Category Archives: Aquatics

Kids Camp 2010 – The Best Yet!

Kids Summer Camp 2010 at BGSU is not just another “Day Care” camp. Things are changing in a big way and we want you to be a part of it! This is a look inside at what your campers are really getting out of this experience. BGSU Summer Kids Camp had its start in 2008 and has been a staple program every summer since then. It has always been a good camp alternative to the traditional baby-sitters or day care facilities. But this year it’s going to be different. Micha Seither, Camp Director, talks about turning a camp that was good in its previous years into something great this year!

It takes a lot more than just wanting to make the camp better. Restructuring, planning and bringing in the best people in their fields were some of the steps taken to get this camp up and running. A host of people from various departments have helped in the transformation of this year’s Kids Camp. Changes in the areas of fitness and exercise, health and wellness, snacking choices, preparation and communication and overall marketing of the camp are what this year’s successes are based on.

“We have components in this year’s camp that were not present in the previous years. These are critical areas that we are so glad to be able to implement every other day in camp.” Laurie Westbeld speaks about the newly added fitness and wellness sessions. The session will alternate days and will be done twice a week each. The fitness session will be coordinated and lead by Liz and will last about an hour. Liz will be focusing her efforts on getting the campers to understand fitness and why it is so important to their daily routines. Latisha is a wellness intern at the SRC and she will be conducting the health and wellness sessions. Latisha’s aim is for the campers to practice good health, such as hygiene. Other elements like community safety and bicycle riding will be discussed throughout the eight weeks of camp. It is truly going to be great to have both Liz and Latisha on board for this year’s Kids Camp.

Included in the price (which has been lowered for this year) for camp, each child will receive two snacks a day. It is really simple to order some snacks that are prepackaged and processed and hand them out to the campers. There’s little thought involved and little mess to clean up afterwards. However, with the new focus of camp being a well rounded experience, we wanted to make sure we followed through in this area as well. This year we have revamped the snack menu with fruits, vegetables and healthier alternatives for ice cream. It has been a task to restructure the snack menu because for the most part, budget doesn’t allow for the kids to have fruits and vegetables for every snack, every day. We have done what we can though and are putting the finishing touches on the snack menu next week. Look for the Weekly Newsletter that will get sent home with your campers for the snack list for that week.

The Weekly Newsletters mentioned above are our way of communicating to the parents or guardians about the activities and events that their campers are involved in. Laurie Westbeld spoke about how camp this year is going to be more informative. “We want the parents to know what snacks their kids are eating and what field trip they are going on this week. We want to communicate this information to the parents to show that we have it organized and planned out.” Laurie and countless others have been hard at work to make this camp the best it can be.

So don’t miss all the new and exciting changes to Kid’s Camp! Sign-ups are going on now! For more information about Kid’s Camp visit http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/recwell/community/page57234.html or click on the picture below to download the guide and forms. We look forward to seeing you all there!

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Make a Splash with RecWell’s Learn to Swim

According to the USA Swimming Foundation, nine people drown each day in the United States. With warmer months on the horizon, water lovers should understand the techniques and safety of how to swim before making the plunge.

Recreation and Wellness’ Learn to Swim program provides community members with an opportunity to take part in swim lessons designed for varying ages and skill levels. Swimmers, ages six months to adult with a skill level of beginner to advanced, will be taught by fully trained certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors.

The program is divided into three different lesson types. Small Group lessons are designed for younger children. The lesson holds a minimum of four participants and a maximum of six. If the class does not meet the minimum number of participants it is cancelled, and private or semi-private lessons are recommended to those still interested.

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Semi-Private lessons and Private lessons are also offered. These lessons are scheduled by appointment only. Semi-Private lessons are specialized and intensive lessons for ages three and up. This quick pace lesson instructs two to three previously assembled participants that demonstrate a similar skill level. Private lessons are similar to Semi-Private lessons, but are strictly one-on-one.

The program uses different activities for different lessons. For the younger participants, the program focuses on fun in water with activities such as water entry, bubble blowing, front kicking, back floating and underwater exploration. As children progress they will begin to explore the water through floating, submerging, kicking skills, and strokes.

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The cost for each lesson varies by the type of lesson, the number of lessons, and whether or not the participant is a Student Recreation Center member.

It is important that people take swim lessons seriously. Simply acquiring basic skills can help in preventing serious accidents. Aquatics Student Supervisor Allyson Ruebusch stressed the significance of the Learn to Swim program and how it can be extremely beneficial to the community.

“The number of people who do not know how to swim is staggering. Thousands of swim related tragedies happen every year that could have easily been prevented by just a few lessons,” said Ruebusch.

Swimming can be a fun and healthy activity for people of all ages. However, it is very dangerous if one is not well prepared. The Learn to Swim program offers experience and expertise that can help you or your child learn potentially life saving skills that you will have for the rest of your life.

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For small group lessons participants may register at the front desk of the Student Recreation Center or call 419.372.2000. For private lessons contact Micha Seither, smicha@bgsu.edu.

RecWell Opportunities for Student Employment and Experience

Recreation and Wellness employs BGSU students in a variety of different areas creating career and leadership development opportunities. Available positions can be found at all of the department’s facilities, such as the Student Recreation Center (SRC), Ice Arena, and Forrest Creason Golf Course. Additionally, there are four different levels of positions. A position’s level reflects its responsibilities, any required experience or certification, and salary.

Morgan Montgomery is an Intramural Student Supervisor with Recreation and Wellness, and has been for nearly one year. He has been with the department for a total of two and a half years, beginning as an official for Intramural Sports.

“It’s been great. There is camaraderie, our staff is close,” said Montgomery. “For a job like this in school, you can’t beat it.”

Employment at Recreation and Wellness contributes to the professional development of students and supplements classroom learning with real life experience.

“My job has prepared me for managing and directing people,” stated Montgomery, a construction management major. “Not everyone gets that, dealing with people and having a staff. The management of people will help.”

Considering his experiences working for Recreation and Wellness’ Intramural Sports Program, Montgomery recommends student employment with the department.

“I can’t think of another job on campus where you meet the people you meet here, enjoy your job, and get to be around athletics,” said Montgomery.

As Intramural Supervisor, Montgomery is responsible for on-site supervision, inspection of facilities and equipment, and evaluation of scorekeepers and officials amongst other duties. Other supervisory roles, such as the Perry Field House Supervisor, share similar responsibilities. Both positions are categorized at level four.

In order for a student to work his or her way up to positions in levels two through four, entry into a level one position is encouraged. These positions, such as Climbing Wall Attendant and Golf Course Maintenance Attendant, allow the student employee to become familiar with a specific aspect of Recreation and Wellness. The Climbing Wall Attendant is responsible for customer service and maintaining climbing wall safety, while the Golf Course Maintenance Attendant’s duties include mowing the greens, tees, fairways and roughs.

After spending time working in level one positions, student employees have the chance to move up to positions with more responsibilities and higher pay. SRC Pro Shop Manager and Zamboni Room Associate are examples of level two positions. The SRC Pro Shop Manager supervises the Pro Shop Attendants, completes shift sales reports, and does periodic inspections of facilities and equipment. Duties required of the Zamboni Room Associate include training of the Zamboni Room staff and setting up the ice for games.

Certain positions may require outside certification. The Learn-to-Swim Instructor position requires an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification. While this position is at level three, its unique certification does not require applicants to have a prior work history with Recreation and Wellness at a level one or two position. Many of the other positions in the department require First Aid and CPR certification.

For more information on positions available and contact information, please visit the Recreation and Wellness Student Employment Web site.

BGSU Helps Community Learn to Skate, Swim

Recreation and Wellness’ Learn to Skate and Learn to Swim programs provide the Bowling Green community with the ability to learn valuable recreation and exercise skills. Group skating and swimming lessons at BGSU are available for individuals of varying ages and skill sets.

The Learn to Skate program offers eight different types of classes for individuals of various ages and experience levels. Participants’ age can range from three-year-olds to adults. Those enrolling in the classes can expect to learn the basic skills of skating from instructors with a highly proficient level of skating experience.

“A comprehensive base of figure skating or skating skills will be learned,” stated Ice Arena Staff Assistant Laura Dunn. “When someone signs up they receive practice time and a punch card to use during public skate.”

Dunn stressed the skills taught are done so in an engaging manner.

“We have fun,” Dunn noted. “We teach our skills through games and props. We try to not just teach skills, but make them fun.”

In addition to options based on age and experience, classes can vary depending on the style of skating the participant wants to learn. Classes focusing on recreational skating, figure skating, and hockey are available.

“Skating can be a lifelong sport,” said Dunn. “It’s a fun activity to do at all ages. We like to teach everyone the basic skills. Skating can help teach determination, time management, and practice skills.”

Classes are grouped into six week sessions with classes occurring once a week on either Sundays or Mondays and are held at the Ice Arena. Learn to Skate’s “Fall Session 2” starts Sunday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 4. After “Fall Session 2,” the next session will start up after the holidays on Sunday, January 10. Cost of the lessons is $60 plus a one-time per year (July 1 through June 30) $10 United States Figure Skating registration fee. Please visit the Learn to Skate Web site for more information.

In addition to the Learn to Skate program, BGSU also offers a Learn to Swim program. The swimming lessons are available to anyone ages six months through adult and are taught by certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. Class size ranges from four to six participants. Classes are held at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The second Fall session begins on Tuesday, November 3. These small group lessons cost $75 for SRC members and $82.50 for non-members. Private and semi-private lessons are also available by appointment. Cost for private and semi-private lessons varies by lesson length. For more information, please visit the Learn to Swim Web site.