No shortage of activities for students
Utah State alumnus JP Parrish loved to swim when he was a student in Logan. There was no prevalent swimming program at USU then, but he still took time each week for swimming laps and even worked as a lifeguard.
Today, the USU swim club is preparing for a spring trip to a national tournament in Arizona, a far cry from the way things were when Parrish was a student.
This, Parrish said, is the beauty of campus recreation. He is now the system administrator and events coordinator for USU’s campus recreation program.
He said the success of clubs like the swim team is based solely on the desire of the students.
“This is an entirely student-run program,” said Parrish. “That’s the best thing about it. If students have a program or a sport they want to get going, we’ll do what we can to give them the opportunity.”
The USU campus recreation program offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved in sports and recreation. Students can participate in intramural sports in myriad activities, including flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, tennis, 3-on-3 basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, racquetball, table tennis, ultimate Frisbee, softball and others. Those interested in intramural sports can sign up for the various sports and activities as either individuals or a team and compete against other organized teams on campus.
Students can also try out for club teams in various sports and compete against club teams from other universities. Parrish said the intramural and club sport programs are both great ways for students to “get out,” compete and have fun.
Through the recreation program, students are encouraged to sign up for various classes offered each semester like the Fun Fit Forever program, a series of exercise programs specifically designed for student health and wellness. The Fun Fit Forever program will offer free classes during the week of Sept. 13 for those willing to participate, and a class schedule can be found online at www.usu.edu/camprec.
“There is really something for everyone. If you have an interest and want to get out and have fun, we’ve got something for you,” Parrish said.
For students interested in the outdoors, there is the Outdoor Recreation Center, or ORC. Through the ORC, students can rent outdoor equipment, including items used for hiking and water- and winter sports. Students can access equipment at the ORC building, located west of Aggie Village.
Also, the ORC has teamed with Power Ridge Ski Touring to give students the opportunity to participate in weekend trips up Logan Canyon to yurt lodges during the winter months. Through these tours, students can hike up to the small, outfitted lodges for camping, skiing and snowshoeing.
Brian Shirley, ORC program coordinator, said the outdoor program is an opportunity that students don’t want to miss.
“We provide lots of opportunities for students to get into their own backyard and do so many things that are really unique to our university. There is so much to do right out our back door.”
The ORC also organizes other trips to places such as Snake River, set up for student groups and organizations.
“This is a great way to gain some leadership and have a great time,” Shirley said.
Along with organized programs and outdoor activities, students can also enjoy the campus recreation facilities in their free time. The Health, Physical Education and Recreation center (HPER), located across the street to the north of the Taggart Student Center, provides classes for credit as well as facilities including basketball and volleyball courts, a gymnastics room, dance studios and an aquatic center. Students studying in the physical education department share the facility with students looking to improve their fitness.
The Nelson Fieldhouse, located on the corner of 800 East and 700 North, includes a gym with exercise equipment, an indoor track, basketball courts, as well as an area for billiards and ping pong and a rock-climbing room. The HPER and Fieldhouse are open to students, who must bring their USU ID card to access the facilities.
Parrish said all these facilities give USU students a chance to stay in shape amid a busy college schedule.
“When we were in high school and junior high we were always involved in activities that kept us in shape, that’s just how things were,” Parrish said. “Once you get into college and into the adult world, those opportunities aren’t quite as available. Through the recreation programs at the HPER, Fieldhouse, or even at the Quad or the ORC, students can take time to stay fit and do things they enjoy even with a busy schedule.”
Parrish described his work with campus recreation as eye-opening.
“There are so many types of people who want to do different things, and we want to provide those for all people,” he said.
Parrish said the purpose of the campus recreation program is to allow students to participate in life-long fitness, and he and his staff are always open to new programs and activities to keep students more involved. The program is currently in the planning stages of a new recreation center on campus to provide more space and opportunity for more students to get involved. Details for those plans will be announced at a later date.
“We are having to turn away students because of the interest in recreation and our amount of facilities,” Parrish said. “A new recreation center will give us more room to allow as many students as possible to enjoy themselves.”
The campus recreation page on USU’s website has more information these programs and facilities.
–steve.schwartzman@aggiemail.usu.edu