Category Archives: Blogroll

Students Invited to Join Sport Clubs

Blogroll, Sport Clubs

Sport clubs are an integral part of Recreation and Wellness for BGSU students.  Freshmen are invited to a special Welcome Fair on Wednesday, August 24, where a representative from each sport club is on hand for students to learn more about what their respective club offers.  Other students can attend Campus Fest on September 1 and receive information on sport clubs.

There are currently twenty-three active sport club teams on campus including baseball, bowling, curling, cycling, dodgeball, equestrian, gymnastics, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, men’s rugby, women’s rugby, sailing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s softball, tennis, track and field, men’s ultimate Frisbee, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

“More than 500 students are involved annually in sport clubs over the last couple years,” said Scott Sehmann, assistant director – intramurals/sport clubs. “Sport club teams are equally as large as the varsity teams.  They have all been thriving lately and we are pretty happy with the growth.”

A student participates in sport clubs for a variety of reasons.  Some students, who were very good high school athletes, want to continue playing their sport, but not at the varsity level.  They like the competitiveness and want to continue working out.  A sport club gives students an opportunity to compete against other universities in organized leagues with officials, in a structured program, with practice only two or three days a week.  Sport clubs’ athletic level is in between intramurals (more recreational and little practice) and varsity sports in athletic commitment.  Students who participate in a club sport benefit by gaining leadership and organizational skills. They have more structure to their lives, have an opportunity to travel and meet students from other universities. These athletes continue to stay fit, are in shape and have a competitive spirit.

There are many popular sport clubs. “Men’s rugby is one of the popular sport clubs which placed third in the nation this year,” said Sehmann.  “The equestrian team is three years old and growing with around fifty participants. Baseball has a good size as well.”

All sport clubs are student organizations and must be registered with the Office of Campus Activities.  Required forms must also be completed with the Department of Recreation and Wellness. To be eligible for membership, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least 10-credit hours or a graduate/non-traditional student must be enrolled in 6-credit hours.  Each club needs at least ten active members with a faculty or staff advisor.  Existing clubs may not be duplicated.   However, if a student would like to organize a new sport club, he/she must petition to become a student organization.  Based on the activity, competitiveness and safety level, a decision is made to be an acceptable new sport club.

Sehmann cautions all sport club teams regarding the importance of leadership within the club.  The leadership team comprising of the president, vice president, treasurer, safety coordinator and travel trip leader must continually bring in new and younger students into the program and train those individuals to carry on the program tradition.  The annual change in leadership roles is necessary for the success of the sport club organization.

For additional information see the Recreation and Wellness Resource Guide, visit www.bgsu.edu/recwell, or contact Scott Sehmann at sehmans@bgsu.edu or 419-372-2464.

More Ice Arena Renovations Set to Begin

Blogroll, Renovation, Youth and Family

Skaters look forward to the ice arena reopening on July 18 to continue with the Learn to Skate program or just to cool off from hot summer days.  At the same time, skaters may witness an aesthetic transformation of key areas inside the ice arena. The bids for the renovations arrived June 1 and the projected starting date is July 1. The completion date of the entire project is anticipated to be mid-September.

To be completed during this phase is a new skate shop, skate rental, concession stand and office space. Quite noticeable for individuals who enter the updated ice arena is the creation of a new pedestrian traffic flow.  The public may find the space more inviting by easily being able to browse the skate shop and buy food or drink from the concession stand.  The ice arena staff want their facility to be more customer friendly and allow those who come into the building to feel more welcome.

The completed concession stand is to have a small kitchen area. The foods offered include hotdogs, pizza, nachos and pretzels, with soft drinks, water and PowerAde beverages.  “We are going to try some other food items and see what works and what doesn’t work,” said director of the ice arena Jamie Baringer. “Breakfast food items are planned as a healthier alternative and in competition with fast food restaurants.”  All foods at the concession stand are planned for quick service.

New space is being created for offices to be in close proximity to the main entrance and each staff member. This new office area is where the current skate shop is occupied. Additionally, the ticket window booth is expanding into an open office area. “The new office arrangement is conducive for a better working environment,” Baringer said.

The updated skate shop is to continue marketing clothing apparel such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and skate related items for purchase. For the skate rental area, 500 pairs of brand new Riddell skates have been ordered. The current skates at the skate rental have hundreds of miles on them and it is time for their retirement. “The old skates are being sent to inventory and disposed of as how they see best,” said staff assistant Laura Dunn. “They gave us their loving use, but are now so bad that they have become a liability.”

Old rental skates

Approximately one-third of the skates ordered are hockey skates. Some skaters feel they are more comfortable, easier to skate with or they just want to be on hockey blades.  Figure skates are exceedingly more popular at BGSU with around 335 pairs purchased.  Learn to Skate programming starting with youth size six skates through adult size skates is a determining factor.  However, there are two types of figure skates – the traditional skate and the recreational skate.  The skating industry is leaning toward the recreational skate for rentals. Recreational skates are a soft-side skate, so it fits more like a tennis shoe.  “If individuals are placed in recreational skates, they can ease into skating a little better,” said Baringer. “They may be hooked into life-long skaters if the skate feels comfortable.”

Skaters who come to the ice arena this summer are going to watch it transform into a user friendly facility. They get to observe firsthand the progress of the improvements.  The updates are creating a more enjoyable experience for all visitors of the ice arena.

2011 Summer Kids Camp – Activities Galore!

Aquatics, Blogroll, Student Recreation Center, Wellness Connection, Youth and Family

Summer vacation is almost here, but kids don’t throw those backpacks in the closet that carried books back and forth to school just yet.  On June 6, Summer Kids Camp begins and the backpacks transform into camper backpacks carrying swimsuits, sunscreen, water bottles and lunchboxes.  The eight-week Summer Kids Camp ends July 29.

The 2011 Summer Kids Camp continues its outstanding programming established from years of leadership experience and success. Kids Camp for kids, ages 5-12, emphasizes physical development and education while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Some children return to camp every year and make new friends.  They have new learning experiences while having a lot of fun.  These campers can participate in activities that are not available at home or at other camps. “We do lots and lots of fun activities with the children that they cannot get at a daycare,” said Micha Alt, who has directed Kids Camp since 2006.  “We rock climb, ice skate, go swimming every day and include wellness and fitness components.”  Other physical activities in which the campers partake include golf, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field.  Kids Camp has great resources at Recreation and Wellness facilities including the Perry Field House, BGSU Ice Arena and Forrest Creason Golf Course to participate in their activities. The campers also go on walking field trips to the Sebo Center or other places of interest on campus.

Asked about her favorite part of Kids Camp, Alt said, “There are so many wonderful aspects of Kids Camp I really can’t pick one.” However, one particular activity Alt does enjoy is the scavenger hunts that are especially popular with the children. “The excitement of the children is enjoyable to watch,” Alt said.  Every week Kids Camp has a witty theme in place: Falcon Frenzy, Into the Wild, Wacky Wonderland, Underwater Adventures, Mad Science, The Places We will Go, Around the World and BG’s Got Talent.

Children who attend Kids Camp are in good hands.  The camp is administered by Recreation and Wellness professionals and BGSU graduate and undergraduate students with special training in safety, human relations and interpersonal skills with children. The dedicated camp staff is First Aid and CPR certified for the Professional Rescuer with AED and passed the mandatory background screenings.

Full-time camp costs $119/week and part-time camp is $79/week, with 10 percent discount applied to BGSU employees or families with more than one child’s registration. Register at www.bgsu.edu/recwell and click on Community, Youth & Family on the left menu, by E-mail at kidscamps@bgsu.edu or in person at the Student Recreation Center front desk. For more information, contact Camp Director Micha Alt at 419-372-7482 or 419-372-2000. Sign up the kids today for a fun summer camp at BGSU!

Times are Changing for BGSU Rugby

Blogroll, Rugby, Sport Clubs

It’s almost that time of year again. The time of the year for bone crushing hits, jaw dropping passes, and runs that will have you saying, “Wow, I wish I could do that!” Yes, the BGSU Men’s Rugby season is upon us. Coming off a spectacular showing at the USA Sevens Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational, with our own Rocco Mauer being named MVP, the BGSU Men’s Rugby team is hoping to keep the momentum rolling. With an experienced backline, led by Nick Viviani, and a group of young, promising forwards, the BGSU Men’s Rugby team is poised to make another journey to nationals, but this year that journey will be a little different.

The Division 1 rugby landscape has undergone a shift of seismic proportions. 32 of the top teams have left Division 1 to form the new College Rugby Premier League. Unfortunately, Bowling Green could not participate due to financial and travel issues, which left some players and coaches disappointed. “This is going to be a  good thing for college rugby, because by having all of the elite teams playing against each other, college rugby will get more exposure, it’s just a bummer though that we can’t be a part of that”, says senior scrumhalf Ben Marshall.

So, where does this leave Bowling Green and the rest of Division 1? Will the BGSU Men’s Rugby team be left without anyone to compete against? The road to the national championship is different for the upcoming season.

The tradition of the Midwest Championship is no more. With Bowling Green dominating the Midwest, winning the last three championships, their competitors are likely pleased.  Bowling Green is now part of the Eastern Conference, along with Indiana, Davenport, Miami (OH), and Purdue. There will be a four team playoff to determine who earns a spot in the Division 1 National Championships.

The primary advantage to this format is that travel costs are reduced. The conference tournament is held a little bit closer to home, rather than having to travel to Minnesota, and the first round of the National Championships is more regionally based.

With the landscape of Division 1 rugby changing drastically, so does the BGSU Men’s Rugby team’s goals. It’s all about winning championships, except this time the focus has been put purely on winning a National Championship, instead of a Midwest Championship. With Nick Viviani and Rocco Mauer leading this group of very talented players, that goal is within reach.

New PEG Class Sparks Early Interest in Students

Blogroll, Outdoor Program

White Water Rafting

Several PEG (Physical Education General) classes are offered each semester through the university for one or two credits. You can earn college course credit for anything from aerobic dance to weight training and a host of others in-between. It’s a win-win situation for college students looking to stay active and involved and earn credit towards graduation. Looking to sign up for one in the fall to fill that empty spot on your schedule??? How does White Water Rafting Sound?!!! Probably like an excellent idea! White water Rafting is the newest addition to the PEG sections of courses available through the university.

White Water Rafting has made its return to BGSU as a course as well as to the Outdoor Program. Jerome Gabriel, 3 year Director of the Outdoor Program, reinstated this course and has already captured many students’ interests. The Outdoor Program (OP) is one of the many services offered on campus. Jerome describes it as, “your on campus travel agency that you get credit to participate in.” The OP can implement these PEG programs as it did this past semester with the Rock Climbing courses and Canoeing in Spring 2011 and it can also expand its efforts toward programs like the Freshman Wilderness Experience.

As for the White Water Rafting Course, here’s what you need to know. The course is one credit hour towards graduation offered in the Fall. It does have an extra fee of $325 attached to registering for the course. The extra cost covers your transportation to the New River in West Virginia, lodging for the two nights stay, the cost of rafting, the educational session and your wetsuits. The course requires that you attend two in-class sessions with Jerome before the Fall Break Trip. After the trip you are also required to attend two more in-class session. The in-class sessions are 10:30-11:20AM on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s in room 136 at the Field House.

The Rafting Trip is scheduled for Fall Break 2010 which is October 8-10. The trip agenda that is set up starts with all participants being charted down the New River in West Virginia on the Friday of Fall Break. Saturday is an all day instructional and educational day on the techniques and important components of White Water Rafting. After the group is comfortable they will head out on Sunday for the rafting trip and will return to Bowing Green on Sunday evening.

The course capacity is set at 50 and 26 spots are filled! Don’t delay registering; only 24 spots open for this truly unique experience!

The course can be registered for just as you register for any other course at BGSU. It is in the PEG 2000 section of the course catalog. The course number is 83738 which can be used to directly search for the White Water Rafting course. If you are having difficulties finding the course through the course catalog try this path: select PEG 2000, click view class sections and select the second of the seven pages. Contact Jerome Gabriel at 419-372-2146 for more information about this course or visit the Outdoor Program’s Webpage at http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/recwell/outdoor/ or click on the picture below to navigate directly to the OP trip information page.

We Will See You Rafting!!!

OP Trips