New Parents Information: Getting Started!
Classes begin at 18 months!
Our classes operate on a rolling basis, meaning they run monthly instead of semester-by-semester or annually. Since membership is month-to-month, you can sign up your child for a class anytime throughout the year!
The easiest way to sign your child up for a class is through our Parent Portal!
Once there, please create a new account to access our complete class schedule, see which classes are available, & request enrollment. Once the office approves your request, you'll receive an email confirming your child's enrollment & start date.
If a class isn't immediately available, you can also request to add your child to as many class waitlists as you like!
You can also call the office at 504-734-0644 if you have any questions or need assistance!
It depends on how old your child is & if they have any previous gymnastics experience.
Check out our "Quick Guide" to help you select the right class for your child!
Most classes are full, but we highly recommend adding your child to several class waitlists. The more waitlists they are on, the higher your chances of getting into a class sooner.
In the meantime, we encourage you to sign your child up for our Kids' Night Out events & seasonal camps!
We also suggest scheduling private lessons with one of our coaches while you wait for a spot to open up in a class. Private lessons allow your child to get in the gym & start learning the skills taught in our curriculum. That way, once they're in a class, they are already familiar with the terminology & movements, which will help them feel more comfortable joining a new group!
If your child has previous gymnastics experience, we can schedule an evaluation to access their current skills & find the class best suited to their abilities!
Please email us at office@empiregymnastics.net or call the office at 504-734-0644 to set up an evaluation.
Each week, we go through all of our classes to identify any openings. If a spot is available, we notify the next person on the waitlist via email.
Once notified, families have one week to respond and let us know if they want to take the spot or pass on it. If we don't hear back from a family within a week, we drop them from the list & notify the next student!
Unfortunately, you won't be able to see exactly where your child is on a class waitlist.
However, you can send us an email or give us a call, and & we'll be happy to check!
We do not currently offer trial classes.
However, once your child is actively enrolled in a class, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows your student to try the class four times! Sometimes, it takes more than one class to adjust, as new activities can be scary!
Yes! Most of our classes are currently full and/or have waitlists, but if you're able to find two classes during the week with openings that work with your family's schedule, we always encourage more time in the gym.
Billing/Tuition Information
There is a $45.00 annual membership fee due upon initial registration.
Parents & Peanuts: $72.45 / month
Preschool: $82.95 / month
Boys' & Girls' Kinder Kids: $93.45 / month
Boys' & Girls' Developmental Beginner Level 1: $93.45 / month
Boys' & Girls' Developmental Intermediate Level 2: $93.45 / month
Boys' & Girls' Developmental Advanced Level 3: $103.95 / month
Co-Ed Tumble Tots: $93.45 / month
Co-Ed Tumbling Beginner Level 1: $93.45 / month
Co-Ed Tumbling Intermediate Level 2: $93.45 / month
Co-Ed Tumbling Advanced Level 3: $103.95
Homeschool Preschool: $82.95 / month
Homeschool P.E.: $93.45 / month
Co-Ed Flex & Stretch: $82.95 / month
SPECTacular Preschool Gymnastics: $72.45 / month
SPECTacular Beginner Gymnastics: $82.95 / month
SPECTacular Gymnastics Open Gym Drop-In: $17 / class
Adult Gymnastics Drop-In: $22 / class
In most cases, yes!
If there are any questions about what your first month's tuition cost will be, please feel to email us at office@empiregymnastics.net or call the office at 504-734-0644. We're happy to help!
Tuition is due on the first of every month.
Tuition is automatically drafted on the first of every month, which means families must have an active credit or debit card on file.
If you'd like to use a card other than the one currently stored in your account, you can log into the Parent Portal to update your information and pay online. You can also stop by the office to make a payment in person.
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), & Apply Pay!
If you wish to pay cash, you must pay BEFORE the first of the month.
We do NOT accept check payments.
If payment does not go through, you have until the 7th of the month to update your payment information either online through our Parent Portal, over the phone, or in person.
If payment is not received by the 7th of the month, a $25.00 late fee will be applied to your account. Additionally, students are NOT permitted to participate in their classes until tuition is paid in full.
No. All tuition is non-refundable.
If you miss a class, please contact the office to discuss make-up options.
Our office is open Monday - Friday from 2:00. PM - 7:00 PM & Saturday from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
We are closed on Sundays.
FIRST DAY Information
4925 Jefferson Hwy STE G, Jefferson, LA 70121
Finding the gym can be a bit tricky, though, even with GPS! (especially since several businesses within the complex share the address "4925 Jefferson Hwy")
Although we have a Jefferson Hwy address, the facility is actually located on an unnamed side street, under the Huey P. Long Bridge, on the corner of Clearview Pkwy & Jefferson Hwy.
If you're coming from New Orleans, head west on Jefferson Hwy. Just before you reach the Huey P. Long Bridge, you'll turn right onto our street before the Clearview Pkwy exit.
If you're coming from Kenner, head east on Jefferson Hwy. You'll pass under the Huey P. Long Bridge & make a U-turn. Then, you'll make a right turn onto our street, which is right before the Clearview Pkwy exit.
Once you turn on the side street, Empire is the first building on the left (Suite G) with the gravel parking lot!
To give you some additional landmarks to look for:
- Quality Kitchen & Baths is on the corner
- At the entrance to the side street, you'll see a sign for Sherwin Williams (& Empire Gymnastics Academy)
- Academy Sports & Walmart are across the street on the other side of the bridge
We have two designated parking areas for Empire families! There are several concrete parking spaces directly in front of the facility entrance, including two handicapped parking spots.
We also have a large gravel parking lot on the side of the building.
Just you, your student, & a bottle of water!
Girls:
- Athletic clothes/tighter-fitting workout apparel (leggings, shorts, a T-shirt, tank top, etc.)
- Leotards (with or without shorts)
- Tights that go over the feet, dresses, & skirts are NOT acceptable & present a safety concern
Boys:
- Athletic shorts & a T-shirt/tank top
- Shirts should be tucked in
- Clothes should be soft & NOT too baggy
ALL Students:
- All hair longer than SHOULDER-HEIGHT should be securely tied back (we have hair ties in the office!)
- All jewelry MUST be removed before entering the gym
- Socks are HIGHLY discouraged because they increase the chances of slipping
- No students are permitted to wear shoes on the gym floor
- Make sure all clothing is free of pockets & zippers to prevent injury & snagging on mats
- Avoid baggy clothes- when upside-down, shirts should not flip over a student’s head to cover the eyes, & shorts should never fall down
- Two-piece outfits are NOT acceptable attire
When you get to the gym, please check in with the office to complete some quick registration paperwork & pay your tuition (if you haven't already). We'll then review your child's class information, including who their coach is, & answer any questions you might have!
Once you're finished, your child will remove their socks & shoes, store them in a cubby in the lobby, & remove any jewelry (including hoop earrings, necklaces, bracelets, & watches). Then, you'll enter the gym through the black door across from the office window. If you have a water bottle, your child can bring it with them. (If not, we sell bottled water in the office! We also have two water fountains in the gym- one in the preschool area & the other by the balance beams in the main gym).
You will wait for your child's class to begin on the black floor behind the blue gate. At the start of class, coaches will call all students out to the floor & then the fun begins!
Of course! We have two restroom facilities in the back of the lobby, including a family bathroom with a diaper changing station & diaper genie!
From the main entrance, walk straight back. The bathrooms are the second & third doors in the back.
Absolutely! We encourage it!
Inside the gym, you can observe your child's class from the black floor waiting area behind the blue gate. We also have an upstairs viewing area that provides a bird's-eye view of the gym. We want you to be able to watch your child throughout their gymnastics journey & share in their experience!
After walking your child into the gym & their class begins, you can definitely leave the facility! Many parents run errands, grab coffee, or even sit in their cars in the parking lot. Just be attentive to the time & ensure you're back inside to pick up your child once their class ends.
If your child is in a preschool class, please remain inside the facility for the class duration, either in the lobby or viewing area. This is especially important if your child is NOT potty-trained, is newly potty-trained, or needs assistance in the restroom.
ENROLLMENT/Class Information
Parents are NOT permitted on the gym floor during classes unless they participate in a Parents & Peanuts class. Parents on the floor pose a safety concern & serve as a distraction for their children & the other students in the facility.
Please let the office know if you need to speak with your child during class. They will then go into the gym to notify your child's coach & walk them into the lobby.
If you want to watch your child's class, you must do so from the black floor waiting area behind the blue gate or the upstairs viewing area.
We will let you know! Our coaches monitor every student's progress, & as soon as they are ready for the challenges the next class level offers, they notify the office & you!
Please speak with the office if you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress. We're always happy to check in & perform additional evaluations if necessary to provide detailed feedback about your child's gymnastics journey.
If your child has to leave class early, you MUST inform the office staff, their coach, or both!
It is our duty always to know where every child is at all times when they are here. So, if you know that your student is leaving early or you must pull them out of class early due to unforeseen circumstances, please speak with the office or flag down a coach to let us know. An Empire staff member will walk your child to the lobby for you.
If you know you are running late, please call the office & we'll give your child's coach a heads-up!
However, if your child is more than 15 minutes late to class, they will not be permitted to join the class & you will be entitled to a make-up class. Jumping into class more than 15 minutes late poses a safety concern since they missed the warm-up; it also disrupts the class & takes time away from the other students.
If your child is unable to attend class, please contact the office & let us know! We will mark them absent & help you schedule a make-up class.
Please note that if your child misses three consecutive classes in a row without notifying the office, your child will be dropped from their class.
No worries! If your schedule changes & your current class no longer works for your family, please let us know!
More often than not, we can transfer your child's enrollment to a different class day/time to better accommodate your family's new schedule.
If we don't have an open spot in a different class, we can pause your enrollment for one month and/or add your child to other class waitlists.
Yes! We can pause your child's class enrollment for ONE month.
For that month, you will be charged a $25.00 hold fee. After one month, if you'd like to keep your child's spot in the class, you must pay the full tuition; otherwise, they will be dropped to make room for the next student on the waitlist.
We'll be sad to see you go!
However, if you'd like to cancel your child's membership, please notify the office before the end of the month to avoid being charged next month's tuition.
You can submit your drop request online via our Parent Portal, via email, phone, or in person.
Yes! We love having siblings enrolled in our programs!
While most of our classes are full and/or have waitlists, we prioritize siblings of actively enrolled students. Since we respect the busy lives of all our families, we will do our best to schedule their classes as closely as possible to minimize logistical concerns! However, due to limited class availability, we cannot guarantee that we'll be able to schedule your children for classes on the same day or at the same time.
Camps/Event Information
KNO is a four-hour "mini-camp" offered once a month on Saturday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Kids have a blast playing games, doing crafts, & participating in a gym-wide obstacle course! They also have tons of gymnastics fun throughout the night, while parents have a little time to themselves.
For more information & upcoming KNO dates, check out our Kids' Night Out page!
Absolutely not! We welcome all our friends & friends of friends for a fun-filled evening!
Non-members just have to fill out a very brief waiver form upon arrival & then they're good to go.
While we'd love to help celebrate your child's big day, we do not currently offer birthday parties. We apologize for the inconvenience!
Yes! Our summer camp is a HUGE hit every year & only continues to grow with each passing summer!
We offer nine weeks of summer fun, with two separate camps for children aged 3—4 and 5 - 12. Parents can sign up children for full weeks, single full days, or single half days, as well as before-care and/or aftercare.
Check out our seasonal camp page for more details & information about upcoming camp!
As of right now, the only other seasonal camp offered is our Winter Holiday Camp.
But you never know! We're looking to add more camps during other holiday breaks. If interested, make sure you check our website & social media pages for updates, or subscribe to our email list so you're one of the firsts to know when any new camp opens!
Competitive Teams Information
Yes! We proudly offer competitive teams for both boys & girls. In fact, we're one of the only gyms in the New Orleans area that has a competitive boys team!
Our recreational classes meet once a week for 60—to 75 minutes. They are designed to introduce children to the sport of gymnastics in an enjoyable, relaxed environment & they focus on fun, fitness, & safe skill development. Plus, students can participate in gymnastics without the stress of getting ready for meets!
Our competitive teams practice two to four days a week & train four to sixteen hours each week, depending on their age & level. As part of our competitive program, athletes are expected to demonstrate a higher degree of commitment to their gymnastics training. While we still strive for students to have fun at the gym, team practices concentrate more on conditioning, strength training, & refinement of skill techniques, all in preparation for competitions.
No matter which path you & your child decide to pursue, we pride ourselves on having a place at Empire for every student to get the most out of their gymnastics journey!
Participation in one of our competition teams is by invitation only.
Team coaches observe all recreational classes throughout the year and typically recruit new students for the team in late April or early May. However, there are always exceptions, especially since we accept enrollments year-round!
If a team coach is interested in having your child join a competitive group, they will conduct an evaluation & speak to you in person about whether it's something you're interested in & what the next steps entail.
You can also contact Coach Kay if you or your child wants to explore the idea of competitive gymnastics or if you have any questions about the competition program.
Competitive team tuition is based on the number of hours their group trains weekly:
- Boys' Little Rascals: $135.00 / month (2 hours/week)
- Boys' Pre-Team: $165.00 / month (4 hours/week)
- Boys' Team Levels 3 - 4: $210.00 / month (8 hours/week)
- Boys' Team Level 5: $250.00 / month (12 hours/week)
- Boys' Team Levels 6 - 8: $285.00. /month (16 hours/week)
- Girls' Pre-Team: $165.00 / month (4 hours/week)
- Girls' Bronze Team: $165.00 / month (4 hours/week)
- Girls' Team Levels 1 - 2: $180.00 / month (5 hours/week)
- Girls' Silver Team: $190.00 / month (6 hours/week)
- Girls' Team Level 3: $230.00. /month (10 hours/week)
- Girls' Gold Team: $240.00 / month (10 1/2 hours/week)
- Girls' Team Levels 4 - 7: $270.00 / month (14 hours/week)
- Girls' Platinum - Diamond Teams: $270.00 / month (14 hours/week)
It's important to remember that there is both a time & financial commitment when you join the competitive program.
There are multiple practices a week & consistent attendance is expected for safety, skill development, & proper competition preparation reasons. During meet season, you'll also be attending competitions several weekends each month between December & June. This is important to consider for both athletes & families because a busy gymnastics schedule impacts everyone's availability for other activities.
Team tuition is higher than our recreational tuition. There are also the costs of uniforms, competition registrations, & coaches' fees to consider, which definitely adds up over time. While we do our best to keep costs as low as possible, gymnastics is an inherently expensive sport, especially as your child advances in levels.
All in all, competitive gymnastics is quite demanding! It's not only physically, emotionally, & mentally challenging for the athletes, but there's a time & financial obligation for families, too.
Unlike recreational classes, team practices do not provide make-ups. If your athlete has to miss a practice, you must contact their coach directly to discuss possible options.
Girls' Team Coaches:
- Kay Bernard: kay@empiregymnastics.net
- Julian Hodge: julian@empiregymnastics.net
- Olivia LeBlanc: olivia@empiregymnastics.net
Boys' Team Coach:
- Zac Tujague: zac@empiregymnastics.net
USAG & NGA are both governing sanctioning bodies for the sport of gymnastics in the country.
USAG stands for USA Gymnastics. USAG is the current national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, overseeing six disciplines: acrobatic, artistic, gymnastics for all, parkour, rhythmic, & trampoline & tumbling. USAG is a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee & International Gymnastics Federation, & supports the U.S. teams for the Olympic Games, World Championships, & other top-tier international events.
NGA stands for National Gymnastics Association. Established in 2020, NGA is a newer organization created as an alternative option to improve the culture & experience for gymnasts of all levels in light of the many issues recently exposed in the public eye. NGA is a non-profit group founded to provide competitive gymnastics in a simplified format with unified rules and deductions. This program is intended to offer a consistent, positive, forward-moving experience for athletes from beginners to college-bound.
Ten levels exist in competitive Junior Olympic (JO) gymnastics, & the skills and demands of each level increase in difficulty & demand as they progress from the first level (level 1) through the highest level (level 10). Each level has certain rules & requirements regarding the skills that make up the routines and the overall duration of each routine.
In the compulsory program, which is levels 1 through 5, every Empire gymnast in the same level competes the same exact routine on each event.
The optional program comprises levels 6 through 10. In this program, each Empire gymnast competes in routines choreographed specifically for them. Each routine has similar skills but different dance combinations (& music for girls on the floor) to make it unique to each gymnast’s strengths & personality.
XCEL gymnastics is another competitive track that follows a similar progression concerning complexity & demand. However, instead of referring to the levels with a number, the levels are given “metal” names: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, & Sapphire to delineate skill & difficulty.
The main differences between the JO & XCEL programs are the training commitment & routine requirements. The XCEL team is designed to give athletes an alternative route for competitive gymnastics that does not mandate as many hours in the gym, provides more flexibility, & has fewer special requirements that must be included in routines.
However, the XCEL team is still competitive and should not be taken lightly. Many XCEL program gymnasts continue to be high-level college athletes and have successful athletic careers.
It’s important to acknowledge that the NGA organization has eliminated the separation of competitive tracks & combined the former JO & XCEL structures to create one streamlined program – a single competitive spectrum of 14 skill levels from beginner level 1 to college-bound level 10: Level 1, Bronze/Level 2, Silver, Level 3, Level 4, Gold, Level 5, Level 6, Platinum, Level 7, Diamond, Level 8, Level 9, Level 10.
Gymnasts don't need to compete at every single level; they can compete only in the numbered levels, only in the metal levels, skip levels, or transition between both the numbered & metal levels. What level a gymnast competes ultimately depends on their skills, which level requirements they meet, & the investment they are willing to make in their training.
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Summer Camp Registration is Now OPEN!
Don't let your kids miss out on a one-of-a-kind camp experience!
Empire's summer camp is a HUGE hit & only grows bigger each year! We offer nine weeks of nonstop summer fun for campers 3 to 12 years old.
Spots fill up FAST, so be sure to claim your spot today!