Category Archives: Student Recreation Center

RecWell Rewind – Dr. Steve Kampf Named Recreation and Wellness Director

History, RecWell, Student Recreation Center, Testimonials

Dr. Steve Kampf Recreation and Wellness DirectorDr. Steve Kampf was hired as the new director of the Department of Recreation and Wellness in July 2006.

Dr. Kampf received his Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at Lock Haven University, his Masters in Sport Management at East Stroudsburg University, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Buffalo.

Prior to accepting the position at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Kampf was the former director of Recreation and Wellness at SUNY Brockport and Kutztown University. In his former positions, he was used to smaller facilities and enrollment, and he knew it was time for a change when he decided to apply to Bowling Green State University. “I enjoyed that there was a larger staff and greater opportunities,” said Kampf. Along with his work in Recreation and Wellness, Dr. Kampf also served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs.

One of Dr. Kampf’s greatest accomplishments at BGSU was the Student Recreation Center renovation project. “A thought turned into reality,” said Kampf. “We visited over 50 different institutions and it was a three to four year process.” He said his only worry during the project was current and future students thinking, “why did they do this?” Once the renovation was completed in 2014, Dr. Kampf saw the great amount of feedback received from members, which is when he knew the renovation was a success.

For more information on the History of Recreation and Wellness, visit our website.

RecWell Rewind – Dr. Terry Parsons Named Student Recreation Center Director

History, RecWell, Student Recreation Center

Dr. Terry Parsons' HeadshotDr. Terry Parsons officially became the second Student Recreation Center Director on July 1, 1981.

Dr. Terry Parsons received a master’s of education degree at BGSU in 1963. After earning his doctoral degree at Ohio State University he worked at Otterbein College and Mount Union College. Dr. Parsons returned to BGSU in 1970 to teach and later served as chair of the Health and Physical Education Department, assistant to the dean of the College of Education, acting director of the Student Recreation Center, and finally, director of the Student Recreation Center.

Dr. Parson’s served as the Director of Recreational Sports until his retirement in the summer of 1992.

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

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 – 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.