ELITE GYMNASTICS

BURNSVILLE, MN
VISIT WEBSITE

The other day I caught my daughter “practicing her beam walk” across the back ledge of our couch (you know, the part that tucks in all the fabric and can be easily torn if stomped on by a 40-pound kid). I quickly told her to get down before she came crashing to the wood floor, grabbed our passes to Elite Gymnastics and headed out to open gym. Muuuuuch safer and way more fun! Plus, if she falls off their balance beams, they won’t be out a thousand-dollar couch. For the active flipper, spinner, bouncer, leaper, climber, crawler and swinger in your life, this is one open gym that will definitely do the job of deactivating.

What is it?

Elite Gymnastics is a a family-owned gymnastics academy that sits in a 26,000 space in Burnsville and, while it offers classes and professional training, it also hosts a great open gym for toddlers and preschoolers. With two gymnastics rooms, a seating area, an on-site staff supervisor, a foam pit and free Wi-Fi, even I was excited to spend a morning there. Elite has won the local award for “Best Gymnastics School” five years in a row and in just one visit, I could see why. Cleanliness and safety are obviously important to them and they sure pack a lot of entertainment into a small space creating an awesome tot area for gymnasts-in-training. Or just for kiddos who have an energy level so high it makes their parents yearn for early bedtime. Whatever the reason, this open gym includes tumbling mats, rings, balance beams, monkey and uneven bars, mats, hula hoops, trampolines and a small foam pit. This gym is also used for their Parent-and-Me and Tot programs for ages 18 months-4 years, just in case your child falls in love with the beam too.

Elite Gymnastics is also attached to Atlantis Swim Academy, so if your kiddos also like to swim, consider this place too for a family open swim or a Parents Night Out, which combines the gymnastics and swim academy for a night of fun for you and the littles.

Fit for what ages?

Elite Gymnastics only hosts open gyms on Fridays and Saturdays, so be sure to check the hours to see which chunks of time best fit your kids’ ages. Small kids are invited to the most, but Saturday night open gyms are reserved for teenagers. My kids and I hit it up on Friday morning from 9:30-11:30. That time is specifically cut out for ages 5 and under (my son is 6 and came though) and only allows access to the Tots Gym. There is a bigger, more advanced gym that is open for all other open gyms, but Friday mornings are tots-only (and are also cheaper). If you have a little one who enjoys running and climbing and swinging, this is a safe place to do it and it’s the perfect size for energetic mini adventurers! If you have older kids, the bigger gym is kind of cool if your child’s interest lies in or around the realm of gymnastics. The elite gym has soft equipment (plus a larger foam pit and trampolines) for younger kids to enjoy, and bigger kids can test out the taller beams, rings, and a sprung floor for testing out handstands, headstands and cartwheels. Hey, it’s much safer than your driveway, right? Also, if you have a really teeny babe with you, you can let the older kids run the gym while your baby sits quietly with you in the lobby area where they have a foam mat with some baby toys to entertain them while you sip coffee in silence on the big Ikea leather couches.

There are a number of hosted events (some combined with Atlantis Swim Academy next door) at Elite Gymnastics that have age requirements, such as Parents Night Out (child must be at least 3 for drop-off). Check out their online calendar for specifics.

How much are we talkin?

Elite Gymnastics Friday morning open gyms are reserved for tots only (5 and under). Because only one gym is open at this time, they only charge $5/kid. SO worth it!

All other open gym times (Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening) cost $8/kid if you are a member. Otherwise, non-members cost $10/kid.

Combined with Atlantis Swim Academy, Elite Gymnastics offers a Parents Night Out, which would be super great for both you and the kids. Drop them off for four hours of bounce houses, games, gymnastics, swimming and pizza (not in that order) for $25/kid or $50/family. Probably cheaper than a sitter and what fun! 2016 Parents Night Out dates are: January 16, February 13, March 19, April 16 and May 7. Check the site for other dates.

Other than admission fees, there are some vending machines if you get thirsty or snacky and the front counter sells gymnastics merchandise such as leotards (if you’re in the market). Birthday parties are offered and start at $200 (or $300+ if you want to include swimming at Atlantis).

Want some tips?

For this open gym, you’ll need to ditch the shoes and socks and wear comfortable clothes (no zippers or sharp objects). Parents need to sign a waiver before their children are allowed to play, then we can simply sit in one of the many chairs surrounding the tot gymnasium and put our feet up while the rambunctious ones gradually run off their rambunction. (I made that word up.) Bathrooms are located in the tot gym as well as in the lobby area. Changing tables, cubbies for shoes and purses and stools so kids can reach the sinks and water fountains are all available for your convenience.

Upon walking in, you will pay at the front desk and sign your waiver. Then the supervisor in the gym will run through the one rule with the group – you can only run one way on the tumble track. Oh, and try not to jump on other kids in the foam pit. Food and drink is not allowed in the gyms, but can be enjoyed at one of the tables or couches in the main lobby area, which sits conveniently in between the big gym and the small gym (read: if you have one kid in each gym, neither one can escape unbeknownst to you, who is happily relaxing with your feet up).

Directly inside the gym door is a floor balance beam, swinging rings, uneven bars (at short heights), monkey bars, a tumble track, and a foam pit. Place your items in a cubby, lose the socks and let them run! The gym is shaped like a small L, so right around the corner is a matted area that stores giant yoga balls, cones, hula hoops, a bean bag toss, small trampolines, and large soft shapes that my kids used to build a monster obstacle course. Plus, my daughter did a lot of booty dancing to the music in front of the large mirror wall. It kept them busy for a long, long time.

They sure pack a lot into a small space! According to the workers, the gym is usually quite busy, but the day we went definitely was not. There is a paid supervisor on staff who makes sure children are behaving safely and following the rules. The guy we had the day we went reminded me of the Russian trainer from the movie “The Cutting Edge” (yeah, I referenced a figure skating movie from the early 90s. So what?) and he definitely kept the kids in check, but he also played catch with my son for almost 30 minutes. He thought that was a riot…and so did I.

Does your child have a winter birthday? Birthday parties are offered and start at $200 for open gym plus access to the separate party room. They also offer the option to include swimming at Atlantis with your party for extra money. More information on their parties is available online.

Do you live in Burnsville? In addition to regular open gyms, they have something called Frozen Fun Camps for locals whose kids have a “school snow day” and need somewhere to spend the day. Just an FYI in case you work full-time or need a break.

Oh, and there is a swim academy in the same building that has two heated pools and could also be fun for a visit. I hope to get the kids to Atlantis Swim Academy sooner than later, but for now here’s their website: www.atlantisswimacademy.com.

Hours and Location

12500 Chowen Ave S  |  Burnsville, MN 55337

Elite Gymnastics open gym is available on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as no-school and snow days. There is a large, free parking lot for your use.

Friday hours are 9:30-11:30am for ages 5 and under and 7:00-9:00pm for ages 12 and under. Saturday hours are 12:00-2:00pm for all ages and 7:00-9:00pm for teens ages 13+.

There are a number of holidays and factors in which open gyms will close, so be sure to call or check online before heading out.

Follow Elite Gymnastics on Facebook to find out about hours and holidays, registration dates, class cancellations, staff updates, cute contests, camp announcements and more!