MarvaTots ‘n Teens is the granddaddy of gymnastics facilities in Montgomery County. Serving the community in its location for almost 40 years the facility shows some signs of age but kids can still find many ways to enjoy themselves at their two hour open gym slots on Saturday mornings throughout the summer.
Open gyms run from 10am to 12pm, enough time to ensure your kids will be tuckered out by the time you leave. Kids ages 5 and up are able to be dropped off at the facility if you feel they are comfortable in the gym. I stayed with my 5 and 6 year old since it was their first trip here but was able to wander out to the lobby to read the paper and relax a bit during the second hour once they were comfortable. The open gym is supervised by at least two staff members plus the office staffer in the lobby.
The facility at MarvaTots is a bit like an obstacle course to maneuver around. The gym is in a U shape around the spacious lobby and there are three entrance and exit ways in and out of the gym (which is another reason I was a little nervous to leave). The gym is basically divided into three distinct areas, the new trampoline room with four “in ground” trampolines, a center room with some balance beams, a climbing rope, tire swing and tumble track and the main gym room with another tumble track and equipment for the four women’s events – vault, bars, beam and floor. The set up of the gym seemed best for older kids as there was not much preschool specific equipment (except for one moonbounce type of jumper). It was also one of the few open gyms that we have been to where all of the larger equipment including bar sets and beams are open for use. The instructor on hand was happy to help with spotting kids on new moves as well. If you are planning to drop your older kids off, be sure they are comfortable on the equipment and are responsible enough to know their limits.
At $15/person MarvaTot’s open gym is one of the more expensive in the area but it is also the longest and definitely worth it if your kids are old enough to be dropped off or at least left alone in the gym while you have some down time in the lobby. Men’s and women’s restrooms are available with a changing table in the ladies’ facility. Vending machines selling soda, water and juice are available for $1 and there are drinking fountains both in the gym and in the lobby area. Frozen fruit pops are for sale in a cooler near the door also for $1.
Like most gymnastics facilities, MarvaTots is located in a warehouse center. Look for the sign on Randolph Road to enter the facility’s parking lot. There are plenty of free spaces out in front of the main entrance.
Aside from summer open gyms, MarvaTots has three new programs in place. Weekly bounce sessions in the new trampoline room are $10 for afternoon time slots and $15 for those in the evenings. This all ages program is offered:
- Mondays and Fridays from noon to 2pm and 7 to 9pm
- Tuesdays from 9 to 11am and 7 to 9pm
- Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9pm
They have also added pilates for 2 to 3 year olds and zumba for kids ages 3 to 5 as well as a new open gym for crawlers through 3 year olds held Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30am and Tuesday and Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30pm for $10 per child or 6 entries for $50.
Beat the heat and head to MarvaTots ‘n Teens for a morning full of exercise and fun!
Photo by Kim Engstrom.
