Our Expertise
Welcome to the neighbourhood.
“If I go to an art gallery, I can stand there and stare at a painting, but I get bored pretty quickly. But if I have someone next to me who’s an art expert helping me see the nuances and showing me what to look for, all of a sudden the world of art opens up. That’s what I want to be for parents for their child’s development.”
Jennifer Hood
Jennifer Hood has years of experience working in gymnastics organizations across Canada and is a certified teacher, specializing in primary education. She is the mom of three active girls, one of whom lives with a chronic, fatal, genetic disease, so she deeply understands the challenges that brings
In 2008, Jen founded Jump Gymnastics, a unique sports facility that uses gymnastics to develop physical literacy. Jump works in partnership with Kids Physio Group, and its two locations are a popular destination for parents across Vancouver.
At this particular time in history, Jen believes we need strong leaders more than ever. Strong leaders must learn to believe in themselves, challenge themselves, and understand how they respond in the face of adversity. We can use physical learning as a very tangible way to unlock these things.
Her many years working with children has allowed Jen to deeply understand the strength of the link between early physical literacy and leadership skills later in life. As physical skills can be seen developing in front of us, they can become a symbol to discuss how we handle challenges, frustration, what we do when things come easy to us, or if they come hard to us. This allows a child to unlock the understanding of how they learn, a self awareness vital as a leader.
Jen is currently using her unique skills in Active Start Physical Literacy development to consult for organizations such as Gymnastics Canada, Sport For Life, and the Westcoast Childcare Resource Centre.
Jen’s Writing, Speaking, and Publications
Lead Your Team Ep 75: How to Rally in COVID-19
How to Lead for Female Entrepreneurs Ep 11: Jennifer Hood
The Importance of Risky Play. BC Families Magazine, June 2016
Avoiding Sports Specialization in Children. North Shore News, January 2016.
Letting Kids Take Risk. West Coast Families Magazine, May 2015.
Women’s Enterprise Centre Success Stories: Jennifer Hood
Jennifer Pollock
Jennifer Pollock has been working with kids since she was a kid herself. She has a BA in Communication from Simon Fraser University where she gained excellent research, writing, and marketing skills,but her very favourite courses were in children’s literature.
For the past four years, Jennifer has been working with Jump Gymnastics as the Business Services Manager. It is here that she discovered a passion for child development, and the long term, far reaching benefits of physical literacy. A lifelong PE class hater, Jennifer understands the baggage we as parents can bring to our kids relationship to moving their bodies.
The mom of an active toddler, Jennifer always seeking a supportive community of like-minded parents, and totally understands milestone envy, mom guilt, and late night, anxiety fueled, baby development googling.
Jennifer Arbeau
Jennifer Arbeau comes from Calgary, AB where she received her diploma is Social Work. Through this and her practicum experiences she discovered her passion for working with children. For the last three years she has been working for Jump Gymnastics as the Community Outreach Manager.
From her hands on experience as “Coach Jenn” in the gym, building a connection with the local community and taking on a larger marketing role, Jennifer has been able to bridge her passion for children, creativity and community.
She is a highly creative, empathetic, and a driven person in and out of work and truly believes in supporting each child’s individual journey, and normalizing the unique needs each child needs along the way.
(Yes, this is for real. We are all named Jennifer.)