UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Campus Recreation received recognition during Healthy Campus Week, hosted by Healthier Campus Initiative and the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).
Healthier Campus Initiative works with colleges and universities to strengthen their health resources and opportunities. Similarly, NIRSA is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to advance campus recreation.
In collaboration with Hope4College, Campus Rec Magazine and Columbia Sportswear, Healthier Campus Initiative and NIRSA held a “Largest Physical Activity Challenge'' during Healthy Campus Week, which ran from Sept. 19 to 23. Penn State Campus Recreation, a Student Affairs unit, won this challenge by hosting a Cardio Dance Party class on Sept. 21.
According to Campus Recreation Assistant Director Laura Gilham, the Cardio Dance Party was an expansion of a pre-existing Campus Recreation class. The class was available on a virtual platform — in addition to being held in the Intramural Building — to increase accessibility.
“Part of the challenge was to be creative and get people active anywhere,” she said.
Gilham said 50 people attended the class in person and around 1,000 participated virtually.
Campus Recreation caught wind of the challenge just days beforehand; the student staff jumped on the opportunity.
“Our student staff was able to rise to the challenge to create a social media campaign to participate in the week,” Gilham said. “We couldn't have done it without our student staff who created the campaign and taught the cardio dance party.”
This was the first year Penn State Campus Recreation has worked with Healthier Campus Initiative and participated in the “Largest Physical Activity Challenge,” open to all universities affiliated with NIRSA or Healthier Campus Initiative.
Although the challenge was a highlight of the week, Healthy Campus Week was about more than just exercise. Gilham said Campus Recreation also encouraged students to take advantage of other wellness-related resources at the University — including Lion’s Pantry and the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm.
“We hope that students who might be involved in Campus Recreation but are not aware of other areas or resources could be informed to help them make healthier decisions,” Gilham said.