The rise of outdoor boot camps: what to expect

At sunrise on a humid July morning, more than thirty people line up near Queen’s Quay, medicine balls in hand, ready for sprints and squats on the Martin Goodman Trail. Organised outdoor boot camps are seeing a sharp upswing this summer, Toronto’s green spaces are now dotted with fitness groups from High Park to Riverdale, signalling a city-wide surge in group exercise sessions outside traditional gyms.

With gym memberships still recovering from a pandemic slump and demand for social connection higher than ever, boot camps offer a low-barrier, high-energy alternative. City-run surveys in 2025 already indicated a 27% increase in interest for outdoor fitness programs compared to pre-pandemic levels. “People want to work out together, but they also want to be in the fresh air, not trapped in another studio,” says Jenny Lim, who coordinates active living programs for the City of Toronto.

Boot camps proliferate across city parks

Local organisers wasted no time spotting an opportunity. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, Sunnyside Park turns into an open-air gym run by MoveTO, offering cardio circuits and resistance band training right beside Lake Ontario. Elsewhere, Liberty Village hosts Sweat Society's summer boot camp series at the Bentway, regularly drawing crowds of 20-40 people. City permits for commercial outdoor fitness groups across Toronto parks hit an all-time high this season, with more than 75 approved as of June 2026.

The Martin Goodman Trail in particular has become a magnet for running-based camps, with registration in some Saturday morning sessions closing out weeks in advance. High Park, meanwhile, is home to several women-focused boot camps, like Femme Fit Collective, whose Saturday 8am classes fill up within hours of opening registration online. "We want to make it social," said an organiser on-site, pointing out that post-class smoothie meetups at nearby Bloor Street cafes are now part of the ritual.

What it costs, and who’s signing up

Data from Toronto Public Health shows that participation in regular group exercise has gone up 19% since 2022, with residents aged 25-49 making up the majority of new outdoor boot camp attendees. Fees for private boot camps typically range from $15-$25 per drop-in class, although city-sponsored programmes, such as outdoor HIIT and Zumba at Coronation Park, run for as little as $4 per session. Organisers say the relatively low prices, flexible schedules and sense of camaraderie have attracted both seasoned fitness buffs and complete beginners.

Safety is front of mind. Instructors are now commonly certified in both CPR and outdoor group leadership, and many offer beginner options or adaptation for participants with injuries. "The group gets diverse fast," said one regular, pointing to a mix of young professionals, parents and retirees powering through burpees and partner relays. Most camps provide equipment or advise participants to bring only a water bottle and mat.

Those interested can find regular sessions listed on the City of Toronto's event portal, or through platforms like Eventbrite and Meetup. Experts recommend dressing for the weather and arriving early to claim a spot in high-demand classes. As the summer unfolds, the proliferation of outdoor boot camps shows no sign of slowing, with September’s cooler temperatures likely to prolong the season well into autumn. For Toronto residents looking to break a sweat, group fitness outside is clearly here to stay.