Summer Orientation FAQ

This year’s summer orientations entailed a variety of information booths hosted by academic colleges, university departments, and campus resources. Orientation events provide an opportunity for first year and transfer students to gain answers on their most pressing questions. The Student Recreation center received several questions from curious first-year students. Listed below are some answers to our most asked questions. 

 

  •   What are the Student Recreation Center’s hours?

During Fall and Spring semesters, the Student Recreation Center is open Monday through Friday from 6AM-8PM. On Saturdays 8AM-8PM, Sundays 12-8PM.

  •    What do the outdoor programs provide? 

Outdoor programs offer a variety of guided trips, classes, and events each semester. Introductory classes include trips to learn how to backpack, ski, and rock climb. There are also a variety of day activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, trail running, or ice climbing. The Outdoor Program desk (located in the recreation center) can provide information on trip registration, transportation, lodging, and guidance from instructors.

  •    How do you get a student membership, what does a membership include?

Students enrolled in six or more on campus credits pay full time student fees that include a Campus Recreation membership. There are affiliate and employee memberships, as well as guest passes. A membership grants access to the Student Recreation Center’s facilities, including the cardio and weight spaces, climbing wall, aquatic center (pool, spa, steam room, sauna), locker rooms, and use of gyms and studios (mat room, main gym, MAC gym, studios 1-4, cycling studio).

  • Does CSU provide ski and snowboarding trips?

Yes! The Student Recreation Center provides introductory ski and snowboarding trips through their outdoor programs. Individuals can pay a one-time fee and they are offered transportation, introductory classes, and equipment. Campus Recreation also has alpine and nordic ski sport club teams. Beyond just the Campus Recreation resources, there are other opportunities not offered by the rec on-campus such as ski/snowboarding clubs and SkiSU.

Outdoor photo of the Rec lit up during the evening

 Where can I learn about sport clubs?

The best resource for gaining more information on sport clubs would be through the website or the rec’s sports club office. As for first-year students, or anyone else interested in joining a team, there are informational sessions held by sport club teams at the beginning of the year!

  • What are the group fitness classes, and do you have to pay?

Campus recreation offers a variety of group fitness classes that are included in the membership. Group fitness classes can be accessed through either the registration portal or the campus recreation app. The Rec provides various classes including: group fitness, yoga, cycling, and many more classes! 

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I Tried the Full Moon Hike and Rock Climbing Trips

Hey Rec'ing Rams!

Let’s be honest, the CSU Rec Center can feel uncomfortable for new members.

I know from personal experience that going to a new gym or class can be intimidating, and it’s totally ok if you feel the same.

Taking group classes might seem like an extra challenge in this respect, but you shouldn’t have to feel that way.

In this new series, I am on a mission to try and review group classes at the Rec so that going in and taking one feels less daunting.

In a special edition of the “I Try” series, our digital media assistant, Mia Carrillo, is sharing her experience with the Full Moon Hike and Rock Climbing trip offered by Outdoor Programs!

As with other OP programs, Mia attended the required pre-meeting to sign a waiver, learn more about what they would be doing, and gather information on what kind of equipment or gear may be helpful when preparing for their trip. Mia said she felt very prepared after the information session and that all she needed to bring were some snacks, and she was ready to go! She also stressed that everyone should “always ask questions, […] the OP team is available in emails after the meeting.”

On the day of, Mia went to the Rec Center and got on a bus that took her to their final destination(s). The time on the bus was spent jamming out to the radio! “Radio music is a vibe,” she said. The transportation went “amazing” for her, and having one less thing to consider during preparation was helpful.

The rock climbing trip was at Duncan’s Ridge, approximately a 15-minute drive from the Rec Center. The description of this trip states that it is ”open to all skill and experience levels – led and facilitated by our Instructors at Horsetooth Reservoir! Students will learn the basics of top-rope belaying, fundamental climbing technique, and basic climbing equipment.” Even though Mia is usually very scared of heights, she still had a lot of fun on the trip. The participants were encouraged to climb at their own pace, creating a comfortable environment for someone like Mia, who had never been rock climbing before.

Rock Climbing Trip

The other trip Mia went on was the full moon hike. The Outdoor Programs description for this trip says, “Join the Outdoor Program (OP) on full moon night hike meeting other students and watching the moon rise over Northern Colorado!” On this trip, Mia and the rest of the group were transported to the trail where the famous CSU “A” is located. Near Horsetooth Reservoir, the “A” is about a 15-minute drive in the same direction as Duncan’s Ridge. Mia also had a great time on this trip; she said, “I got to see amazing people and talk about all sorts of fun stuff with them.”

Full moon Hike

Reflecting on both experiences, Mia stated, “Annie Kim was group lead for all 3 trips, and I adore her so much. She checks in on people, and I feel like she pushed me to go outside my comfort zone. She also had some fun stories to tell along the way. […] through all of these trips, I got to re-experience my love with nature again, and how fun it is be outside. These trips are great for anyone!”

See Outdoor Programs Trips, Classes, and Events

That’s all Rec’ing Rams! If you go on this trip, let us know what you think. We would love to hear your feedback.

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Outdoor Programs’ Favorite Hikes in Fort Collins

Hey, Rec'ing Rams!

Getting some fresh air is a great way to practice self-care, and luckily, Colorado is a great place to do just that! Annie Kim from Outdoor Programs has partnered up with the Rec’ing Ram blog to recommend some great hikes in the area. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned expert, there’s something here for you.

Horsetooth Falls Trail

“Check out this 2.2-mile out-and-back trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and horseback riding, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through September. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: Horsetooth Falls Trail | COTREX (colorado.gov)

Coyote Ridge Trail

“Get to know this 4.1-mile out-and-back trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 46 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You’ll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: Brambles and Ramblings: Image (wordpress.com)

Poudre River Trail

“Experience this 9.4-mile point-to-point trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 49 min to complete. This is a very popular area for road biking, running, and walking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: Poudre River Trail Biker, Autumn | Frank State Natural Area,… | Flickr

Horsetooth Falls Loop Trail

“Try this 2.9-mile loop trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 26 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: This Makes Me Laugh: Horsetooth Falls Hike (littletleigh.blogspot.com)

Arthur’s Rock to Howard Trail Loop

“Explore this 4.2-mile loop trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 31 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are April through September. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: Fort Collins – Arthur’s Rock Loop at Lory State Park – Takahashi Outdoors

Reservoir Ridge Trail

“Get to know this 4.8-mile loop trail near Fort Collins, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 3 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and horseback riding, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: Reservoir Ridge | City of Fort Collins/Grant Smith | City of Fort Collins, CO | Flickr

Greyrock Trail

“Try this 7.2-mile loop trail near Laporte, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 38 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are April through November. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.”

See more on AllTrails

Image Source: 15 Beautiful Hikes Around Fort Collins (Less than 1 Hour Away!) (coloradosundays.com)

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I Tried the Yoga Day Hike, Here’s How It Went

Hey Rec'ing Rams!

Let’s be honest, the CSU Rec Center can feel uncomfortable for new members.

I know from personal experience that going to a new gym or class can be intimidating, and it’s totally ok if you feel the same.

Taking group classes might seem like an extra challenge in this respect, but you shouldn’t have to feel that way.

In this new series, I am on a mission to try and review group classes at the Rec so that going in and taking one feels less daunting.

This time, I went with outdoor programs on their yoga day hike! Although this particular trip will not be happening again this semester, there are many more programs to pick from that are coming up. Make sure to check them out here.

Before we went on the hike, we had a short informational session with our instructor Chloe about the trail we would be going on, the weather, and what we would need for the trip. If we had any questions, we could also ask them during that time. This helped me a lot with preparing to go when I was at home.

Once Saturday rolled around, we all met at the Rec Center, and Chloe ensured we were prepared with all the necessary gear. I did not have gloves or a day pack for our snowy hike, so I was able to borrow them! This helped me a lot, knowing that I would not have to purchase anything to be able to go on the trip.

We left and had a beautiful drive up to our trail. We all got ready to go and set off! Although it was cold outside, I felt prepared for the weather and had a fantastic time on our hike. I met new people and got to enjoy the beautiful snow-capped mountains. We took breaks when needed and were encouraged to drink lots of water. Chloe did a great job making the hike very fun!

After we got off the trail, we picked a spot to do yoga using the mats that the Rec provided. Our yoga instructor, Kalia, started us off with light stretching and followed with sequences of deeper stretches which felt great after all the walking we did.

our group about to start yoga!

Once we finished up, we slowly got up and got ready to head out. We were dropped off at the Rec and returned the borrowed gear to Chloe afterward.

I had never been on a trip with Outdoor Programs before, and I wish I had done it sooner! I had a great time and would definitely recommend it to a friend.

See Outdoor Programs Trips, Classes, and Events

That’s all Rec’ing Rams! If you go on this trip, let us know what you think. We would love to hear your feedback.

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I Took a Cycle 50 Class at the Rec, Here’s How it Went

Hey Rec'ing Rams!

The series we've all been waiting for is finally here.

Let’s be honest, the CSU Rec Center can feel uncomfortable for new members.

I know from personal experience that going to a new gym or class can be intimidating, and it’s totally ok if you feel the same.

Taking group classes might seem like an extra challenge in this respect, but you shouldn’t have to feel that way.

In this new series, I am on a mission to try and review group classes at the Rec so that going in and taking one feels less daunting.

This time, I got to check out the Cycle 50 class at the Rec. You can register for this vinyasa and slow-flow fusion through the CSU Rec App or on our website.

Before I tell you what I thought, let me give a better description of what you will be getting into:

“An upbeat 50 minute cycling workout to fun beats that incorporates climbing, sprinting and so much more! Everyone is welcome here no matter what their background in cycling is.”

Jess was the instructor for my class and was very helpful in getting set up to start. I have never been to a cycling class before and did not know what to expect!

After everyone got their bike situated, Jess promptly started the class and turned up the energizing music we would be biking along to.

Honestly, this class gave me a real run for my money! It is high-intensity with frequent intervals of varying fast-paced movements such as climbing and sprinting.

Throughout the class, Jess encouraged us to add resistance to the bike in order to challenge ourselves. Still, I was able to take it at my own pace and never felt pressured to keep going if I felt like I needed a break. At the end, the instructor made sure that we stretched before moving on with our day.

I would highly recommend this class if you are someone who enjoys HIIT or other generally fast-paced workouts. This time I took a 50-minute class. Additionally, there are options for 30, 45, or 60-minute classes as well.

Register for Cycle 50

That’s all Rec’ing Rams! If you take this class, let us know what you think. We would love to hear your feedback.

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