During the year, many SRU students spend their time participating in activities provided by The Office of Campus Recreation.
Campus Recreation offers various programs located at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center (ARC), the McFarland Recreational Sports Complex (MAC), as well as the Ski Lodge and Campground.
Some of these programs include spin classes, yoga and “Boga.”
Andrew Loue is the assistant director for the Outdoor Adventure and Reach Program housed within The Office of Campus Recreation.
Loue runs adventure and leadership development programs for students on campus.
The Reach Program is “leadership development, team building, group cohesion, problem solving, individual challenge and fun all wrapped up into one and we do that via ropes course. We have a high ropes course that’s 25 feet off the ground with individual obstacles that people have to overcome. Then we have low elements which are team based; groups have to problem solve together to accomplish a task,” Loue said.
The Reach Program is geared towards groups on campus, usually classes, clubs, teams and leadership groups.
If organizations are interested in having their members participate in the ropes course, a representative from the club should reach out to Loue at andrew.loue@sru.edu to schedule.
“On occasion, we open up the ropes course for individual fun,” Loue said.
Recently, the program hosted an event called Glow Ropes. During this event, the ropes course was lit up with neon lights and gave students on campus the opportunity to participate in the course.
Loue also offers adventure trips through the Outdoor Adventure Program that are advertised on CORE.
“Those are adventure trips that any individual student can just sign-up and participate in,” Loue said.
Loue discussed how a benefit to this program is helping students be present in the moment.
“…[I]f we get beyond all of the generics that I could say about the communication, team building and all that, I think the most powerful thing that what we offer does is it puts students in a position where they have to be present in the moment. When you’re walking across a cable 25 feet off the ground, what are you thinking about? That cable and that activity in the moment,” Loue said.
Loue shared his favorite part about the work he does.
“I think my favorite is watching people overcome their challenge. The adversity that they might experience. You know when you have a participant who’s super scared to do something, but they give themselves permission to do that because we set it up in a way that it’s reasonable for them. To give permission to try something hard, and when they sort of fight through that imaginary wall or line that they’re afraid to cross, and they cross, then they get the benefit of that experience,” Loue said.
Recently, The Office of Campus Recreation upgraded their group fire pit at the ski lodge.
“[The fire pit] is available as is the ski lodge for groups to sign out,” Loue said.
Organizations interested in hosting an event at the group fire pit have to set up an event on their CORE page to be able to use it.
Campus Recreation recently added benches to the fire pit as well for organizations to use with their club.
“We don’t provide anything, so groups have to provide their own firewood and start their own fire, that kind of stuff. It’s literally just a space to hang out,” Loue said.
Individuals can follow Campus Recreation on Instagram at srucampusrec, and check CORE to learn about future events that are posted, because they do fill up.
“We’re here solely for students to participate, and this stuff is available. We don’t charge students for these experiences, you’re at a phase of life where you might as well try. If you’ve never tried standup paddle-boarding, now is your opportunity. You don’t have to pay for it, just sign-up,” Loue said.
