Gabrielle Union Opens Up About Summer's 'Big Win' for Daughter Kaavia: 'An Absolute Blast' (Exclusive)

The actress tells PEOPLE she's loving watching her kids flourish as they transition from summer to fall

Gabrielle Union enjoyed so many special moments with her family this summer.

Speaking with PEOPLE about her family's adventures and her partnership with Great Wolf Lodge, the Bring It On actress, 50, says daughter Kaavia James, 4, enjoyed a "big win this summer."

"We went to France as a family and it was her first time being outside of Paris, which is weird to say about my 4-year-old," she says with a laugh. "She absolutely loved it and had a blast. It was the first time she's really swam in the ocean, in open water."

"It was a big win this summer, for her to feel comfortable to do that," the proud mom shares.

Of course, the family — consisting of Union, husband Dwyane Wade, Kaavia and Zaya, 16, and sons Xavier, 9, and Zaire, 21 — are no strangers to adventure.

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Related: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Celebrate Daughter Zaya's 16th Birthday: 'So Thankful'

Union is teaming up with Great Wolf Lodge to help families looking to burn some morning energy and prepare for the day with the indoor water park resort’s new Adventure Training: Get Fit with the Great Wolf Pack, developed alongside her longtime trainer, Gregg Miele.

"When you wake up and your kids are on 10 and you're on like 1½, it's great for those mornings. There are days where your kids get up and you need to burn off some of that morning energy even before you hit the park," she shares.

"It's a great place to start. We do some stretching, go into some strength moves and then cardio, and we have a cooldown. It's cute and fun and sweet and helps with those of us who have children who are very active in the mornings."

Kaavia is taking the energy and confidence she's built up all summer and taking it back to school as she goes to Pre-K 4.

"Because she's got that November birthday, she won't get to start kindergarten until next year," Union explains, adding with a laugh, "But she's excited and I'm excited they're back in school four hours of the day."

It's a big year for Zaya as well, as she tackles her junior year of high school. "This is like ACT time. It's a time for really buckling down, even though she's above a 4.0 with honors and AP."

"She never really goes on vacation," Union notes. "Her downtime also includes school and staying sharp, so when she goes back, she's ahead. And Zaya also went to an astrobiology camp this summer. I could barely spell it! But that's the kind of student Zaya is; she doesn't really stop."

It's nice for Union and Wade to see the two "get excited for new teachers. And especially for Kaavia, new friends and new experiences."

"It's exciting to watch things through her eyes and for Zaya, watching her become even more laser-focused toward her ultimate dream, and narrowing down favorite colleges and getting to do college tours and stuff," Union says. "It's really fun for us."

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