With the icy winds seemingly departed, and the soiled, toxin-infused snow melting into puddles of muck around campus, spring could possibly be just around the corner. And Binghamton University students have one more thing to figure out: what to do with the weather.
While some students may soon break out their flip-flops and bikini tops for an afternoon of sunbathing, others prefer being active instead of lounging around. Though many students don’t realize it, programs and activities offered by Campus Recreational Services are a regular and popular part of Binghamton’s curriculum.
Open Rec
The open recreation program provides unstructured activities, enabling students to enjoy themselves at their own pace. With a BU ID card, you can go to the East Gym to swim a few laps at the pool, play basketball and volleyball, jog around the track, or play tennis in the outdoor courts. For a detailed schedule of open rec hours visit openrec.binghamton.edu.
Outdoor Pursuits
Many outdoor activities are offered by the Outdoor Pursuits program. They have a biking/hiking trip planned to Jefferson National Forest in Arlington, Va., during spring break (March 31 to April 5). Other activities include a tree-climbing session on April 27 for a $10 instruction and equipment fee, as well as a hike to the summit of Balsam Mountain in the southwest Catskills on April 29.
These activities provide healthy opportunities for students outside of the classroom and complement their experiences elsewhere in campus life.
‘We hope people walk away with an appreciation of nature and a better understanding of how the [ecological] systems work and what things are dependent on each other,’ said Teresa High, the director of Outdoor Pursuits. ‘You don’t have to be a member of the gym to participate in these programs,’ she said. Students must register for all programs in the Outdoor Pursuits office located in the East Gym.
Another thing students can take advantage of is the Outdoor Pursuits Equipment Rental Center, also located in the East Gym. BU students and faculty, as well as local community members can rent anything from camping gear, such as tents and sleeping bags, to winter gear such as skis, snowshoes and more. Equipment is available on a first-come first-serve basis, for a duration of up to a week. For more information, contact Mike Zuber at 777-6318 or mzuber@binghamton.edu.
Wellness Services
‘Boot Camp,’ ‘Cardio Butts n’ Guts’ ‘ now these are some exercise classes that you might want to consider attending.
Wellness Services offers numerous programs geared to both men and women of all fitness levels, taught by certified Binghamton University students.
Classes range from 15-minute ab workouts to one-hour spinning sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced participants. As with all East Gym facilities, a valid BU photo ID card is required to participate.
To sign up for a class, you may either call the FitSpace front desk at 777-2919 to register one day in advance, check in at the FitSpace front desk up to 15 minutes before a class begins or check in at the group exercise room immediately before the class begins. For a complete class schedule visit wellness.binghamton.edu.