We came to Hot Ground Gym for a free trial class for my son, courtesy of a friend whose son and…read morecousins also attend the classes. So my experience is limited to just one visit, but I was actually pretty impressed by what I saw. I can see how this could be a really good place for kids to build confidence, learn discipline, and get active at the same time.
I got to meet Doug, who was running the class himself; I think he is the owner also. He was very hands-on with the kids and personable with all the families. I also really like that Hot Ground Gym was founded and is owned by military veterans and former first responders, and I could see how they're able to transfer these skills and help kids get active and learn discipline.
One of the first things I noticed was that the kids really have to listen in order to follow the instructions. Doug has a very projecting voice, and you will hear him. At first, I could see how the loud and direct instructions might feel a little intimidating to a younger child, such as a 7-year-old or younger, but very quickly I noticed that the kids who had been coming for a while knew exactly what to do. The smaller or newer kids could watch them and follow along it's a good real-life example of observing, learning, and following the leader. At the end of the session, all the kids were called to get an ice pop to hydrate and cool down with, which was really a nice reward for all of their hard work.
They also group the sessions by age, plus or minus a couple of years, and this has the advantage of having some variety so the kids can help one another out. There were real-time teamwork activities where the kids had to hold each other's hands, guide each other through while being blindfolded, and work together to get through different challenges.
I was impressed by how quickly the kids learned the ropes and moved through things like climbing walls and the mini zip line. They could move at their own pace and surprisingly, there wasn't any bottlenecking. There are younger staff helping Doug and assisting the kids along the course, and everyone seemed very attentive to make sure kids were moving through the obstacles safely.
I really like this concept of problem-solving and teamwork happening physically. You put your kids in here and they'd actually have to communicate, trust each other, observe what other kids are doing, and figure out how to get through the challenges together. Talk about real-life skills!
There was also upbeat music playing during the class, and it seems to depend on the group and age which made the whole thing feel lively. I noticed flyers for no-school camps, laser tag nights, birthday parties, bring-a-buddy promotions, and other activities. They also have a badge system where kids can work toward different badges as they develop skills and demonstrate leadership. There are a lot of different things built into the program, and I was impressed by how much more there is to it than simply an obstacle course. I also like the flexibility of the program. Doug mentioned monthly enrollment as well as prepaid session passes, and there are different class schedules to choose from; he also sends out regular emails of activities happening.
Overall, I could see the potential for kids to build confidence, teamwork, discipline, and problem-solving skills while getting a good workout. This review was not sponsored, nor was I asked to write it about it. I just think they have something special here so I want to spread the word for other families because I do think this is such a unique establishment for kids. I just wish they were closer to us!
They currently have 2 Illinois locations in Arlington Heights and Libertyville, and I would love to see one open somewhere in the Schaumburg or western suburbs area someday. I think it could serve a lot of families in over here.
