Don’t sweat it, just sweat!

Article by Bailey McCaffrey

College is the best time to get in the habit of being heathy and active. College campuses provide numerous easy-to-access programs at a more affordable cost than the normal gym membership. Many of these involvement opportunities include learning how to be successful in your own personal fitness journey.

Colorado State Campus Recreation includes fitness classes, personal training sessions, the Outdoor Program, Climbing Wall, Aquatic Center, swim lessons, and a variety of sports to join. Everyone at all abilities is welcome to participate in any of these activities. With endless possibilities to get involved and learn new skills, all that’s left up to you is to find your motivation to come and find what fits you.

How do I get motivated?

Motivation looks different for everyone which is why it’s important to find what gets you up and moving.

The desire to get fit might be up to a person’s intrinsic or extrinsic motivation; it is totally individual. Intrinsic motivation is simple in theory. It’s the enjoyment of the physical act of working out and pushing your body. The love of adrenaline you might get from going on a long run, the feeling of your muscles lifting large amounts of weight, even the feeling of sweat running into your eyes and the sound of pump up music in your ears. If you work out for this reason, you are intrinsically motivated. It can be hard to find intrinsic motivation when you first get started, but keep with it and you might notice that you find it along the way.

If your motivation comes from the desire to get fit or imagining a life where you are more active, you’re extrinsically motivated. Having the desire to lift more, become a better athlete, and physically looking more fit are all included in this. People who are motivated in this way often look to friends and outside support systems for continuous encouragement to find their success. Programs like personal training and fitness classes, outdoor trips and climbing wall classes all help members find a community that will provide fun and lasting encouragement.

What motivates our members?

5 Campus Recreation Members were asked where their motivation comes from to which they responded a variety of inspiring answers.

“My friends are usually the main source of my motivation, I only come when they drag me to play basketball” – Carson, third year

“I’m motivated by always trying to better myself, it’s such an accomplishment to do more than I did yesterday.” -Ronnie, first year

“I come to the Rec center because I feel better about myself when I leave and it puts me in a good mood the remainder of the day.” -Kayla, First year

“I get motivated to work out because I want my family to know it’s possible to stay active and healthy.” -Lori, Professor

“I always come to work out for myself, while I’m at the Rec I get motivated by all the people around me trying to better their life and pushing themselves to the limit.” -Erin, fourth year

If you haven’t figured out where your own motivation comes from, the best place to to start is at Campus Recreation. The possibilities are endless for finding the best fit for you.

No matter where your motivation comes from, Campus Recreation is here to support you along your fitness journey.

 

Article by Bailey McCaffrey

Making a career out of climbing mountains and hanging from rocks can be seemingly difficult. Previous Campus Recreation Outdoor Program staff member Aileen Palma was faced with exactly this problem as she graduated from CSU in the Spring of 2018. Fortunately, with her passion for the outdoors and a little help from the Campus Recreation Student Development Fund, she was able to get the certifications she needed to succeed in the field of adventure which she cares about.

 

Student Employment and Development

 

Campus Recreation employs over 350 students each year making it the third largest employer on campus. Students fill positions as lifeguards, outdoor program leaders, fitness instructors, intramural officials, building managers, supervisors and over 30 other job titles. Student employees are important to Campus Recreation and play a large role in the department’s success. In 2005 the Student Development Fund was created to provide student staff the opportunity to attend a variety of development opportunities. 

 

The professional staff at Campus Recreation pride themselves on being much more than supervisors for student employees. The department values are integrity, community, and of course, development. These words are worn proudly by student employees on the back of their work shirts. 

 

Development is defined by staff as education and teachable moments while guiding sustainable growth. In the spirit of achieving this important value, Campus Recreation puts aside funding on an annual basis to assist students to attend trainings, seminars, webinars, to complete certifications/re-certifications, and represent Colorado State University at regional or national conferences. 

 

Since the fund began, over 300 student employees have been provided with growth opportunities through Campus Recreation.

 

Although the fund is largely beneficial to student staff, receiving assistance is no easy task.  Employees must obtain the backing of their supervisor, apply for funding, and after completion of their chosen development course, present at a Campus Recreation staff meeting.

 

“This progression provides a valuable learning opportunity for our student employees,” states Cody Frye, Campus Recreation Executive Director. “Student recipients of these awards return to the department with new knowledge, improved proficiencies and technical abilities, and enhanced leadership skills. This translates to a committed employee and helps prepare students for careers beyond university life.”

 

Aileen’s Journey From CSU to Avid4 Adventure

 

Aileen Palma completed the Wilderness First Responder course in January with assistance from the Student Development Fund. Aileen got hired as an outdoor leader for the company, Avid4 Adventure after graduation. Aileen comments, “Getting my Wilderness First Responder allowed me to be a better leader for the Vamos Outdoors trips I led during my time working for Outdoor Programs at Campus Rec. Even now with my new job for Avid4 Adventure, I know I can make the best decisions in the case of an emergency. My professional career requires me to be able to work with a variety of ages in multiple risky activities. So, I would have eventually needed a WFR to advance in my field. I’m glad that I had the support from Campus Rec to achieve that much sooner.”

An endowment through the CSU Foundation to further support the Campus Recreation Student Development Fund has been supported by numerous individuals and business. More information about the initiative can be found here: https://csurec.colostate.edu/about/giving-to-the-rec/