Teens Can Work Out Free All Summer At Morton Grove Planet Fitness

MORTON GROVE, IL — Teens can work out for free this summer at Planet Fitness gyms, including its Dempster Street location, as part of the franchise's High School Summer Pass program.

Formerly known as the Teen Summer Challenge, the program offers the opportunity for teens between the ages of 14 and 19 to sign up for to use the gym for free from May 16 to Aug. 31.

Planet Fitness CEO Chris Rondeau said his company has a responsibility to provide a welcoming and safe space for students, "particularly given the challenges they have and continue to face in the wake of the pandemic," to help high school students improve their physical and mental health.

A study commissioned by the gym company found the vast majority of U.S. teens would like to stay physically active when school is out for summer, but many of them lack the access or motivation.

Among the findings from the online survey of Americans aged 15 to 18 and their parents:

• 92 percent of teens feel better mentally when they are regularly physically active
• 78 percent said having access to a place to work out would benefit their health
• 71 percent of parents are concerned about their teen's mental health, 60 percent are concerned with their physical fitness.
• 61 percent of teens who exercise said it reduces stress, 50 percent said it makes them happier.
• 48 percent of teens said they struggled with mental health for the first time during the pandemic, and 51 percent currently struggle with anxiety.

Another survey, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, found that less than 15 percent of teens met the recommended minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical activity during the pandemic. It also found that students who engaged in more physical activity and less screen time had better mental health outcomes.

“Our study found that nearly all (92 percent) high school students agreed that when they are regularly physically active, they feel much better mentally," Rondeau said. "Fitness is about feeling good, too, and our hope is that High School Summer Pass empowers teens to create life-long workout habits to help them succeed in every aspect of their lives.”

Teenaged survey respondents in the Planet Fitness-commissioned study agreed: the percentage of students who say they spent too much time in front of screens has increased compared to just before the pandemic, rising from 52 percent two years ago to 61 percent in 2022.

Everyone who signs up for the High School Summer Pass initiative will be entered into a sweepstakes for cash scholarships that can be used for academic or athletic programs, Planet Fitness representatives announced this week.

At the end of the summer, one student from each state and Washington, D.C., will receive a $500 scholarship, and one randomly selected participant will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

According to the program guidelines, teens must work out at the location where they sign up for the pass and may not use other locations.

Minors must sign up with a parent or guardian, although they can work out alone once a waiver is signed.