University of Colorado Colorado Springs Campus Recreation

Mission

The mission of University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Campus Recreation is to inspire lifelong wellness by providing transformative educational and recreational opportunities that enhance the UCCS experience.

Core Values

Build community through authentic relationships.
Cultivate leadership through experiences.
Foster development through education.
Inspire well-being through involvement.
Enrich diversity through engagement and inclusion.
Achieve innovation through creativity.
Promote health and safety through accountability.

Description of Facility(s)

UCCS Campus Recreation has three facilities on campus.

The Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center opened in 2006 and expanded in 2016. The facility is 97,085 square feet and hosts both the Recreation and Wellness departments. The center is 14,900 square feet and has four gymnasium courts, three group fitness studios and an indoor track. The facility is also home to the SOLE Center which houses a 27-foot climbing wall, bike/ski shop and outdoor equipment rental. The Aquatics Center includes a 25-yard lap pool with four lanes, hot tub, water slide and leisure pool. Finally, the Wellness Center offers mental health and general health services along with wellness promotions.
The Alpine Field is an 85,000-square-foot outdoor turf field with a viewing deck that sits on top of a university parking garage. The field can accommodate full-sided soccer, rugby, lacrosse, intramural sports, flag football and ultimate disc.
The Campus Trail System was established in 1986 by the Army ROTC Program. In 2012, students increased the Campus Recreation fee to partially fund a trails program. Today, UCCS has over 13 miles of developed trails on campus.

Programming

Aquatics

Aquatics offers a variety of special events including dive-in movies, USA Tria60 in partnership with USA Triathlon, swim camps and private/semi-private swim lessons.

Fitness

UCCS Campus Recreation offers a variety of group fitness classes like cardio, cycle, dance, martial arts, mind/body and strength formats.
Personal training options of one-on-one, partner and small group are also available. UCCS personal trainers provide fitness assessments and body compositions.
Fitness Buddies offers a unique opportunity for participants to partner with a Fitness Buddy Peer Leader to support their wellness goals by providing valuable motivation, support and accountability.

Informal Recreation

Includes drop-in activities including bouldering/climbing, basketball, badminton, volleyball, lap swimming, pool basketball and volleyball, weightlifting equipment, cardio machines, and walking/running on the indoor track.
Collaborates with campus partners for space and equipment for events.

Membership

Students obtain a Campus Recreation membership through student fees. UCCS Campus Recreation facilities are funded by student fees.
While Campus Recreation is not open to the general public, membership opportunities are provided to faculty, staff, alumni, non-fee-paying students and the affiliates of these individuals.

Safety

UCCS Campus Recreation is an American Red Cross training provider offering CPR classes, CPR instructor classes, lifeguarding classes, lifeguarding instructor classes and learn to swim classes.
An American Heart Association training provider offering BLS, CPR and first aid classes.
UCCS Campus Recreation has partnered with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, along with the American Red Cross to serve as a disaster shelter location for individuals, families and animals that are displaced during a disaster.

Special Events

UCCS Campus Recreation hosts the annual RecFest during Clyde’s Kick-off Week with over 700 student attendees at the Recreation and Wellness Center.
The center is also the site of the annual FamFest during Family Weekend with over 500 students and families attending.
The Bash the Bluffs 5K run/walk/roll each spring averages 50 to 100 attendees. The events is used as a fundraiser for the Campus Recreation Scholarship Fund used to allow potential participants the opportunity to apply for participation scholarships.

Sports and Youth Programs

Over 30 intramural sport leagues and events with 1,458 participants, 571 of which are unique. Intramural sports also partnered with USA Team Handball to host a learn to play and tournament.
There are over 14 active club sports with close to over 300 student-athletes. Clubs range from figure skating, men’s and women’s soccer, dance, swimming, rugby, esports, indoor climbing, cycling, tennis, clay target, and men’s and women’s volleyball. All of the active club sport teams host and travel for games, meets, races, competitions, etc. In the 2022-2023 school year, the swim club and club cycling had members qualify and compete at nationals.
RecKids offers a variety of youth programs including swim lessons, birthday parties, kids night out and summer camps. This summer, the Mountain Lion, Splish N Splash and Outdoor Adventure Camps filled within a few weeks, serving over 200 kids.

Student Outdoor Learning Experience (SOLE)

SOLE offers over 35 outdoor adventure trips including Skydiving, Night Hike in Garden of the Gods, Ski and Soak, 14teener Hike at La Blanca, and more.
The program provides over 20 education and certification courses, including Learn to Mountain Bike and Climb, NOLS Wilderness First Aid, and more.
SOLE organized an international adventure trip to Belize with 11 students experiencing six different excursions throughout the country including Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, the Xunantunich Ruins and snorkeling.

Wellness

Offered over 20 tabling and cooking classes including sushi and spring rolls, vegan gyros, super bowl appetizers, burrito bowls and more.
Provided mental health training including QPR suicide training and the HeartMath and How of Happiness programs. The HeartMath programs informs students how the HeartMath system can help rejuvenate people and bring awareness between the mind, bod and heart to allow stability and control in daily life. How of Happiness is a program the Wellness Promotion Department created to help empower students based on current research on positive psychology, coping skills and happiness

Fun Facts

One of the first departments in the country to co-locate both Campus Recreation and Wellness in the Recreation and Wellness Center.
The 20-person hot tub has amazing views of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods.
Four former student employees returned to UCCS Campus Recreation as professional staff members.
There are over 13 miles of developed trails on campus including the Lori Cohen 5K Trail.
Campus Recreation Participant Scholarships are offered to support students’ well-being who may need financial assistance to register.

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