FOR THE GYMNAST & PARENT/GUARDIAN
What should we expect on our first visit?
What does my child have to wear/bring to gymnastics?
Do I need to stay while my child is in a class?
What is my role as a parent during a Bouncy Bug/Babe class?
Can I take pictures or videos of my child?
Is my child ready for an advanced class?
THE FACILITY & STAFF
Can I park on the street outside the gym?
Is the gym/equipment safe?
How are your coaches trained?
Where do I go to watch my child’s class?
Can my other child play in the gym while waiting for his/her sibling?
REGISTRATION
What is the best way to register?
What is your refund policy?
What forms of payment do you accept?
What is the G.O. Fee?
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Do you accept ProKids?
My child was sick, can she do a make-up class?
Don’t see your question here? Contact us!
What should we expect on our first visit?
Let’s walk you through it! After parking in our lot adjacent to the building, walk along the sidewalk to our main entrance. Once inside, there are shelves for boots and shoes – please try to put your footwear nicely on the shelf. Next, enter through the doors to see the gym! It may seem big & overwhelming at first, but don’t worry – soon you will know your way around! On your first day, families should come to reception desk in our foyer. One of our staff members will make sure paperwork is up-to-date with signatures and point the way to the cubbies for coats & clothes, and the washroom. Inside the fenced area (the “corral” as we like to call it) is where participants wait for their classes. When it is time to start, a coach will announce the class name she is teaching (such as Bouncy Bugs, Kindertastics, Small Shots, etc.). At this time, kids can bring their water bottles and head out onto the floor with the coach and other kids. Once the children are in the gym, parents head upstairs to the viewing area (The Giant Lounge) to watch from the windows above. The class will go by fast as kids make new friends and has fun on the activity circuits and equipment. At the end of the class, coaches will bring the children to the other end of the corral (by the office). Children get a sticker and a high five for an awesome first day before they are picked up at the corral by their parent. Coaches will usually linger for a minute or two after class if they don’t have another group to bring in – a perfect time to ask them any questions you might have.
What does my child have to wear/bring to gymnastics?
Your child should wear comfortable clothing that is not too loose or too long (refrain from wearing jeans or anything with zippers or big buckles). For safety reasons, please tie back long hair. No socks, and no jewelry please. We also have a few gymnastic leotards and t-shirts for sale. Please bring a water bottle, or purchase one from the office for $1.
Go to the Top
Do I need to stay while my child is in a class?
We ask that parents stay if their child is 5 years old or younger. If your child is 6 or older and you need to leave, please fill out our emergency contact form on the clipboard at the office window. Please note that we do not let children leave the facility without an adult, so please come back in to pick up your child.
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What is my role as a adult during a Bouncy Bug/Babes class?
We love parent involvement classes at Giant Gymnastics. It’s fun not just for the child, but for accompanying adults too! The purpose of these classes is to develop your child’s physical literacy and also to introduce your child to the structure of classes at Giant Gymnastics. The primary role of the adult in Bouncy Bugs/Babes classes is to ensure your child’s safety. Please help your child follow the directions of the coach. To keep everyone safe, please stay with the group and following the circuit of activities as explained by the coach. Once your child turns three, they will do classes without adult help – so try to help our coaches foster increased independence as the session progresses!
Of course the other part of the adult’s role is to encourage play and participation! Have fun with your child, shower them with love and praise them for good work!
We kindly ask that parents stay off of the equipment during class time. This is in the interest of safety for the children in the gym and the parents as well. Remember, the Insurance fee paid to Gymnastics Ontario covers the participant (the child), not the parent or guardian.
Can I take pictures or videos of my child?
Parents are welcome to take photos from the upstairs viewing lounge at any time, however flash must be off. If you wish to take photos at any other time or place, please ask in the office so we can ensure a safe time and way to do so. On the last day of the session, there will be an opportunity for photographs to be taken.
Go to the Top
Is my child ready for an advanced class?
Please speak to your child’s coach. They will have the most current understanding of your child’s skill level. In some cases your coaches may need to do some additional testing to determine if your child meets the pre-requisites needed for advanced classes.
Go to the Top
Can I park on the street outside the gym?
While it is technically legal to park on the street (following City of Thunder Bay Calendar Parking rules), we ask that all our families please use the parking lot adjacent to the building (main access from Marks St. S). We are keenly aware that we are located in a residential area, so please help us respect the neighbourhood by choosing to park in the lot provided.
You bet! We pride ourselves on taking very good care of our equipment. Our coaches inspect equipment regularly and we train our staff to take a proactive approach to make sure all equipment is suitable for the age, height & ability of the children in their classes. Coaches also take time on the first day (and as needed throughout the session) to review safety rules with the children while they are in the gym so that everyone stays safe!
Giant Gymnastics has the best coaches in Thunder Bay! All of our coaches have successfully completed the NCCP Foundations of Gymnastics Training course that incorporates theory & technical aspects of the sport. Many of our coaches have gone on to further their certifications to take an advanced level Comp 1 course / Comp 2 and 3 and/or trampoline specific courses. Our Coaches-in-Training program gives aspiring coaches a thorough in-house orientation and supervised hands-on learning in the field alongside our certified coaches. CIT’s go through a vigorous CIT training program through out the year. We also have volunteers who learn the ropes even earlier on a more casual basis. All of our staff participate in regular in-house training sessions on many different topics such as technical spotting techniques, fun games on each apparatus, class management strategies and much more!
Where do I go to watch my child’s class?
Once your child has been taken into the gym by his or her coach, we invite you to head upstairs to the Giant Lounge! Often parents are tempted to stay downstairs, but we find that this can be a distraction for your child, or for other children in the gym. We’ve done our best to make the Giant Lounge comfortable for everyone with cozy sofas, great views of the gym, coffee/tea and a children’s play area.
Can my other child and or play in the gym while waiting for his/her sibling?
In the interest of safety, we ask that only registered children and coaches enter the gym. Siblings are welcome to visit the children’s play area upstairs in the Giant Lounge.
What is the best way to register?
There are three ways to register – in person, on the phone & online. In person & on the phone are the most efficient ways to register. Online registration does not guarantee your child a place in the class requested. We put forth every effort to keep the site up to date., but sometimes a class fills and we aren’t able to update the website immediately. In the case that you try to register online for a class but it has already filled up, we will contact you as soon as we can to arrange another class. If there is still room in the class, we will reserve your spot temporarily until payment can be arranged. During busy registration periods, we encourage in person & phone registrations to ensure enrollment in your number one choice. Click the link below to register your child.
We know that managing a family’s schedule can be a juggling act and sometimes plans change! For that reason, if you need to withdraw your child from a class before the session begins, we will provide a full refund except for the $38.00 yearly Gymnastics Ontario fee (if applicable). If you need to withdraw within the first three weeks of classes, Giant Gymnastics will provide a partial refund, less the pro-rated amount for the classes attended and GO fee. After three weeks, we are happy to provide a credit to your family for future registration. It is possible to transfer the credit to a sibling. We always strive to find the best solution that works best for everyone, so please come speak with us if you have any concerns.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, cheques, debit, VISA & MasterCard. Parents and guardians can now register and pay online through our Amilia Database.
Giant Gymnastics is a proud member of Gymnastics Ontario, our province’s governing body of the sport. Being part of “G.O.” affords us many benefits – quality insurance, risk management, coach training resources & certification courses, support network for gym owners, and enforcing an overall high quality standard for gymnastics clubs across Ontario.
All participants at G.O. gyms are required to pay an annual $38.00 fee (July 1-June 30). This fee is transferable between all G.O. affiliated clubs (note: all gyms in Thunder Bay are members). This means that if you’ve already paid your G.O. fee at another gym for the year, we do not need to charge the fee again if you transfer to Giant Gymnastics. Please let us know if this is the case. We may ask you to bring your receipt, depending on the circumstances.
If you are registering for one of our fantastic camps,and are attending the camp for more than three days per week, and haven’t paid the GO fee for the year, you will be charged the GO camp fee of $12.50. When you decide to enroll in classes after the camp, a remainder GO fee of $25.50 will be charged to equal the full GO yearly fee.
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Yes! We offer 5% off for two siblings registered, 10% for three, 15% for four, and so on. Please let us know if this applies to your family.
We are pleased to support the ProKids program. Please ensure that you have received your acceptance letter from ProKids before contacting us. We are sent updated lists regularly, so once your child receives their letter and your child’s name is on our list we can complete the registration. Please note: ProKids does not cover the $38 annual Gymnastics Ontario fee. Please come by the office to pay this fee and and sign our registration/waiver form. The fee must be paid upon registration for your spot to be held.
My child was sick, can she do a make-up class?
Due to safety concerns & coach-to-child ratios, we do not offer make up classes for children who miss a class at this time. However, we occasionally offer credits for children who develop serious illnesses or injuries that prevent participation for the remainder of the session. We deal with these on a case-by-case basis, so please give us a call if this applies to your family.