Boomer Friendly Boot Camps

What People Have Said

In 2008, BCRPA conducted a pilot project to test the concept of a new physical activity experience specifically for men and women aged 55-70 years: the Boomer-Friendly Boot Camp. With funding from the BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, BCRPA set up and delivered pilot boot camps in twelve locations across BC. Two ‘models’ were tested. The Level 1 model was an introductory physical activity program for men and women who were less active. The Level 2 model incorporated both fitness and sport, and was designed for people who were already moderately active.

Evaluation of the pilot program showed:

  • The completion rate for the program was above 80%
  • The program exceeded expectations for nearly 60% of participants, and met expectations for the remainder
  • Over 90% of participants who completed the program found the program “very enjoyable”
  • Nearly two thirds (63%) of Level 1 participants felt they had more energy compared with before the program, and well over half (57%) of participants felt they had more strength compared with before the program
  • Three quarters (75%) of Level 2 participants felt they had more, or much more, motivation to continue physical activity compared with before the program. Over half of Level 2 participants also felt the program had increased their motivation to play sport.

What participants said:

“I felt totally comfortable. I wasn’t made to feel like I was just a fat old lady. I was never worried about feeling silly.”

“We were all laughing at ourselves. There was no judging, I never felt bad because I couldn’t do something or I was too slow.”

“Some of the games were like kindergarten sports. It makes you feel younger. It was a lot more fun than I expected.”

“I absolutely loved the sport part of it. I haven’t played tennis since I was 18. I was hopeless. But it was really fun, and you didn’t even notice you were actually working quite hard.”

“One of the best things was that it was our age group: an age group with a defined lower and upper limit. We never do things with a big group of our own age group.”

“I loved the fact that it was outside. People our age don’t want to go to the gym. I’ve never done anything like it, and I really enjoyed it.”

What instructors said:

“None of my people had done anything like this before. I saw massive changes, in balance, coordination, agility, speed, motor skill. It was fantastic.”

“I was surprised at how much they achieved in such a short time. Some of them improved 300 or 400%. They looked forward to doing the assessment at the end because they could feel how much they’d changed”

“I loved it! There was constant laughter. They were fatigued but they didn’t realise they working so hard.”

“It was very satisfying. Just the enthusiasm of the group. It was fun for everyone.”

“I absolutely loved it. It was a great class, lots of fun, lots of laughter. The participants really bonded.”