Campus Rec, the umbrella term for the Wellness Center and Half Acre Gym, offers a wide variety of activities from club sports to mindfulness events. Campus Rec provides ways to help students stay active in or outside the gym as well as hosting events in an attempt to de-stress students.
Half Acre offers a variety of equipment and spaces, from a pool to indoor track. Cycling studios and multi-use courts are included on the second floor. Intramural teams practice here, including basketball, volleyball and badminton.
Ash Scholfield, a dedicated gym user said, “I enjoy Half Acre because it has all the machines and resources that you need to lift or swim. There’s lots of variety activity wise.”
Health and wellness classes, as well as the gym itself, are free to staff and students, as student fees contribute to the upkeep of Half Acre.
“I really enjoy that half acre’s prices are built in with our tuition fee so we can enjoy the opportunities without worrying about the prices,” said Luke Branson.
The Wellness Center includes several life skill classes or de-stress activities designed to help with mental wellbeing. There is a wide array of events and activities that are provided at no cost.
“The purpose of the wellness center is to assist students. College is a stressful time and it can be hard on a lot of people, and a large majority of students actually drop out because of mental health or wellbeing concerns,” said Klancy Poor, the mental health awareness training coordinator.
“The wellness center focuses on all the dimensions of wellness, not just physical health and mental health, but spiritual, sexual, physical nutrition, kind of all of it. We will try to do it all.”
The Outdoor Program provides a space for students to come in and help develop their skills and receive the proper equipment for the outdoor activities.
“The outdoors in general is a great kind of space for people to kind of learn more about themselves and de-stress while also finding enjoyment,” said Payton Bartlett, the Outdoor Program coordinator.
Students can rent equipment through the OutdoorProgram at an affordable price, whether it’s paddleboards, variations of skis, sleeping bags, or even rock climbing shoes. Clinics are hosted to teach students how to take care of and properly use the equipment for adventures. The equipment can range from $5-$35 per day depending on the type of gear.
