With the cold weather arriving shortly, you might be looking for fun and safe activities for your kids to keep them busy, happy and tired. One great idea is gymnastics.
The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre, located in the community of Westboro, is a not for profit organization established in 1960 and has been serving the community for over 50 years. They offer daytime, evening and weekend programs for children aged 8 months and up.
Where some gyms try to cater to all, OGC has kids in mind. Walking in you don’t know where to go first but everything looks fun, from the toddler area to the obstacle courses to the traditional beams, bars and mats. Bright colours, bright lights and an area just for parents makes this a place where you and your child will be happy and have fun.
OGC’s motto “We Teach Children, Not Skills” is inherent in all of their programming. They’re a registered HighFive organization and believe strongly in the principles of healthy child development.
The OGC operations are led by a professional staff, who work with a Board of Directors responsible for establishing high level policies. Unlike baseball or hockey, where coaches are sometimes parent volunteers, each member of their coaching staff has successfully achieved the provincial standards required through the National Coaching Certification program in both recreation and competitive programs.
Programs include:
8 months to 18 months – Babynastics
18 months to 3 years – Tall and Small (Parent and Tot)
3 years to 6 years – Kindergym
6 years plus – Recreation
18 years plus – Adult Drop in and Breakdance
Winter Registration is ongoing for Kindergym and Recreation programs that begin in January
Why Gymnastics?
In 2005 gymnastics was named as one of the core activities every child should participate in by the Canadian Sport Centres. Why? Because gymnastics teaches the ABC’s of athleticism: Agility, Balance and Coordination. It also:
· brightens healthy minds and bodies for an active lifestyle at any age
· develops strength and trains the body for life’s challenges
· improves agility and coordination, allowing the body to move quickly
· teaches posture and positive body image
· challenges the body and mind to set and reach goals
· prepares the body and mind for other sport endeavors
To see the gym in action, drop by this weekend as OGC hosts a Women's Provincial Qualifying Competition, December 3- 4.
OGCS also hosts day camps, march break camps and is available for birthday parties.
http://ottawagymnasticscentre.ca/
294 Elmgrove Avenue
613 722-8698
