Category Archives: History

RecWell Rewind – Student Recreation Center Logo Designed

History, RecWell, Student Recreation Center

Deborah Howard, a June graduate, won the Student Government Association contest to design the new Student Recreation Center logo.

Original SRC logo

According to Howard, “the logo is based on the simplified human figure since ultimately the success and functioning of the facility depends on the people who use it.” Howard also explained that “the logo is intended to symbolize the whole recreational program and so the logo design is based on general characteristics of athletics, not any specific sport or interest.”

Students Impersonating the SRC Logo

For more information about the History of Recreation and Wellness, visit our webpage.

RecWell Rewind – Fitness Trail Opening Ceremony

Fitness, History, RecWell


After a year of planning, a ceremony marking the opening of the BGSU Fitness Trail took place on April 15, 1982 at 4:00 PM.

The Fitness Trail was sponsored by the Student Recreation Center and described by Dr. Terry Parsons, SRC director, as “an extension of the fitness program for the University and community.”

Participant in motion while doing a sit-up.
Student doing situps

Participants experienced the cardiovascular benefits of a running program through a self-guided and self-paced outdoor, 1.75 mile long, paved jogging trail, as well as strength and flexibility gains made possible through the use of eighteen intermittent exercise stations along the route. The combination of fitness options was specifically designed to assure a total experience for participants.Participants on the fitness trail.

The Fitness Trail was located on the eastern edge of campus with the start and finish adjacent to the Ice Arena. The course followed the sidewalks from the Ice Arena to the football stadium and around the north side of the stadium. The location also provided runners with the option to use the quarter-mile Whittaker Track. It offered three course lengths, eighteen different exercise stations, and an intensity of nine differing degrees.

The Fitness Trail was open daily from dawn to dusk to people of all ages and levels of fitness. Trail maps and usage scorecards were available at the SRC Office. Introductory sessions were offered April 19-23, 1982.

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RecWell Rewind – Adaptive Climbing

Fitness, History, RecWell, Student Recreation Center

During the spring 2010 semester, Jerome Gabriel, assistant director of the Outdoor Program, developed and taught a five-week adaptive rock climbing program for special needs and disabled climbers. At the time, this was the only adaptive rock climbing course in Ohio.

The Outdoor Program was able to purchase roughly $1,500 in new adaptive climbing equipment for the program after receiving $2,500 in grant funding from the Youth Enhancement and Support organization of Northwest Ohio (Y.E.S.) in 2009. The new equipment included harnesses, pulleys, ropes, and a specialized adaptive ropes course harness for fully immobile, wheelchair bound youth. The equipment was debuted on October 3, 2009 during the Student Recreation Center 30th anniversary celebration.

Jerome noted that initially, it was challenging to sell the idea of an adaptive rocking climbing course to the special-needs community. However, after inviting county developmental disabilities administrators to campus for seminars on the program, they were able to convince their clients that it was a safe and fun activity.

Five Wood County Special Olympics athletes participated in the first adaptive rock climbing program in April 2010. In reference to the program, Mary Sehmann, coordinator of Wood Country Special Olympics, commented, “we’re going to make it one of our sports because the benefits are so great. It helps with upper-body strength, balance, problem-solving, decision-making, even communication.” Scott Mitchell, lead sports technician for Wood Lane was also impressed and stated, “it really helps their problem-solving skills, especially at the bottom where there are so many choices: Where do I put my hand? Where do I put my foot? You can see the wheels turning: Where do I go next? What do I need to do?”

Ms. Sehmann said that it was exciting to watch people who initially said they couldn’t do it after their first attempt, later reach the top of the wall. “Times are changing. People are trying more things,” she said. “This is a thrill sport, and people with disabilities want to do a thrill sport too.”

Learn more about Recreation and Wellness history.

Learn more about the Climbing Wall.

RecWell Rewind – Climbing Wall Debuts in Spring 2002

History, Outdoor Program, RecWell, Student Recreation Center

ClimbingWall-2002-01-WEB

 

On Wednesday, January 23, 2002, the Student Recreation Center hosted the grand opening the $80,000, 35-foot climbing wall.

Assembled in the game room, the 1600 square foot wall was built to resemble a small mountain, reaching 34 feet at its highest point and 27 feet at its lowest peak. The wall catered to all levels of climbing expertise, and was available to both students and staff. Initially, the climbing wall was open 7 days a week from 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM, which allowed it to fulfill campus needs for late evening and night activities. According to Larry Spencer, associate director of the SRC, the new wall would provide the SRC with new programming opportunities, and he stated, “We put it up primarily to give us another programming option.”

ClimbingWall-2002-02-WEBThe University spirit was in full stride at the event as BGSU mascots, Freddie and Frieda Falcon and members of Sic-Sic, BGSU’s spirit crew, showed up to celebrate. All who were present at this event were able to watch Freddie Falcon and two members of the Sic-Sic crew take a turn at climbing the wall.

The SRC offered both a two-hour belay and climbing certification courses at a cost of $15 prior to the wall’s opening. With these certifications, climbers were permitted to use the wall during hours of operation. Bryan Cavins, assistant director of Outdoor Program noted, “The certification process would involve a one to two hour class on rock climbing followed by a test, and the card would have to be renewed each semester.” At the start of the spring semester, 135 students had already signed up to take either the climbing or belay certification courses, and 83 students had already gone through one of the courses prior to the wall’s grand opening.

RecWell Rewind – First “Dive-In” Movie

Aquatics, History, RecWell, Student Recreation Center, Upcoming Events, Wellness Connection

On April 13, 1984, the University Activities Organization and the Student Recreation Center sponsored the first “Dive-In” movie where students could float in Cooper Pool in SRC provided innertubes while watching “Jaws” for only $1.50.

Students Enjoying a Dive-In Movie at the SRCOther films shown throughout the year include a 3-D version of “The Creature From the Black Lagoon” (1987), and “Splash” in Cooper Pool. The Dive-In Movie events were later moved to Andrews pool where “The Perfect Storm” (2001), “Swimfan” (2003), “The Switch” (2011) were among the films shown, and “The Wedding Ringer” (2015).

For more information about the History of Recreation and Wellness, visit our webpage.

Learn about Summer Splash on April 7, 2016.