School YearClass Guide
Everything you need to know before, during, and after class at Urban Playground — what to wear, payments, events, and how to find us. Let's Get UP & Move.
Before You Step On the Floor
The basics every UP family should know — what to wear, where to enter, what Day 1 looks like, and how our coaches run the floor.
What to Wear & Bring
Students should wear gym-class attire — t-shirt with athletic shorts or pants, plus athletic sneakers that tie tight. No open-toe or slip-on shoes. Any running or training shoes should work.
- Long hair tied UP
- No loose jewelry that can get caught during class
- We have a shoe-cleaning station at the entrance — clean shoes are appreciated
- Bring a water bottle — there's a water fountain between our two sides, plus bottled water at the front desk
- Beverages must stay completely off the gym floor. Athletes should come fully off the floor to drink — please do not hand drinks over fences or barriers
Bathrooms
We have 3 bathrooms — please have students use the restroom before class starts for a smoother start.
- Family — Red door (back right-hand corner, next to the blue wall)
- Girls — Purple door (second half of gym, by the water fountain)
- Boys — Blue door (second half of gym, by the water fountain)
Entrance & Lobby
Enter UP through the Purple door in our back parking lot. Cubbies to store shoes and bags are located throughout the building.
- Transition periods between classes can be busy — please avoid congregating at the front desk area
- Save the horse-play for inside class — no physical activity in the lobby, viewing areas, restrooms, or outside the facility
- No climbing on interior fences — ever
Day 1 & First Weeks
All classes warm up in the back half of our gym — head through the double doors in the middle of the gym and line up by the red gate. The exception is Freerunning and Trampoline & Flips classes, which start at our front gate by the front desk. Do not enter through the gates until a coach calls the class in.
- Parents — turn right and go through our party room into the parent viewing area if you'd like to watch class
- Classes typically spend the first 15 minutes warming up and stretching on the back four, then move to a different location of the gym
Day 1 · cont.
- Coaches will introduce themselves, the gym, and key rules at the start of class
- The first few weeks act as an introduction to our gym, its rules, and movement safety basics — regardless of skill level, so everyone progresses on the same page
- Only participants during scheduled class times are allowed in the Gym Area — everything inside our fences and purple chains: mats, ninja equipment, and grey carpet-bonded foam
What We Teach
Most classes teach a combination of three core disciplines — working on each separately and together throughout the session.
- Parkour — efficient movement A to B
- Freerunning — flips, tricks, personal flair
- Ninja Warrior — grip, balance, obstacles
Our Taekwondo classes (Mr. Ryan) and Adult 16+ classes (Coach Dave) will have their own set of standards they will go over with students.
Our Coaching Approach
We always work on the fundamentals with every class and student no matter the skill level. Class sizes are kept low for individual attention — no one left behind, no one held back.
- Lesson plans laid out one month at a time so every class feels fresh and evolves with the students
- If a coach feels a student isn't in the right class, we'll reach out — typically after a few sessions
- We focus not just on physical ability but mental — how students think about moving their body
- Don't be alarmed to see your child working through an obstacle on their own — problem-solving is part of the process
Discipline & Respect
We have a wide variety of free-spirited youth at UP and we love that! Our three main goals as instructors are:
- 1. Learn how to efficiently move through, around, and over obstacles — aka learning COOL TRICKS
- 2. Keep yourself and others SAFE
- 3. Have FUN
We keep classes light and fun but expect respect from every student. When instructors are talking, students are listening. No use of obstacles, mats, or platforms without direct permission. Repeated misbehavior = temporary sit-out. Please — no sideline coaching.
Discipline · cont.
- Any student putting themselves or others in danger is taken very seriously — even if it's just a lack of focus
- If you notice your child sitting out during class, please feel free to reach out for feedback
- Please — no sideline coaching during classes
Payment & Policy
Tuition, makeups, cancellations, and closures — all in one place. Most of this happens through the Parent Portal.
Tuition
Class tuition is automatically withdrawn on the last day of each month for the following month's classes. Payments are based on 4 classes per month for 9 months (36 classes).
- Next month's tuition is added to each account the last week of the month
- First payment for the session pulls August 31st
- Late registrations are charged manually within 1–2 business days
- Make sure your card on file is up to date in the Parent Portal
Late Fees
- A $10 late fee is added to any account not paid by the 7th of the month
- Accounts delinquent for more than one month will not be permitted to attend or enroll until the full balance is paid
Card Surcharge
Heads up on how cards are processed:
- 2.89% Visa, Mastercard, Discover
- $0 American Express or Debit
Want to avoid the surcharge entirely? Switch your default card in the Parent Portal to Amex or a debit card.
Makeups
Students may attend one group makeup per month for an illness-related absence. Sessions are 1 hour (45 min for Ninja Warrior Jr) and offered on weekends.
- Must be scheduled in advance via the Makeup Calendar on our website
- Dates are announced monthly in our newsletter
- Makeups must be scheduled within 3 weeks of the missed class — they do not stack and will expire
- Need more time? Email the front desk within the 3-week window to request an extension
- Taekwondo, Advanced Ninja, Team UP, and Adult classes follow separate policies explained in each class's welcome email
Weather & Closures
- If a class is canceled due to weather or unforeseen events, an emergency makeup will be scheduled
- Holiday closures are pre-built into the calendar and do not require makeups
Closures · cont.
School Year Holiday Closures — these dates are pre-built into our schedule and require no make-ups. Every class day still gets a full 36 classes. ⚖️ Perfectly balanced!
- 🎉 First day of classes — Mon, Aug 31
- 🍂 Mon, Sept 7 — Labor Day
- 🦃 Tue–Mon, Nov 24–30 — Thanksgiving Break
- ❄️ Tue, Dec 22 – Fri, Jan 1 — Winter Break · classes resume Mon, Jan 4
- 🏁 Last day of classes — Fri, May 28
Cancellation
To cancel, email the front desk before the last day of the month, prior to the next month's tuition being charged. Cancellations must be submitted in writing via email for a clear, time-stamped record. There is no cancellation fee.
- After payments are finalized we are unable to offer refunds for late cancellations
- A day or two late? We'll schedule a drop for the following month — your athlete can attend through the current month
- For cancellation or refund help, email us — instructors are often busy and will refer families to the front desk
Refunds
We do not issue refunds for membership fees, deposits, or class tuition due to cancellations, missed classes, or dropped enrollment after payment is processed. If a full or partial refund is necessary, it will be issued as an account credit to be applied toward future classes.
Class Sizes
To maintain appropriate class sizes, we have established a minimum and maximum number of roster spots. As needed, classes may be modified, combined, or removed. Waitlists will be used to determine which classes may need to be added to our schedule if necessary.
More Ways to Play
Beyond regular class — events, open gyms, parties, and a corner for younger siblings while big sibs are on the floor.
Open Gym
Want extra practice or just more fun? Open Gym runs almost every day.
- Preregistration & payment required online
- Discounted packages available for members — linked through our monthly newsletter
Birthday Parties
90 minutes of jam-packed fun — private gym access, certified instructors, group games on obstacles.
- Most Saturdays during summer
- Book 3 months ahead
Ninja League & Team UP
We host league and non-league Ninja competitions at UP — including World Ninja League (WNL) events. Ask a coach about the path to Team UP.
📌 Team Progression Path: Beginner → Ninja Warrior → Advanced Ninja Warrior → Team Tier 2 → Team Tier 1 🏆
- Tryouts are held mid-summer!
- New to the sport? Sign up for a Ninja Warrior or Parkour & Ninja Warrior class to get started
- Athletes may be moved into Advanced or Team after tryouts if recommended
- Competitive Ninja starts at age 6
Cozy Corner
A play area for younger siblings located in the second half of our facility, in the parent viewing area while big sibs are in class.
- Designed for ages 5 & under
- Toys, books, soft activities — not equipment
- Adult supervision required at all times
- Clean up after use so it stays nice for the next family
Merch UP
The majority of our selection is available online with ship-to-home or pickup options.
- T-shirts at the front desk are available but limited in sizes, styles, and quantity
- Full selection always available in the online shop
How to Find Us
Off the Union Deposit exit of I-83 — but the trick is parking in the back lot and entering through the purple door.
🚗 Driving Directions
- Take the Union Deposit Exit off I-83
- Head toward Sheetz, turn left onto Briarsdale Rd
- Pass McDonald's, Members 1st & Fast Lane Auto Wash
- Turn into the 4th building on the left (blue UP sign)
- Continue right around the building to the back lot
- Look for the Purple UP door to enter
🅿️ Parking & Drop-off
- 🚙Drop-Off OKOlder kids comfortable on their own can be dropped at the main door.
- 🚗One car per familyIf you're staying, try to limit cars and the number of family spectators.
- 🤝Carpooling helpsComing from the same neighborhood? It opens spots for everyone.
- 🚚Trucks & larger vehiclesSide grass lot is comfortable for bigger rigs.
- 👷Staff parks in the back & grassTo free up main spaces for families.
🧺 Picnic Area
Hang out before, during, or after class. Shaded after 2 PM — we plan to expand it over time. Please keep the area tidy and keep the parkour & ninja inside the building.
⚠️ The tires in the grass are not for playing on (safety + liability).
