Inspiring Children Through Gymnastics

Our Philosophy

The Children’s Gym in Portland is a fun and welcoming place where kids of all ages can enjoy gymnastics classes and camps. Our motto, “Inspiring Children for a Lifetime!” truly captures our spirit. We genuinely love inspiring children and aim to create an environment where every child leaves with a big smile, feeling proud of what they’ve learned, and eager to come back for more!

The Children’s Gym is situated between 16th and 17th Ave on Sandy Blvd, offering a generous 12,000-square-foot space filled with exciting equipment. We have a wide variety of gymnastics gear, including high beams, low beams, rings, vaulting areas, a fun thirty-foot Tumbl Trak, parallel bars, uneven bars, three unique sets of junior bars, and a large 24 by 30-foot tumbling floor. Our mats come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Plus, the entire gymnastics area is safely covered with 2-inch-thick, specially designed flooring to help absorb shocks and keep everyone safe.

Unlike competitive programs that focus solely on skill level, our main goal is to nurture self-esteem and promote positive group interactions in a supportive, non-competitive setting. Students aren’t competing against one another but are instead encouraged to grow and improve at their own pace. This welcoming environment is made possible thanks to wonderful coaches and teachers, small student-to-teacher ratios, and carefully crafted lesson plans that cater to each learner’s needs.

Our coaches and teachers actively engage with students through hands-on spotting and interactive instruction. They thoughtfully blend this with encouraging independent work, making each class both mentally stimulating and physically invigorating. This approach helps build confidence, enthusiasm, and fitness. Our dedicated staff members prioritize safety while adding a touch of creativity, foster respect with kindness, and set clear expectations with positive discipline. We believe this supportive environment helps everyone feel motivated and cared for.

For the safety of our students, The Children’s Gym is securely locked at all times and is not open to the public. When you need to enter the building, please refer to the instructions attached to your booking confirmation email. We also kindly ask that parents and guardians refrain from holding the door open or opening it from the inside to allow access. If you have any questions or need more details, please take a moment to review our Frequently Asked Questions. We’re here to help!

Our Portland Children’s Gymnastics History

Traci Vogel’s journey in gymnastics began when her parents first signed her up for her first class. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the sport and form a deep, lasting bond with gymnastics. Traci trained in gymnastics for many years, and by the age of seventeen, she was coaching at the Oregon Athletic Club. During this exciting time, she and her mentor created a special gymnastics program tailored to meet the developmental needs of preschoolers. The program quickly grew and thrived! When Traci took ownership of it in 1984, she proudly established The Children’s Gym.

For many years, The Children’s Gym called 43rd and Sandy home. Then, in 2010, Traci and her team made a brave decision to move to a larger space. It was a busy week filled with packing and moving all the equipment 26 blocks away to the new location. Soon after, the new Children’s Gym opened its doors, ready to welcome families and young gymnasts for new adventures!

Traci retired from her daily business responsibilities, and her eldest daughter, Andrea Lawrence, stepped in to take over. Andrea has a deep connection with the gym, having grown up there as both a student and her first job. After spending time away at college, studying abroad, and exploring new interests, Andrea returned to her passion for working with children, focusing on their development and her own leadership skills. She truly enjoys carrying on her mom’s legacy and helping the business flourish for future generations. Her own daughter has been part of the fun too, participating in classes, camps, and celebrating birthdays at TCG.

“It is important to me that The Children’s Gym provides great services that children love and parents value. We endlessly enjoy what we do. We want to make sure that we are always offering the very best of activities and programs to our wonderful families.” –Traci Vogel, Founder & Owner

 

“Carrying on my mom’s legacy is a tremendous honor. I cherish TCG’s long-standing place in the community. Seeing parents who were once students and now watching my daughter attend classes is truly special. Knowing we’re impacting multiple generations of students makes me reflect—it’s a remarkable privilege to have families and a city embrace and support TCG as it has for nearly 42 years.” -Andrea Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer