Robyn Spink has all kinds of plans for Jungle Mania, including bringing more of the jungle into the popular indoor play facility.

About six months ago, Spink and spouse Scott Casano took over the business at 2450C 10th Ave. NE (across from the Shaw Centre), known for its tall jungle gym and colourful animated animal mural on the building乌鸦传媒檚 exterior facing Highway 1.

Spink explained her family has always been involved in businesses and she wanted to get back into the workforce. However, they also had a five-year-old, Cassian (Scott乌鸦传媒檚 a Star Wars fan), who would need care.

乌鸦传媒淲e thought it would be a good opportunity to have him at work with me so we didn乌鸦传媒檛 have to do the day care乌鸦传媒�,乌鸦传媒� said Robyn. 乌鸦传媒淚t was a way for me to get my creativity out. I had all these ideas we could bring to this business.乌鸦传媒�

One of those ideas was to designate a time for older youth, when they could come in and have a safe space to play and have fun.

乌鸦传媒淲e noticed a bunch of them would come after school from the middle school and play in the jungle and a few people were like, you know, we乌鸦传媒檝e got littles in here and we乌鸦传媒檙e concerned乌鸦传媒�,乌鸦传媒� said Spink, who decided to designate time during the week just for toddlers, and introduce youth nights for kids ages 10-13.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e in that awkward age where they want to be adults, but they乌鸦传媒檙e still kids,乌鸦传媒� said Spink. 乌鸦传媒淭hey just come here and they乌鸦传媒檝e got their music going and the lights are low and they get to play in the jungle gym.乌鸦传媒�

Youth nights include table top games, laser tag, snacks, some video gaming and sometimes karaoke.

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乌鸦传媒淲e have a local guy that will come in and do a karaoke night,乌鸦传媒� said Spink. 乌鸦传媒淭he kids have the confidence, they乌鸦传媒檒l get up and sing karaoke, it乌鸦传媒檚 been very successful. I got them going 乌鸦传媒� I said whoever goes up first gets a free shirt. Sure enough, everybody wanted to be first and it just continued after that. The boys were singing Miley Cyrus and it was amazing.乌鸦传媒�

Youth aren乌鸦传媒檛 just Jungle Mania customers, they also play an important role in the business乌鸦传媒� operations. Once a month, Spink hosts a youth focus group. Part of their job is to choose the foods, drinks and activities Jungle Mania offers, testing items to make sure they乌鸦传媒檙e suitable.

乌鸦传媒淚 have seven kids right now and we can take more,乌鸦传媒� said Spink of the group. 乌鸦传媒淚 think their opinions are really important. Because, of course, the flavours I pick are always different from what they pick. And they give me ideas about youth night.乌鸦传媒�

Spink has introduced other special activities at Jungle Mania and has plans for more, including a book club for moms and something for kids with autism.

乌鸦传媒淥ur youngest is autistic, so we乌鸦传媒檙e doing sensory sensitive nights, so it will be once a month where it乌鸦传媒檚 set up just for sensory sensitive kids. I乌鸦传媒檇 like to get involved with any groups that want to help with that,乌鸦传媒� said Spink.

A big focus for Spink in the coming weeks will be Jungle Mania乌鸦传媒檚 interior, which will be undergoing a redesign. The goal is to make it look and feel like an actual jungle.

乌鸦传媒淲hen you walk into the place, you completely feel like you乌鸦传媒檙e walking into a jungle,乌鸦传媒� said Spink, excited about what乌鸦传媒檚 in store. 乌鸦传媒淵ou feel like you乌鸦传媒檙e transported 乌鸦传媒� eventually with lighting and a sound system to go with it.乌鸦传媒�

Spink assured Jungle Mania乌鸦传媒檚 outside animal mural will remain, though it may see some additions.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 want to lose the integrity of the old look 乌鸦传媒� I think that乌鸦传媒檚 really important乌鸦传媒� There may be a few more characters introduced and that乌鸦传媒檚 all I can say about that,乌鸦传媒� said Spink.

While it will look more like a jungle, fun remains a priority for Spink.

乌鸦传媒淚 always said I want to walk in and feel like I乌鸦传媒檓 going to a carnival,乌鸦传媒� said Spink. 乌鸦传媒淚 wanted that full experience, when you bring your kids. We乌鸦传媒檙e not about 乌鸦传媒榦h, let乌鸦传媒檚 have the most nutritious snack.乌鸦传媒� It乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒楲et乌鸦传媒檚 have fun today!乌鸦传媒� That乌鸦传媒檚 the feel I wanted.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚t has been amazing. It乌鸦传媒檚 been absolutely amazing. I am very grateful for the opportunity and I want everybody to feel special when they come in here.乌鸦传媒�

More information about Jungle Mania and upcoming activities can be found on the business乌鸦传媒� Facebook page and at junglemania.ca.

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