Gorilla Play Day

Specialties

My specialty is in engineering fun and frolic. I’ve been blessed with the ability to connect and engage with the kids who play at my after-​school programs (currently in three schools in Menlo-​Atherton) and birthday parties. I bring a unique ability to make kids laugh, feel confident and empowered within the context of physical activity and games. I’m fun for all ages, but Gorilla Play Day is geared toward kids 4 – 10. Particularly for those who enjoy playing camp and playground games like freeze tag, capture the flag, sharks & minnows, and dodge ball, casual versions of team sports like field hockey, baseball, and soccer, as well as activities like tug-​o-​war and parachute. If you’re looking to engage, entertain, and exhaust a group of active kids, call on Gorilla Play Day!

History

Established in 2010.

I was a rather popular preschool gymnastics instructor at Menlo Park Gymnastics for 12 years. In early 2010, a few of the moms asked me why we didn’t play outdoors with the kids. I decided to fill the need by getting some basic equipment. cones, balls, hoops, etc., and getting outside with the kids playing playground games and sports for two hours every week. What started with four of my most faithful fans, blossomed to rotating cast of nearly 40 kids by the time we retired the Burgess Park phase in late 2012!

During this time, I was asked by parents on numerous occasions to bring the day camp to their child’s birthday party. From those, begat many more parties and in May of 2011, I was asked to conduct the games at the Oak Knoll Elementary annual Spring Picnic for around 300 kids and their parents! We did the day camp on a grand scale and it was a lot of fun!

Meet the Business Owner

Chris O.

Business Owner

Professionally, I worked for Menlo Park Gymnastics from 2001 – 2013 teaching kids as young as walking-​age, up to six and seven year olds in Level 1 gymnastics. I also worked for the amazing California Sports Center for a little over a year teaching the same age range.

Personally, I commonly describe what I have as «the kid gene». I’ve cared for the younger kids in my family all my life and on into adulthood I kept with that as I worked temporarily as a male nanny for an eight year old while living in San Francisco. I literally stumbled into gymnastics a few years later, and now I have my own child, with plans for more in the future!

Gorilla Play Day also recommends

California Sports Center — Cambrianna

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reviews

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Summer Camps

Chris O. says,

«I really LOVED working at this gym! Great staff and clientele. I still take my baby girl to Open Explore on weekdays.»