tried signing up our kids for camp and it was just a pain,” said Justin Teliga, co-owner and primary instructor of HGG Dripping Springs. “So, my wife turned to me and she’s like, ‘What do you think about starting the gym here?’ And I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
HGG offers camps during times of localized school closure days and national holidays, as well as summer, spring and winter breaks. There are also afterschool classes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, geared toward being engaging, discipline-demanding and teambuilding with obstacle courses for three age groups — Alpha Company (kindergarten through second grade), Bravo Company (third through fifth grade) and Charlie Company (sixth grade and up).
Every week is different though, with a new class theme, exercises and challenges that the kids can expect.
“It's going to change every week. This week is our last week of ropes. The first week we did like coming down, teaching the kids how to go down rope. The second week, we taught kids how to climb up the rope. Last week, we did rope wrestling. This week, we're doing knot tying to teach kids some basic knots that they can learn,” Teliga said. “Then, next week we're going to break out the zip line … Just fun things that the kids love to do, but teaching about it and teaching how it's [not only] fun, it's also a tool. We're gonna have fun while we learn.”
Teliga added that he has seen the kids’ confidence and bravery grow through the various programs that they participate in — and the parents love it, too.
“It's really building on motor skills and also, as they go through the obstacles, getting that exercise in. Building that confidence in them is really key for this gym. We see so many kids shine and the parents absolutely love it,” he said. “I've never had a parent come in and say, ‘I don’t like what you guys do here.’ That's the biggest thing for us is just really seeing the kids become men or women and learn how to grow up and learn to do grown up things.”
HGG is located at 12475 Trail Driver, Austin. Learn more about what all the gym offers at www.hotgroundgymds.com.
