Tampa has always been known for its lively culture, whether it’s through restaurants, public events and especially fitness. All residents, including students, are typically eager to take advantage of the many ways to work out in Tampa. Whether it’s through using local community fitness classes, chain gyms, or even Bayshore Boulevard, the longest continuous sidewalk in the world, stretching 4.474 miles. For students, Tampa’s fitness-centered lifestyle has offered many ways to stay active while balancing school, social life and daily stress.
CAMP
CAMP is a fitness and yoga studio featured not only in Tampa, but also in Los Angeles. While it was originally designed for adults, teenagers are also welcome in the space and are even employed at the front desk and kids’ play center.
Carolyn Murphy (10) is a regular attendee of the classes CAMP offers, and she said, “My favorite way to work out in Tampa is by taking classes at CAMP. It’s become a pretty solid part of my daily routine since I try to go almost every day. I enjoy working out at CAMP because the instructors are genuinely nice and motivating, which makes it easier to stay consistent, and they also offer a wide range of classes every day, so it never feels repetitive or boring.”
CAMP is known for being great at targeting specific muscle areas and offering a wide variety of exercise classes. This eliminates the confusion some people face when entering an open-floor gym and lets them get straight to understanding which exercises can help them reach their fitness goals. Some of the most popular class options are:
- Stations: A strength-focused workout using progressive weights and conditioning to build muscle and athletic power.
- Pilates: A low-impact, beat-based mat class that targets core and glutes with constant, controlled movement.
- Sculpt: A heated, high-energy mat workout combining toning and cardio bursts for maximum burn.
- Yoga: A contemporary take on traditional yoga that emphasizes breath, movement, and presence.
- Circuit: A fast-paced, full-body workout alternating between treadmills and weights to boost endurance and heart rate.
Beyond being a place where many teenagers frequently go to work out, CAMP also hires some teenagers, enabling them to get job experience. Many students already struggle to balance school, friends, and clubs, and adding the gym just seems like an excessive layer. But by combining fitness and work, it can take some of the burden off their plate.
Ansley Depappa (11) was employed last fall and shared her experiences at the job. She said, “I was initially interested in working at CAMP in the childcare because I love kids, and it felt like a fun, easy way to make some extra money. I still mostly work in the childcare area, but I occasionally work front of house as well, where I check people in for their workout classes.”
While the jobs that CAMP employs students for aren’t necessarily difficult in nature, it still gives them the opportunity to learn basic workplace skills such as timeliness, communication, and responsibility. Because most CAMP classes, and therefore shifts, occur before and after school on weekdays, students can fit work around their academic schedule without issue.
“It’s a very flexible job and easy to balance with school since I only work on Sundays,” Depappa added. “I know a lot of students who work there, and one of my close friends is also my co-worker, which has made the environment even better.”
Some may think that students would be so busy working that they wouldn’t have time to work out. However, CAMP has addressed this matter by offering special incentives to all employees, such as free memberships and flexible work schedules. These bonuses make it much easier for students to balance their job responsibilities while still prioritizing their fitness goals.
“I used to work out every day, then stopped for a while, but starting at CAMP has motivated me to get back into it. One of the best perks is that our job includes two free memberships, which makes staying active even easier. I would definitely recommend working there to anyone interested — I love it.”
Chain Gyms
While Tampa offers many unique ways for students to work out, it also has a multitude of options for those who prefer to keep it simple, including chain gyms such as Crunch, Lifetime, YMCA, and LA Fitness. According to the Tampa Bay Times, these gyms often have between 5,000 and over 6,000 members.
Ella Gerrish (10) is a member of LA Fitness and YMCA and shared some of her perspectives. She said, “I usually work out at LA Fitness and the YMCA. I do it for myself, and fitness has become a really big part of my life. I like working out at LA Fitness because there’s a wide variety of equipment, which means less waiting and more opportunities to try new things.”
Many students drive to LA Fitness after school, as both are located on Dale Mabrey and are typically a 3–5-minute drive from one another. The gym is fully equipped with extensive cardio machines, including treadmills, ellipticals, bikes and stair climbers, along with strength-training machines and a large free-weight area with dumbbells, barbells, benches and squat racks.
Beyond equipment, LA Fitness also provides group fitness studios for classes such as yoga, cycling, HIIT and dance-based workouts, as well as personal training services for members who want more structured guidance. This can be great for students looking for more advice in building their fitness routines.
“I also enjoy the YMCA because it’s familiar and comfortable, and the environment feels very nonjudgmental.” Gerrish continued.
MCA Tampa offers many amenities similar to LA Fitness and other gyms, but beyond fitness, the organization runs licensed preschool programs, before- and after-school care, summer day camps, and youth sports leagues, including basketball, soccer, flag football and volleyball, all emphasizing teamwork and character building.
Together, these programs create a friendly, close-knit feeling, where the YMCA feels less like a typical gym and more like a second home—one where families recognize each other, kids grow up in the same spaces, and members feel supported, relaxed and genuinely included.
Bayshore
Originally developed in the early 1900s, Bayshore Boulevard was first constructed to transform Tampa’s muddy shoreline into a scenic route connecting downtown to the Suburb Beautiful neighborhood. Over time, hurricanes, Depression-era WPA projects, and modernization slowly but surely shaped it into the iconic waterfront boulevard known today for its historic homes, seawall and its role as a star site for fitness and outdoor activity.
It’s normal to see many people walking along the Bayshore with pets, friends, family, or just by themselves. But aside from that, there are 10 workout stations along the sidewalk. According to Tampa General Hospital, they are:
- Stations 1 & 4: Upper-body and grip strength
- Stations 2 & 9: Explosive power and speed
- Stations 3 & 8: Core and back strength
- Station 5: Full-body strength
- Station 6: Flexibility and recovery
- Station 7: Upper-body pulling strength
- Station 10: Upper-body strength circuit
Molly Siegel (11) can regularly be seen walking Bayshore, and she said, “I prefer walking on Bayshore during the day when the weather is warm, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The area feels especially lively with so many people outside staying active, and it’s also a great place to spend time with friends—I almost always enjoy it more when I’m walking with someone else. While I usually stick to walking rather than using the exercise stations built into the sidewalk, I still love being there and soaking in the atmosphere.”
Overall, Bayshore Boulevard serves as a practical resource for students’ fitness and wellness by providing a free and accessible space for daily physical activity. It allows students to walk at their own pace, whether for exercise, stress relief, or social time after school. With built-in workout stations and high foot traffic, Bayshore supports both structured and unstructured activities, making it a reliable option for students looking to stay active without special equipment or memberships.
Power In Pink
However, some students don’t see Tampa’s fitness culture as a positive and instead find it difficult to keep up with the constant stress to achieve an idealized body type. There have been efforts to address this issue through student-made clubs that aim to change that narrative and empower students instead.
Hannah Vreeland (11) was one of the first to create such clubs. Vreeland shared some about her club, Power-In-Pink (PIP), saying, “Power in Pink is a club that promotes gym workouts as a way to build physical strength and self-confidence. The club challenges the idea that the gym is an intimidating space by encouraging girls to lift weights, take up space, and feel comfortable in the gym.”
When students feel alone in their fitness journey or don’t know how to start, PIP can open doors to support from peers, whether it’s training buddies at the gym or setting goals together with vision boards. The club is not just for improving fitness; it doubles as a support system students can rely on.
Vreeland continued, “Through support and visibility, Power in Pink focuses on fitness for health, confidence, and independence rather than appearance. By encouraging physical exercise among teenage girls in South Tampa, the club has grown to over 70 members as an outside-of-school program supporting both physical and mental well-being.”
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