Category Archives: Outdoor Program

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.

Social Networking at Recreation & Wellness

Social networking is a phenomenon with which many people are familiar. Facebook and Twitter accounts are not only for college and high school students anymore. Many businesses and organizations employ social networking as a promotional tool. BGSU’s Recreation and Wellness is no exception.

While social networking’s promotional abilities make it useful to an organization, it can be used ineffectively.

“People are not going on social networking sites to be bombarded with advertisements,” said Melissa Rausch, Web and Technology Manager for BGSU Recreation and Wellness. “Promotion techniques need to be creative and unique.”

While overuse of social networking can turn audiences away, neglect is also harmful.

“A common mistake is creating an account, adding a couple photos, and then only updating every month or so,” stated Rausch. “Inactivity never looks good.”

BGSU’s Outdoor Program uses social networking frequently to inform students about upcoming trips.

“Facebook is updated daily,” said Jerome Gabriel, Director of the Outdoor Program. “When a trip comes around it could be multiple times daily. Twitter normally gets one tweet a day.”

When it comes to social networking, Facebook is clearly preferred.

“I use Facebook more,” added Gabriel. “We get at least 25 percent of trip sign-ups through Facebook.”

“Facebook is more effective (than Twitter) because it offers features like photos and video,” stated Rausch when offering her social networking preference. “I think the visual aspects really help.”

Interim Health Educator Caitlin Spontelli of the Wellness Connection does not have a preference for either Facebook or Twitter. The Wellness Connection has a Twitter account, and the Student Wellness Network maintains a Facebook group page.

“Our office uses both networking sites for different purposes,” said Spontelli.

“On Twitter we post health and wellness facts and links to information such as healthy recipes, online workout videos, health and wellness articles, upcoming campus events, and quick tips to stay healthy on campus,” explained Spontelli. “On Facebook the Student Wellness Network has a description of the organization, upcoming events, a peer education presentation list, how to become a peer educator, contact information, photos from recent events, and wall postings from current members.”

Recreation and Wellness can be found on Facebook and Twitter, as can the Outdoor Program (Facebook and Twitter) and the Wellness Connection (Facebook and Twitter.)

Climbing Wall Popular During Welcome Week

As part of Welcome Week at BGSU, Recreation and Wellness’ Outdoors Program hosted free climbs on the climbing wall at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) from August 24 through September 3. The turnout during the free climb period was exceptional.

“Usually the first two weeks are good, because it’s free,” said student manager Adie Heyne, “but we’re trying to increase membership.”

Student interest was high, and many students came back multiple times. Freshmen Vince D’Ettorre and Greg Stanley each made their fifth visit as of Monday, August 31. Additionally, Ashley Medwig and Bri Behringer, also freshmen, made their second visits.

“Every time you go, the better you get,” stated Stanley, “and the more challenges open up.”

The thrill of climbing 35 feet up the wall was also a factor that drew students back for multiple visits.

“My least favorite part is the height,” admitted Medwig, “but it’s also my favorite part since we can’t die.”

“I like the adrenaline rush,” added Behringer.

While none of the students interviewed had any prior climbing experiences, all indicated plans of purchasing a membership.

After the initial two week period of free climbs, memberships and day passes can be purchased for the climbing wall. For students and SRC members, a day pass costs $3, a semester pass is $25 and a year membership is $45. Shoes can also be rented by purchasing a $10 card good for 10 shoe rentals. Memberships are also available for non-members. Adult memberships are $45 for the semester and $75 annually, and child memberships cost $35 for the semester and $60 annually.

“It’s a friendly environment, it’s fun, we bring our own music,” explained Heyne, “and it’s a pretty good work out.”