The Burn Bootcamp community’s bond remains strong even through social isolation

By Jeana Durst, content director, JBMC Media
Photos courtesy of Burn Boot Camp

The fitness community of Burn Boot Camp has something special going on. This women’s gym, focused on high intensity interval training workout camps, shows what can happen when your customers are also your community.

When an executive order was issued requiring all non-essential businesses to temporarily close, fitness facilities had to shutter immediately. That did not prevent Burn Boot Camp from finding a way to serve their 550 members. Trainer Cameron Iverson explained that during this time of social distancing, their trainers found a way to connect with members through Zoom and Facebook Live meetings, even showing up regularly for the 5:00 a.m. crowd. “We wanted to figure out how we could bring value to the members during this time,” Iverson says.

The staff also delivered their post-workout protein drinks (the After Burn) curbside. As an extra step, they even wrote encouraging messages on top of members’ drinks. Owner Jim Safron treated 75 member families to a social distancing ice cream outing from neighboring business The Whole Scoop Ice Cream Shop. Not only were they building up one another, they were lending their support to other small businesses. It’s what happened next that was a surprise.

The staff at Burn Boot camp found out what it was like to be on the receiving end of support. One Friday evening about 70 members decorated the building with colorful posters and sidewalk chalk messages. In a twist, it was the members encouraging the trainers with messages that contained familiar sayings, Bible verses, and words of hope. “There were tears from the staff … We wanted to give them support and they turned around and gave it right back to us,” Iverson says. With that new boost of energy, the Burn Sisters, as they are called, and their trainers realized that “they’ve got this.” For more information, visit their website.