Dixie State University Campus Recreation is helping students build muscle and strengthen portfolios with more classes, more challenges and more opportunities for students to get involved starting this semester.
Heilish Gordon, a senior accounting major from Moapa, Nevada, and the campus recreation business, marketing and web-services coordinator, said after receiving feedback from a survey released to students in the spring, the Campus Recreation program is offering more employment opportunities to students, as well as expanding fitness courses, pool activities and overall outreach to students on campus.
DSU Campus Recreation is currently hiring lifeguards as well as offering students the opportunity to be certified as personal trainers through the school. This opportunity is meant for students of all credit grade levels and majors, though it is most beneficial to exercise science majors, Heilish Gordon said.
“From a career perspective, campus recreation is an invaluable resource,” said Ryan Hafen, director of recreation at Sublette Recreation Commission in Sublette, Kansas. “Students wanting to make recreation a profession are able to get on-the-job training right on campus by getting involved with the many opportunities that exist to work and volunteer at campus recreation.”
The Campus Recreation Fitness Center, located in the Student Activity Center, is home to a group fitness program with classes such as Shred, Stretch and Self-Defense; now personal trainers will lead yoga and Zumba classes, among others, she said.
“Group fitness classes are actually free to students,” Heilish Gordon said. “All they have to do is show up and be interested.”
Heilish Gordon said students interested in taking classes can check the Campus Recreation website for schedule information and will soon have the same capabilities in an app, which will debut soon. Besides schedules, the app will include the center’s social media and website as well as allow students to enter facilities without their student IDs, using a code provided on their phones.
Those looking for a little bit more of a competition are welcome to stop in and inquire about weekly challenges, Heilish Gordon said. Students can ask employees at the front desk what challenge is occurring that week and attempt to beat other challengers for the chance to win a T-shirt and have their picture on the Fitness Center’s wall of fame. She said all participants will walk away with a prize, and challenges begin in September. Heilish Gordon said some of the challenges include pushups, broad jumps and sprints.
DSU Campus Recreation is also working with the Health and Counseling Center to offer the Trailblazer Wellness program for students to utilize “our facilities in combination with the Health and Counseling Center so they can use exercise and fitness to help themselves feel better,” Heilish Gordon said.
Students looking to make a bit of a splash while working toward their fitness goals can head to the newly-renovated pool, said Hattileigh Gordon, a junior radiology major from Moapa, Nevada, and the campus recreation pool manager. She said swimmers are able to take laps or try their hand at log rolling during open swim hours.
“I’m really just excited about the refurbishments,” Hattileigh Gordon said. “I think it’s going to step [the pool] up a notch and make it look way better than it was.”
Semester-long fitness memberships, including access to fitness facilities, are $40 or $2 a day for students, faculty and staff, and $80 a semester or $5 a day for members of the community; lockers are available for rent upon request. Students must have their student IDs to enter fitness facilities. Access to the pool is $15 each semester or $1 each day for students, faculty and staff, and $30 each semester or $3 each day for members of the community. DSU Campus Recreation only accepts cash or check.
