Nishida’s Gymnastics flips into children’s summer camp

In a matter of weeks a new season will begin, school will be out, and the young ones will have more free time than they know what to do with. As a loving parent, you may already see the pros and cons of this change. So, if you are looking for creative activities for your children this summer, look no further. Nishida’s Gymnastics will have them jumping, flipping, and dancing in fun-tastic fashion.

Coach Daniel Williams told Lifestyle that the summer camp has been running for at least a decade. Since the gym settled at its location on Shortwood Road, it has become a popular staple for holiday activities.“This time around, we have added a host of activities to look forward to, in and outside of gymnastics.”

Jumping right into the details of the programme, he explained that the camp, which is designed for children ages three to 12, runs for approximately nine weeks from July 1 to August 22. Parents are invited to enrol their young ones for the entire period, noting there are benefits involved with this process. There are, however, other packages available.

“Years gone by, we have worked with over 200 children for one summer already. It’s a lot. And each time the year increases, so too do the numbers. But the awesome coaches that we have here continue to hold down the camp. There are four to six coaches this year and there will be a surprise coach every week,” he revealed.

For the gymnastics element, children will be given the opportunity to explore different avenues such as rope, beam, vault, parallel bars, rings and floor exercises. The entire gymnasium is their playground. “We will have different obstacle courses each week. So the brain picker I want the children to have is to expect the unexpected.”

Participating in activities like gymnastics brings lots of health perks. It helps kids get better at moving their bodies, improving coordination. Plus, it makes them more flexible and builds up their endurance, while also teaching them to stick to routines. These are skills that can benefit them in other sports or schoolwork, making them more productive overall.

Outside of gymnastics, campers will engage in the merriment of dance as well as tap into their inner ‘Picassos’ with arts and crafts.

The camp is inclusive of lunch, but children are encouraged to walk with snacks because they will have break time. Campers are asked to wear something comfortable in the day, like a T-shirt and shorts, if leotards aren’t available. Given the current weather, it’s highly recommended to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and beat the heat throughout the day.

SAFETY

“I know safety is a concern for a lot of parents, But we provide a safe space and we are teaching the basics, so the risk of injury is little to none, based on what they are doing. They are not doing the big skills; they are just here to have fun and enjoy themselves,” Coach Williams pointed out.

For the younger children, an infant teacher, more affectionately referred to at the camp as an “aunty,” will be there to help out alongside the coaches. This aunty will be available to assist with bathroom breaks, water breaks, or any other questions the toddlers may have while the coaches are busy. Parents are more than welcome to stay and watch if they’d like.

Parents who see their children thriving at summer camp and want to further develop those skills can freely enrol them in classes at the start of the term.

The drop-off time for camp starts from 7:30 a.m. Camp begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and goes up until 2:30 p.m.; there is also an extended period, which goes up to 4 p.m.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com