SAUGUS — Planet Fitness is currently running the High School Summer Pass initiative through Aug. 31, allowing teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19 to work out for free.
Daniel Jarvis, the assistant manager at the Planet Fitness in the Saugus Plaza Shopping Center, which is the largest fitness facility in Massachusetts, said that he has been working at the gym since shortly after it opened in January 2022.
Jarvis said that in the first year the gym offered the High School Summer Pass, which he has been involved with since it opened, not that many teenagers took advantage of the pass. But every year since, he said, a fairly large group of teens has come to work out during the summer.
“I see kids that are committed and sign up (for a membership) after the summer pass,” Jarvis said.
While teens using the pass are unable to take full advantage of all the benefits at the gym that are offered to people who have the highest “Black Card” membership, such as HydroMassage beds, massage chairs, and red-light therapy, they are free to use all of the equipment on the gym floor, including dumbbells, Smith machines, TRX Suspension Training, and more.
Teenagers in the eligible age group may sign up each summer for the initiative, which Jarvis said has led to seeing a lot of familiar faces.
“Oh dude, you’re back, awesome,” Jarvis said he remarks when he sees a teenager come back after using the pass the previous summer.
Jarvis said that it is great to see kids coming in to get their pump on and staying active. He said that beyond just physical fitness, being in a space like a gym aids in teenagers’ development and helps teach them life skills, such as how to interact kindly with a wide variety of people.
As this is a company-wide initiative, teenagers can use the High School Summer Pass at the Planet Fitness gym at 50 Boston St. in Lynn as well.
