Planet Fitness is bringing back its free summer gym membership program for teenagers for a sixth year.
The company announced that teens ages 14 to 19 can work out for free at more than 2,900 participating Planet Fitness locations across the United States and Canada through its High School Summer Pass program.
Registration is now open, with free club access available from June 1 through Aug. 31. To launch the nationwide initiative, all local Columbia Planet Fitness clubs will host free open house events every Thursday from May 21 to June 4, from 4 to 8 p.m.
This year’s program is being sponsored by Gymshark, which will offer participating teens exclusive discounts on athletic apparel after they register.
Planet Fitness officials said the program is designed to encourage teens to stay active during the summer months while improving both physical and mental health.
“At Planet Fitness, our mission is to break down the barriers to fitness,” said Colleen Keating, CEO of Planet Fitness. “This program gives teens the unique opportunity to build lifelong healthy habits in a welcoming and non-intimidating environment during the important months when school is out.”
Participants will have access to gym equipment, cardio machines, strength training areas, free fitness instruction from certified trainers and on-demand workouts through the Planet Fitness mobile app.
The company said it has invested more than $460 million in waived membership fees through the program since it launched. Planet Fitness also released findings from a national survey examining teen mental and physical health. According to the company, 95% of teens surveyed said they experience emotional or mental struggles, while many reported exercise helps them manage stress, build confidence and improve self-esteem.
The survey also found cost remains a major barrier for many teens, with nearly half saying they cannot afford to prioritize fitness. More than 80% said they would go to a gym if memberships were free.
To help promote the program, Planet Fitness is partnering with Olympic track star Allyson Felix and Flau’jae Johnson of the WNBA.
More information and registration details are available at Planet Fitness Summer Pass.