With the first summer session underway, many students may be looking for ways to ease the stress of their demanding summer classes. Whether the answer to these troubles is running, kayaking, a 60-minute massage or maybe all three, the Recreation Center offers it. The Rec will be open this summer and is offering students numerous new and enticing opportunities.
Comparable to the fall and spring semesters, the rec is open every day of the week during the summer months. Dontavius Wade, a supervisor at the Rec, said the main difference between the summer months and the school year is the hours of operation.
“During the summer, we are not open as early as we are during the fall and spring, and we close a little bit earlier. We do offer the same classes,” Wade said.
The summer hours for the rec are Monday-Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The group exercise schedule can be found on the Rec’s website. Summer hours will end August 18.
Wade also said students are allowed to bring guests. Guests will be required to show a photo ID and pay a guest fee of $10, but will then have access to both the indoor and outdoor pool, the weights and fitness area, as well as all of the fitness classes offered on the day they are a guest.
Massage therapy has also returned to the Rec, although many students may not have known it was offered to begin with.
“Massage therapy was gone for a few months, but it is back now. You can purchase a session from our membership office. They have student discounts and employee discounts,” Wade said.
Beth Murphy, the new massage therapist, began taking clients on May 10. Swedish, deep tissue, neuromuscular, sports and chair massages are offered in 30-, 60- and 90-minute increments. Members of the Rec are able to schedule appointments by calling (205) 348-5140.
The outdoor pool, famous for its lazy river and waterslide, opened full-time on April 1. The outdoor pool is hosting its second annual series of summer “Family Nights,” which will begin Wednesday.
“The main special event that we have open to the public on Wednesday nights throughout the summer is we have family night with different themes,” Gile Manders, a lifeguard at the outdoor pool, said. “This summer we have events such as Carnival, Wild Wild West, Kid Fit, Neighborhood Heroes, The Splash is Right! Game Show, Superhero U, Night at the Museum, Ahoy Matey!, and Back to School Barbeque. So that’s just a chance for us to open up the pool to community members, get a lot of people out here and get a lot of family involvement.”
Anyone from the Tuscaloosa area is able to purchase a summer membership to the outdoor pool. They can be purchased independently of memberships to the rec. Students must enrolled in one credit hour of summer classes to use the outdoor pool for free with their ACT card. Members of the pool may bring guests as long as they pay the guest fee of $5. Nonmembers are able to use the pool as well but will be charged $10, Manders said.
Outdoor enthusiasts will be excited to learn that the Outdoor Rec is hosting summer excursions in addition to the normal rentals offered throughout the school year. Whitewater rafting trips on the Ocoee River and canoeing trips on the Coosa River are occurring throughout June and July. Members and nonmembers are both welcome to attend the outdoor adventures for less than $50.
“Over the summer, we have four trips going out. We have one going out this Saturday, and we have one more in June and two more in July,” Cameron Butler, the Outdoor Recreation rental center manager, said.
Trained trip leaders employed by the Outdoor Rec lead the excursions, Butler said. They also offer trips in the fall.
“Fall will be more like caving, climbing, backpacking, camping and more paddling trips as well,” Butler said.
In addition to excursions, the Outdoor Rec provides students and members with outdoor adventure gear such as backpacks, sleeping bags, road bikes, mountain bikes, canoes, kayaks, and other camping gear. Rentals are available at inexpensive rates for a day, weekend or weeklong time period. Students only have to show their ACT card to qualify for member pricing and do not have to be enrolled in summer classes.
Excursion and rental information can be found on the Outdoor Rec’s website.
Students interested in working with the Outdoor Rec as trip leaders, bike mechanics or support staff are encouraged to apply during the spring months.
Other employment opportunities are available to students through the Student Recreation Center and Aquatics. Students should apply for these positions at jobs.ua.edu.
