Reviews

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Lindsay Sweet profile picture
Lindsay Sweet
October 4, 2026
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We had a fantastic time at Hot Ground gym! Can't thank Sam & his staff enough for the wonderful exercise and team building event he held for our Girl Scout troop. The high schoolers and junior high kids both had so much fun. Can't say enough positive things about the entire experience. From booking to the day of coordination, it was perfect.
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Sarah Sverdlik
October 4, 2026
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If you are wanting to have a party that your kids, guests, and yourself can enjoy.. this is the place. They handle EVERYTHING. They go above and beyond for their guests. Coach Sam is excellent and the kids love him and listen to him. I was able to relax and enjoy the party and take photos etc. They got everything from our car, distributed the food, cut the cake, passed out goodie bags, kept the kids having fun the whole time, brought all the gifts to our car. Can’t recommend this place enough! Thanks HGG for the best birthday for our girl!
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Jennifer Edwards-Amberg
September 24, 2026
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Our middle school Girl Scout troop had a blast at the team building event! Sam did a great job reinforcing the importance of sticking together and helping each other. Highly recommend!
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Anne Murphy
September 23, 2026
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My kiddos thrive here! They are excited when we go to Hot Grounds. When we leave, they leave stronger and more confident than they began.
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Jennifer Doherty
September 23, 2026
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I hosted my 6 year old's birthday here last weekend with 34 kindergarteners! Sam and his team made this one of the easiest parties I have ever hosted! They took care of everything from the moment we arrived (including collecting our party supplies from the door; setting up the tables, decor, cake/cupcakes, plates, drinks, cutlery, etc.; having guests sign in; entertaining a huge group of small children (who LOVED all of the activities they did); serving pizza and dessert so I could socialize and check on kids; keeping everything on time and in a scheduled manner to make sure we could fit everything in; and helping us carry everything out the door after the party - and they cleaned up everything left behind). From start to finish, this was a fantastic, positive experience (both for me as a host, and for the guests), and it is a great venue for a large group of children. Highly recommend!
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TANIA CANTU
September 23, 2026
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We recently hosted our 7-year-old daughter’s birthday party at Hot Ground Gym in Libertyville, and it was absolutely amazing! Sam and his team handled everything from start to finish. The staff was friendly, organized, and made the entire experience stress-free for us parents. The kids had an incredible time staying active, playing games, and enjoying all of the fun activities the gym had to offer. The coaches kept everyone engaged and made sure every child felt included. The facility was clean, well-maintained, and perfectly set up for a fun and energetic celebration. Our daughter had the best birthday and hasn’t stopped talking about it since! If you’re looking for a unique, fun-filled birthday party venue where the kids can burn energy and make great memories, I highly recommend Hot Ground Gym. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
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terry musich
September 14, 2026
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This is a great gym for kids! Sam and his team really work with these kids to help build confidence, life skills and strength. If you are looking for something different for your kids to burn that after school energy while building a fantastic gym habit then you found the right spot!
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John Butler
September 2, 2026
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My son David loved everyday, and it was awesome to hear about the different event challenges they faced and overcame.
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Angie Samuel
August 25, 2026
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My son loves the leadership camp! He has learned a lot. He still ranger rolls all of his clothes for trips😊. I love how he learns leadership and teamwork. I definitely have recommended HGG to many friends. Sam and the helpers are great with the kids! He hopes to work there next year.
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Kat Allen
August 25, 2026
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My kids love this camp and have for three years now. Sam is amazing and wonderful with kids. Love the skills they learn at this camp and they get more exercise than all other camps we attend during the summer. Highly recommend!
Meghan G

I feel so lucky that my Brownie Girl Scout troop and I got to attend such a fun and impactful teambuilding event at Hot Ground Gym to earn our Fair Play badge. The girls had an amazing time and left with big smiles, lots of confidence and strengthened bonds. I cannot believe how much the girls accomplished and grew in one hour! Sam and his team were great with the girls and have so much to offer, teaching life skills alongside such a variety of fun and creative activities (the themes for classes change weekly). I look forward to returning with my troop and my family!

Nicole D

Our girl scout brownie troop attended a teambuilding event tonight at Hot Ground Gym. They all had the best time! They were lead by two amazing leaders who helped them earn their Fair Play badge. They were able to work on their mental and physical abilities, all while working together! I highly recommend attending a class with your kids! Our girls cannot wait to return! Thank you Hot Ground Gym!!

Jen B

Hot Ground Gym is a fantastic place for children to grow both physically and mentally. My daughters have started taking classes here and the weekly curriculum is outstanding for strength, confidence and team building. We recently hosted a birthday party here for my 8 year old and it was phenomenal. Well organized from start to finish. Sam and Evan did an incredible job directing and encouraging 18 girls through several obstacles and team building exercises. All of the kids had an excellent time. I would highly recommend this place. You can’t go wrong.

Ernie Costello

I just left Hot Ground Gym after an awesome team building event that I scheduled for my daughters’ Indian Princess program. Sam was amazing. He connected with the girls and got them moving, thinking, problem solving and working together. He kept them engaged and smiling which is not always easy for girls ages 5-12. Well done Sam and well done Hot Ground Gym. I would definitely recommend Sam and the gym if you are looking for a great event for groups sized 10-30. I know they do birthday parties there as well which I am sure would be great!

Julie Delaney

Wow. What an awesome birthday party Sam and his helper Evan led for my 7 year old daughter and 17 of her friends! I can’t rave enough about how great everything was; and the best part was that I didn’t have to do a thing except show up. The girls had so much fun doing obstacles involving climbing, crawling, flipping, and more…all the while building trust and confidence in each other and themselves. My daughter’s favorite part was when she was lifted and carried in a canoe by her friends. She also loved the obstacle that began with flipping over a hanging bar (which she was afraid of at first, but Sam helped her overcome that fear within seconds). We will definitely be back! My son can’t wait for his birthday now, too! HIGHLY recommend this place!

Dmitriy C

I cant say enough great things about this place! What a great concept. My son was invited to a friends birthday party here and it was a blast. I saw a couple parents (including myself) that wanted to jump in the party with the kids, because it looked so much fun. The place is super clean and well maintained. In the beginning I didn’t know if my son will be able to do some of the obstacles, he is not the most athletic kid in the class and that was my concern. However, the instructors encouraged and motivated every single child at the party and no one left behind. In the beginning of the party when they were explaining the rules one of the instructors said “Don’t be afraid of anything. We ask you to do it because we are here for you and we will overcome any challenge together.” The obstacle courses were a blast, but the coolest thing was their team building activities. The kids had carried the birthday boy in a kayak above their heads. They also go some parents involved in the kayak team building activity. This is an awesome place for kids!!!

Helen O.

Had an awesome birthday party experience there today! Joey and Jeremy were the ultimate hosts and really empowered the kids to overcome their fears and stretch their limits! Thanks for taking care of every detail and helping create such a special experience for everyone!

C.P.

Another perfect review. Don’t even think twice…your kid will love it. My 6 year old daughter originally came for a birthday party and now comes twice a week and loves it! The skill building, exercise, rule following, respect, and teamwork make this place exceptional! Can’t say enough good things about this place. Sam the manager and all the team members are awesome with the kids. Thank you guys and keep it up!

Lisa I

This place is the absolute best! The coaches are amazing. My son had his 8th birthday party here and now he’s almost 9. The development we have seen is really incredible, and my son isn’t even consistent about going weekly which we are trying to do. My son did some summer camp and will be doing winter camp as well. It’s challenging, fun, and they learn so much about being a better and stronger person. It’s so wonderful for kids to have such amazing role models and teachers in the staff. Many thanks to everyone at Hot Ground Gym!!

Suzanne Kors

My kids did the winter camp at hot ground and liked it so much! Fun activities, awesome coaches and a great work out. Unfortunately, we have already other plans for MLK but for the summer the kids are asking already to sign them up for the camp.

Alejandra Ventura De Ganddini

My Daughter loves this place. She has learned so many new skills and good things from this place. They teach them so much more than obstacle courses they teach them team work and respect. The winter camp was awesome she loved expending time with the coaches and new friends. We will be doing more camps for sure. Thank you Hot Grounds you are awesome!!!

Ruth Gomberg-Munoz

My son loves the classes and was sooo looking forward to winter camp. It exceeded his expectations!! While he had a blast, as a mom i appreciate the balance of fun, challenging activities (the “missions”) with team building exercises, self-defense training, and character building. I really cannot say enough about HG, it has made my kiddo love exercise and develop physically and mentally!

M DeLatour

We were very excited that Hot Ground Gym offered a camp session for Good Friday. It gave our son the opportunity to spend the day learning new skills and being active. We love Hot Ground Gym! We have seen a big change in our son over the course of the last couple of months. All of the instructors are great with him and have taught him so much! He is learning to work with other kids as part of a team, to be a good listener and be respectful.

Katie Clarke

I was so excited, when I got an email, about registering Ian for Hot Ground Presidents Day camp. Days off of school, usually mean a full day of TV watching, and junk food at Grandmas, so the option of having him, hang with friends, participate is lots of action packed fun, was an awesome alternative. He LOVED it! He was so excited to tell me all about the knife throwing, and Archery, and the fun team works activities that he did. He was active and busy all day, by the time I picked him up, he was spent! We love Hot Ground, and look forward to enrolling Ian any camps they have in the future!!

Vita Unger

My son (8) and daughter (10) had an amazing experience during HGG summer leadership camp. Each week they learned new leadership, teamwork, safety, and problem solving skills. Sam and his team are amazing and exceptional! My kids are looking forward to the classes offered throughout the school year and enrolling again next summer. This is truly an awesome program for all kids!

Ruth Gomberg-Munoz

My son loves the classes and was sooo looking forward to winter camp. It exceeded his expectations!! While he had a blast, as a mom i appreciate the balance of fun, challenging activities (the “missions”) with team building exercises, self-defense training, and character building. I really cannot say enough about HG, it has made my kiddo love exercise and develop physically and mentally!

Subba Rao Madala

It is amazing to see what Sam and his team do every day for the kids. Every week they have a different concept / theme. My daughters self confidence has improved a lot. I love the way Sam pays attention to every kid in the class and pushes them to overcome their obstacles both physically and mentally.

Jen S.

My son struggles with ADHD, anxiety, and sensory sensitivities so I was nervous about enrolling him in Hot Ground Gym. It turns out that my concerns were completely unnecessary! Sam Simpson, the General Manager and Junior Boots Instructor, is amazing. Each week, Sam works with my son and the other members of Alpha Company to develop confidence, courage, discipline, and leadership. Sam offers endless patience and gentle motivation, even when my son is feeling especially nervous or overwhelmed. I cannot say enough positive things about Sam and Hot Ground Gym!

Geoff Geltner

Both of my boys love “working out” here once or twice a week. The instructors are wonderful and the sessions are very reasonably priced. A hidden gem during the winter!

Emma F.

Cannot say enough good things about this place. The staff are friendly – if I’m sitting waiting the ones that are not with kids come over and introduce themselves. My son loves the classes, he is beginning to show belief in his abilities and more confidence. Your kids will have a ball. Give it a shot!

Denise P.

My daughter has been attending Hot Ground Gym since January and we couldn’t be happier. We love the physical workout she receives, but the teamwork, motivation, and practical skills are outstanding​. I love watching her and the other children excel and smile when they complete something that may have seemed too difficult moments before. All the coaches are professional and great with the kids. In short, they are the best! Our entire family highly recommends Hot Ground Gym.

Jill McEnery

I cannot say enough about what the classes at HGG have done for my boy’s perseverance and patience and leadership qualities. And it’s a great workout too!

Kristi Takagishi

Our boys, 7 and 10, did the HGG Leadership Summer camp for the month of June. They had a lot of fun learning to work together with others, be leaders, be accountable (at least there) and experience drills, obstacle courses, and other activities not offered at other camps. They liked going to the lake once a week. The boys came home tired!

Jony Nazar

This place provides unique experience for my kid. There is no other place in the area that exposes kids to learning real life skills, survival methods, leadership. etc… I love the owner too

Valerie B.

Literally love this place and all that they stand for. This is a facility ran by people who care about setting our kids up for success with a side of tough skin. It’s a bit far for us but my sis in law and I make it happen by alternating carpool just so we can get the kids into at least one week of their camp sessions. They focus on team building, confidence building, working out their mind, and their bodies everyday. They rave about their day and actually are begging for another week. Do not hesitate to support this facility and their leaders, you and your kids will be happy you did!

Vickie Lewin

We found Hot Ground Gym (HGG) by accident because of my daughter’s interest in Parkour or Ninja-type obstacle course activities, kind of like the American Ninja Warrior tv show. There are two aspects to HGG’s approach that made this place a great choice for our child’s after-school activities: 1) classes offer far more than a fun, physical after-school activity where the kids get to burn energy by climbing, jumping, swinging on ropes, etc; and 2) while the kids are “playing” they’re also learning about teamwork, confidence, cooperation, responsibility, leadership and problem-solving skills. That is the backbone of this whole company which is run by veterans—teaching kids very important life skills during the classes through the different activities. Other important details which factored into our decision choosing HHG included: 1) small class size; 2) individualized attention; 3) beautiful new facility that is very clean; and 4) very reasonable rates for classes. We started our child at 1 time per week but are moving up to 2 times per week since she loves it so much.

Carolyn Kohl

We have two daughters, ages five and seven. At Hot Ground Gym they get a good work out but don’t even realize they are exercising because they are focused on the obstacle course tasks. These classes safely challenge the kids to try things they normally wouldn’t get to try: climbing over walls, running up ramps, climbing ropes, etc. Sam does an amazing job breaking down the ever-rotating obstacles into separate skills and then training those skills and muscle groups. My daughters are growing in confidence and resilience. We are so glad to have found HGG!

Vic L.

We highly recommend Hot Ground Gym classes because they offer a fun, physical after-school activity coupled with learning opportunities in social and emotional learning. The kids get to burn energy by climbing, jumping, swinging on ropes, etc. While the kids are “playing” they’re also learning about teamwork, confidence, cooperation, responsibility, leadership and problem-solving skills. Hot Ground Gym is owned by veterans who are great role models. We also love the small class size, individualized attention as well as the beautiful new facility and reasonable rates for classes.

Mary D.

I was looking for an alternative to martial arts for my son, and learned about Hot Ground. I’m extremely impressed by what they do. In addition to challenging parkour, which he loves, they teach practical life skills that go beyond anything I’ve seen elsewhere (except possibly the Boy Scouts). My son has been learning first aid and other life-saving skills, survival techniques, and more — and I’m seeing a big improvement in both his physical confidence and emotional maturity. The coaches are great with kids, striking a nice balance between good-humored and no-nonsense, which the kids definitely respond to! The facilities are very well-maintained, and I like the fact that they take the kids outside when the weather’s good. I’ve decided to try a week of the summer camp this year as well, and we’ll see how that goes. Hot Ground isn’t inexpensive, but the price (especially for the camp) is in keeping with most other after-school activities.

Allison Wyrwicz

Hot Ground Gym provides an awesome physical workout, builds character and teaches teamwork! My 8yo son has really looked up to the instructors and my 4yo daughter wants to follow in his footsteps. From classes, to leadership camp, to birthday parties, I highly recommend!

Megan Lierman

We moved here nearly a year ago, and started our son shortly after the move. Since then, he has grown in confidence, independence, compassion, trust, and respect. He has the diagnoses of ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and anxiety. He hasn’t had a single tantrum since his third week with Sam at Hot Ground. He is kinder, more respectful, and genuinely wants to have better and more meaningful relationships with peers. The teamwork and relationship model offered here is unique in that the kids depend on any random group as the class days vary. The outward focus seems to be physical development, but the true focus is mental, social-emotional, and community growth. Sam absolutely loves the kids as they are, wherever they are, and is building up each person as that individual needs to be built up. He is a true gem, and my son looks forward to each class, excited about each one.