My daughter has been on the competitive team at Golden Bear for almost 5 years now. She's really made great connections with her previous and current coach. They are supportive, positive, and genuinely try to connect with the girls, in addition to challenging them to push themselves. The coaches are open to feedback, and provide plenty of feedback to the girls so that they can continue to develop and grow as gymnasts, and athletes in general. They have high expectations, and expect dedication (essential during competitive season) and are always happy to invest extra time above and beyond the regular team practices. I appreciate also how the staff has explained and cultivated to paths for the competitive gymnasts, based on their strengths, passion, and capacity - they worked with us to find the right fit for my daughter and she's enjoying gymnastics even more every year. In addition, we truly appreciate the way the staff at Golden Bear strive to foster a team spirit, while gymnsatics is at core an individual sport. The girls are so supportive of each other at their meets, and have fun during their team celebration and choreography sessions. They motivate each other with healthy competition, and the friendships they develop. The connection to the UC Berkeley gymnastics program is a great bonus - getting to practice where the collegiate athletes do, and attend the meets, as mini cal bears gymnasts is a special feeling! read more

I love this place! I have seven and three year old daughters who do gymnastics at Golden Bear. Both girls absolutely adore their coaches, their peers, and the environment of the gym. My seven year-old is now in competitive gymnastics and has been inspired by several of the coaches she has worked with and has absolutely thrived. Both as a gymnast and a person. My three year old loves that she gets to do real gymnastics skills--beam, bars, etc. and adores her coaches as well. There is a sweet little space where the little kids workout. The coaches are amazing--intelligent adults who love gymnastics and kids. The new Director of the gym is very organized, hard-working, and incredibly passionate. We always loved the gym, but she has brought it to an even higher level. The entire staff is out of this world--so supportive and loving with the kids. The community at the gym is fantastic--very down to earth, fun parents and great kids. I've seen several situations where my daughter or another kid gets frustrated (falling, learning something new, etc.) and her team mates just rally around her and show so much compassion. They manage to cultivate state champions while maintaining a collaborative culture. The facility itself is not brand new with a fancy reception and viewing area like the gymnastics place we went to in the city. But the equipment is fully functional, safe, and I kind of prefer the down to earth atmosphere. The college team works out here as well as some very talented teenage gymnasts. A side-benefit is I feel like I get to go watch the Olympics a few days a week. Another side-benefit is the location--nestled in the Berkeley hills. I often go for runs or hikes while my girls are in the gym and get to see beautiful sunsets over the city. There is also a pool, tennis courts, volleyball, all on-site for parent recreation while the kids workout! We are so happy to have found Golden Bear--our home away from home! - Mom of level 4 and recreational gymnasts, age 7 and 3 read more

Berkeley Youth Gymnastics - Gymnastics Near Me - Berkeley, California

IF YOU HAVE A BOY, understand that Golden Bears is really a girls' program. The boys' classes are an afterthought, taught by a rotating cast. There isn't a single photo of a boy gymnast in the building. There's little by way of skills instruction or progression or intentional curriculum--just the same running them around week in and week out. Which may be all you need (and i mean that), but at least know what you're signing up for. read more

Golden Bear is a great option for competitive gymnasts. My daughter, who is a part of the competitive team, transferred here from a nearby gym that wasn't a great fit for her (great for many, just not right for her). Golden Bear has a core group of skilled and enthusiastic coaches who were able to help her regain her confidence, pick up skills quickly and, most importantly, really enjoy herself. It's a very friendly, supportive team environment, but also focused and appropriately demanding. The girls are expected to be self-directed, fostering independence and responsibility. There are clear expectations for promotion through the groups and they are very focused on ensuring that every gymnast will be safe and confident at their competitive level. I love the fact that Golden Bear has a totally separate, fun facility downstairs for the younger/recreational gymnasts and space enough for everyone, and am putting my five-year-old son on a waiting list for one of the little-kid classes. Also, the prices for both team programs and recreational classes are excellent compared to other gyms we looked at. Parking can occasionally be a problem--especially those few days per year when there's a Cal football game--but all in all, I am extremely happy with the Golden Bear program and very glad we made the switch. read more

I'm the parent of two Golden Bear competitive team gymnasts who has been very impressed by the gym's commitment and effort during the pandemic. Even when the gym couldn't open due to COVID restrictions (they have been very good about abiding by county safety protocols), the coaches held conditioning sessions and the gymnasts became even stronger than they were before the pandemic started! The gym has reopened with the appropriate limits and safeguards to keep the coaches and kids safe. Our family has been part of the gym for approximately 8 years now (starting out with Rec classes) and we so appreciate the support the coaches have provided our girls and the tailoring of practice sessions for their particular needs and skill sets. The coaches also have regular virtual town hall meetings to keep the competitive team parents apprised of what's going on. Our girls have learned to persevere, work hard, and have fun with their teammates. Go Bears! read more

Golden Bear Gymnastics (GBG), under its Competitive Team Coordinator, has consistently engaged in hazing techniques over a sustained period of time. This has been supported by its gym director, despite bringing this to their attention multiple times. The gym does not practice the values and ethics which it states in its UC Berkeley, GBG handbook. Hence we have taken our daughter out of the program, following approx. 4 years at Golden Bears. Despite this, we have been able to keep our child active, engaged in gymnastics, but in another gym, a drastic contrast to GBG. Very disappointing for a UC associated youth program and one that is associated with USA Gymnastics. The Coordinator and the director are unfit for their current roles. read more

My 2 daughters (ages 11 & 7) have been going to Golden Bear for the past 3 years. They both really enjoy going to practice each week! My older daughter is on the gymnastics team, and she loves coming home and talking about all of the new things she has learned. My younger daughter comes home excited about the improvements she makes at each practice. We really enjoy the Golden Bear Gymnastics program and would recommend it to anyone looking for a gymnastics program for their kids. They offer many different levels and times for classes making it perfect for everyone! read more

My daughter is twelve years old and really wanted to go to this camp given its great reviews. She has been in gymnastics for 3 years and is what is deemed intermediate skill level. Since she was so excited, we signed up for three weeks. Unfortunately, I can only give this camp 2 stars, due to the very varying quality of the coaches. My daughter had two different primary coaches the three weeks, and was exposed to quite a few secondary coaches. While some coaches were very nice and knowledgable, invariably, others were mean and unsupportive and would sprout language like "What is wrong with you?" "What is wrong with your body?" "What is wrong with your legs ????" instead of actually trying to explain and show how to do the routines differently. Tales at the end of the day of other girls crying due to humiliating treatment and language were common. The very last week, my daughter was moved to tears as her coach let her have it on how she was off beat in a dance, and was then dragged out and told that she had better stop crying because she was way too old to react like that. I will not sign up my daughter again for this camp. I was expecting a fun camp experience where she would learn new skills and routines in a challenging yet supportive environment. Public humiliation and disrespectful language should not be part of any summer camp. read more

I took my 2- year old boy here for their toddler gym class, and after a few tries we left on the 4th session, mid-class, because of the incompetence of the teacher. From least offensive to most: the teacher said good job to only some students while not trying to find the good in the other students that were trying and were having fun exploring a bit. After all, they are in a new place and they are two years old! I have taken for granted that all places that cater to children are play based and child centered around this town. Well, I found the exception. Children learn best thru play, but that is not the philosophy here. Worst offense? An uncle was taking his niece to class. This two year old was in tears not wanting to participate. He was told to physically force her little body into the gymnastic position thru her tears and pleas. He seemed puzzled, wanted to refuse, but the teacher persevered in telling him this was the way. We took this class to have something fun to do during the day, not to see a little girl be made to cry for the entire session. I never went back. The other teachers saw but went on, like business as usual. read more

Golden bear gymnastics is a great facility for both recreational and competitive gymnastics. All the coaches is are very friendly, professional and are very committed to teaching all kids as much as possible ! My daughter started in recreational classes in 2016 and is now in a competitive team. She loves this gym a lot she would be there everyday if she could. She is always very happy to be there and she is very motivated and dedicated to learning as much as possible. She has loved every single coach she has had and has learned so much from all of them. They helped her pick up skills very quickly and regain confidence when needed. Everything in this gym is fantastic! they have created a great community and environment for kids! read more

My daughter would love to be here all day, every day. She started in the recreational program (and not particularly young) because we lived nearby and I thought it would be great for her to work off some energy. Little did I know she would become an ambitious gymnast! Every coach she has worked with has been incredibly intelligent and highly skilled, and above all, gentle and compassionate. This is a great program for all kinds of kids--those who want to run around and have fun and those who are passionate about gymnastics. read more

Golden bear gymnastics includes both the college athletes, who have their own coaches, and the gymnastics academy for children and teenagers. The Academy has two programs, a competitive one and a recreational one. I have experience with both the competitive classes and the rec. ones through my two kids. If you are looking for a gym class for your child, you have to ask yourself what is your goal. This is an excellent gymnastics academy if you want your child to grow into a confident person, since this place prioritizes self respect, self confidence and discipline over just winning. It does not matter what shape, height, age or color your gymnast child is, she/he will be accepted here and very welcome in a class/level that reflects her initial skills. They do not look only for very young petite slim kids. They asses only your child athletic abilities, without preconceived idea about how she should look like. During competitions, Golden Bear is one of the Clubs whose team athletes are very diverse. Even in the competitive teams, kids are not too pressured into getting timely their skills (like HOH does) but they are encouraged and respected for who they are and where they are, never too pushed. They move up a level when the coaches think that is safe for the child to do so according to your child ability, not according to the gym agenda. If your goal is to push your child to the limit and quickly, and be sure you grow a winner, than other places like Head Over Heels might be more indicated. Golden bear teams are doing pretty well though, as you can check in http://www.mymeetscores.com/team.pl?teamid=23407 This is also one of the few places where children in competitive programs in other gyms are still accepted during Golden Bear summer camps clinics during the summer, that also describes the atmosphere of keeping both friendship and competitiveness among athletes in a healthy atmosphere. The coaches are engaged and do not watch the clock, their cell or get often distracted while your child is trying hard to learn, as I saw in other places. I am very satisfied with the experience of both my children, one in level 5 and one in rec. classes. read more