Gymnastics in Illinois starts early — most programs welcome kids as young as 18 months for parent-and-tot classes. Park district recreation centers offer the cheapest path for preschool gymnastics and beginner classes; dedicated gyms are where kids go once they want to progress past the basics. The progression for a serious kid is roughly: tots (1.5-3) → preschool gymnastics (3-5) → recreational classes (5+) → pre-team (invite only, around age 6-8) → competitive team (USA Gymnastics levels 2-10). Most kids stop at recreational classes and that's fine — gymnastics is one of the better foundational sports for body awareness even without competition. Boys' programs exist but are less common than girls'; if your son is interested, look for a dedicated gym, since most park districts only run co-ed up to age 5 or so. Open gym sessions are worth knowing about — drop-in time on weekends, usually $10-15.
Fleetwood Auditorium · Evanston, IL
Jun 10 – Aug 12
TU, WE, TH 17:30–19:30
Levy Center Bobby's Room · Evanston, IL
Jun 10 – Jul 29
WE 17:45–18:45
Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center · Evanston, IL
Jun 10 – Aug 12
TU, TH 18:30–20:00
Levy Center Bobby's Room · Evanston, IL
Jun 10 – Jul 29
WE 17:15–18:15
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 11 – Aug 1
SA 12:15–13:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 11 – Aug 1
SA 11:15–12:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 11 – Aug 1
SA 10:15–11:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 13 – Aug 3
MO 16:30–17:15
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 13 – Aug 3
MO 17:30–18:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 13 – Aug 3
MO 18:30–19:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 13 – Aug 3
MO 17:30–18:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 13 – Aug 3
MO 16:30–17:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 14 – Aug 4
TU 16:30–17:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 15 – Aug 5
WE 17:30–18:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 16 – Aug 6
TH 18:30–19:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 16 – Aug 6
TH 17:30–18:25
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 16 – Aug 6
TH 16:30–17:15
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 27 – Jul 31
10:30–12:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 27 – Jul 31
13:00–16:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Jul 27 – Jul 31
13:00–16:00
Leahy Park Athletic Field · Evanston, IL
Aug 3 – Aug 7
10:00–12:00
Leahy Park Athletic Field · Evanston, IL
Aug 3 – Aug 7
10:00–12:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Aug 3 – Aug 7
13:00–16:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Aug 3 – Aug 7
10:30–12:00
Chandler Gym Half South · Evanston, IL
Aug 3 – Aug 7
13:00–16:00
Parent-and-tot starts as young as 18 months. Independent classes typically begin at age 3. Most coaches will tell you starting young helps with body awareness, but kids who start at 6-8 can absolutely catch up if they're motivated.
Park district for exploration and fundamentals. Dedicated gym if your kid wants to progress to pre-team or competitive levels, or if you want better equipment and longer class time. Park district classes are typically 30-45 minutes; dedicated gyms run 60-90.
Pre-team is invite-only at most gyms, usually after a year or two of recreational classes. From pre-team, kids enter USA Gymnastics levels (2 is typical entry, 10 is national-team competitive). Competitive team is a 6-12 hour-per-week commitment.
Less common than girls' but they exist. Park districts often run co-ed only up to age 5. Above that, look for dedicated gyms with explicit boys' programs — they teach a different set of events (rings, parallel bars, pommel horse).
Everything on this site, plus personalized recommendations, saved activities, and schedule matching — built around your family.
Personalized Recommendations
Get activity suggestions tailored to each child's age, schedule, and interests.
Save & Track Activities
Bookmark activities and track enrollment status across seasons.
Schedule Matching
See which activities fit your family's availability at a glance.
Spot Notifications
Get notified when spots open up in popular classes and camps.
