“It would be very difficult, but if I had to highlight only one of the Campus Rec activities that I’ve participated in while attending Loyalist as my favourite, it would have to be our three-day mountain hike in the Adirondack mountain range in New York State,” said Luc Fournier a student in the post-graduate Public Relations program. “I found it physically and mentally challenging, and once I reached the summit I found myself looking at the most spectacular panoramic view you could ever imagine. It was a whole new world.”
The Campus Rec program is open to all Loyalist students and is a great way to be physically active and make new friendships within the college community. This September each planned event has been filled to capacity. Participants have spent three days in the rugged interior of beautiful Algonquin Park on a flat-water canoe trip. They visited the Boiler Room Climbing Gym in Kingston — one of the highest indoor climbs in North America — and spent the day at High Ropes Adventures traversing high above the forest floor on zip lines. A popular choice on Tuesday evenings is Ultimate Frisbee — a team sport that combines elements of sports such as basketball, soccer and American football while using a flying disc. Campus Rec also offers softball, ice hockey, white-water canoe trips, indoor soccer, badminton, basketball, handball, swimming, flag football, Adirondack Mountain hiking and ski trips.
Cory Mestre, Coordinator, Fitness Facilities and Campus Recreation, explained how the Campus Rec program is developed to address the ongoing needs of the students. “We try to offer as much variety as possible. We’re always looking for feedback to determine what we’re doing right and ways that we can improve. In addition to the physical health benefits, it’s a great way to work off stress, make new friends and share some laughs. The challenges of learning new skills — such as controlling a canoe through rapids or pushing through physical demands such as hiking up to 5,600 feet in alpine temperatures in mountains of snow — strengthens students as individuals. They learn more about themselves and what they are capable of accomplishing.”
Garner Millward, a third-year Broadcast Engineering Technology student, has become more involved with Campus Rec each year at Loyalist. “I never really played sports in high school so I didn’t realize how much fun I could have. Through the program I’ve been exposed to many different sports I’d never tried before and developed skills I would never have believed possible. It’s a non-competitive program that is just for fun — and better yet it’s really affordable.”
“It’s a really inclusive program that encourages everyone to become involved,” added Luc Fournier. “We make friends, challenge ourselves and try new things. It’s a great way to grow into new ideas and experiences. The program makes it simple for students to participate and it truly makes you feel a part of the college community.”
See for yourself why participants love the Loyalist Campus Rec program by visiting loyalistcampusrec.com and clicking on photos.