Beginning on Welcome Weekend, it will be easier than ever for students to experience the outdoors while attending Cal U.
“We want to make good use of what we have available to us right here, whether it’s at SAI Farm, at Roadman Park, on the river, on campus or in town,” said Jamison Roth, director of Recreational Services. “There are a number of things we can do.”
Students can take outdoor yoga and stationary bicycle classes Aug. 25-26 on the Quad as part of Welcome Weekend activities before fall classes begin on Aug. 27. Yoga begins at 11 a.m. Aug. 25 and noon Aug. 26; cycle classes start at 10 a.m. Aug. 25 and 11 a.m. Aug. 26.
Hourlong kayaking sessions begin at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Aug. 25 on the Monongahela River. The guided paddling coincides with California Borough’s sixth annual River Fest, which runs from 1-9 p.m. Aug. 25-26.
River Fest is part of the River Town Program, which helps communities to recognize the river as an asset around which community and economic development can occur.
“This will be a good start in seeing … the interest level of our students,” Roth said. “We are looking to have outdoor activities year-round.”
Also during Welcome Weekend, students may visit SAI Farm, on the upper campus, and try their hand at disc golf or the Fitness Challenge Course, which features 13 exercise stations along a 1.25-mile trail.
Discs are available at no cost at the Herron Recreation and Fitness Center.
Fall Fitness Activities
As the new academic year begins, students, faculty and staff will have even more outdoor opportunities.
A “Backyard Bash” in early fall at SAI Farm will feature disc golf, volleyball and fitness-course competitions for clubs and organizations.
A trip to the Skydive Pennsylvania skydiving center at Grove City, Pa., is being planned for September.
Biking at Washington’s Landing Marina is planned for Oct. 6, and hiking at Emerald View Park for Oct. 20. Both activities begin at 10 a.m., with transportation provided to both Pittsburgh locations.
A kayak trip on Pittsburgh’s rivers begins at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 on the city’s North Shore.
Through the efforts of Terry Carnathan, coordinator of informal recreation and wellness, Cal U is teaming with Venture Outdoors, a local nonprofit organization that provides the gear, guidance and inspiration to make outdoor recreation part of people’s lives.
Outdoor intramural sports for fall include flag football and a street basketball tournament.
Winter snow tubing and ski trips to Snowshoe Mountain ski resort, in West Virginia, are being planned for winter.
“By simply making the best use of our natural landscape and what’s already here, we can show our students there’s so much to do here if you just get outside of your residence hall or apartment,” Roth said.
For a complete schedule and Welcome Weekend details, visit calu.edu/welcome.
For more information as outdoor activities are finalized email roth@calu.edu. For intramural sports information, email Tom Hasbrouck at hasbrouck_t@calu.edu.