You may have attended a yoga class or kept a weekly schedule at our Campus Recreation facilities during the school year, there are still many ways to maintain physical wellness with Campus Rec over the summer. Campus Rec provides all the ways students and faculty can continue their fitness journey even when school is out of session. Physical well-being is a priority that Campus Recreation takes pride in. Most people look forward to the slowdown after heavy exams; understandably, others look forward to reconnecting with hometown friends, and lots of people are excited to reel in the summer job money. While these are very important, physical well-being can be a part of a stay-at-home or staying active summer. It’s easy to get lost in lounging in the AC or poolside, but it is also just as easy to balance your physical health as well. Staying active and balancing a job with relaxation over the summer is something I look forward to as well.
Personal
As a student who came to Rhode Island for college all the way from Michigan, I can understand the worry about missing out on campus over the summer. Before college, my activity during the summer was maintained by my job. As a head lifeguard, my duties were not on stand, but supervising. When the pool was slow, and the chaos had settled, I was out walking around the pool while also doing my job or supervising. It was an easy way to be active and stay close to my lifeguards when they needed me. I have never been adamant about tracking my progress, but my job required a watch for when kids took the swim test that I conducted. My mom gave me an old Apple watch she no longer used, and while it was very outdated, I could still count my steps and close out those rings. Something I have often heard from people I know who work in the service industry is the amount of time you are on your feet. If finding time to get a walk in is difficult but you spent an entire dinner shift keeping tables full and happy, you should give yourself the credit.
Many other lifeguards and aquatic workers would know that it is a requirement to complete an endurance swim, and many facilities require monthly in-services. This is one of those ways I stay active that I do not always enjoy, but it is part of my job. Staying active as part of your job is one of the best ways to fulfill wellness over the summer because on those days off, you have free will to relax.
Another way I relieve stress or find something to do on a hazy summer day is to take my dog for a walk. She’s a black lab puppy, which means her energy is infinite. Walking her is less about staying active for me but more about taking care of my pet; her wellness just so happens to contribute to my own physical well-being as her owner. Much like other labs, she loves to swim. Michigan doesn’t have oceans, but the lakes are phenomenal. We take our boat out and let her jump off the boat with us. Most of the stigma around being active is that it can feel like a chore, that is what makes all of these things great options for staying active over the summer is that they are already intertwined in our summer schedules. You can feel good about what you have done in a day rather than what you might not have time for with work, internships, and being home.
Several students and faculty stay local during the summer. Campus Rec offers a few ways to be active on campus you may want to check out this summer.
Campus Rec Summer
Are you a local student looking for campus based activities? Being a Rhode Island resident has its perks. Cool down with the ocean breeze by trying out the sailing center with kayaks and paddle boards available for access this summer. As a midwesterner, it is on my bucket list to learn to sail or even just attend one of the sailing classes just to say I did it. The summer is a perfect time to take advantage of our sailing center because there are no classes or meetings in your day that you have to work around. There are even paddle boards and kayaks for student use, which make for a perfect leisurely way to wind down after a busy shift or long day at the beach. Do you enjoy sunset bike-rides? On campus, we have our famous bike trail that gets used year-round. All throughout the year, someone you know is posting a sunset photo from the bike trail. Make it out this summer to capture that sunset while getting a bike ride or walk in, which feels extra special at sunset in the summer and it’s starting to cool down after a hot day. It is a perfect, free activity to do on a whim with a group of friends. The aquatic center on campus will be open from June through July for learn to swim classes, open swim, and community aquatics. Maybe on a rainy day, you had beach plans that got ruined, come out to the aquatics center and get your fix of a nice swim.
In summary, whether you stay close or go far from campus this summer, there are many ways to continue physical wellbeing this summer with Campus Recreation. Prioritize yourself this summer when you’re balancing a job or internship with your “me time.” Bike rides, walks, going to work, just do it for yourself and meet us back in the fall to swing back into school.
By: Maya Kelly
Major: English: Creative Writing and Public Relations
Graduating – May 2027