Mission
Athletics and Recreation at Colby College continues to thrive with innovative recreational programming at the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center.
The department’s goal is to move forward with a unique model in which recreation services feel and operate with the same level of support and importance as varsity programming. The campus rec team aims to continue bridging the gap between athletics, faculty, and staff, as well as the broader campus community of alumni, family and friends.
Facility(s) Description
At 350,000 square feet, the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center is unlike anything that’s come before. It upholds the department’s commitment to the environment and conservation with the same spirit of athletics. The center includes a range of facilities and programs, from an ice rink to a squash center.
The Indoor Competition Center features a six-lane and 200-meter track, four regulation tennis courts, batting cages and a climbing wall area. Aidan’s Climbing and Bouldering Wall adds another dimension to the multi-functional space of the Competition Center, as climbing nights have proven to be a hit among the students. It includes 12 climbing lanes, a cantilever and a slope for lead climbing.
The Aquatics Center houses a 50-meter, nine-lane pool, along with two diving boards and two springboards. It’s the first and only Olympic-sized pool in the state of Maine and welcomes both college and high school swimmers.
The Boulos Family Fitness Center is a three-level fitness center intended for use by the entire Colby campus community. The first level is home to a robust free weights section with platforms and a large turf floor area for training and stretching. The second level has free weights, cables and selectorized equipment, while level three has cardio equipment and open areas.
The Jack Kelley Rink at the O’Neil O’Donnell Forum houses varsity and club ice hockey programs. The 1,796-seat arena also offers recreational skating offerings — including Club Figure Skating — as part of Colby Recreation.
The Margaret M. Crook Center has three regulation-length basketball and volleyball courts for competitive and recreational use. The Squash Center features nine championship regulation courts.
Programming Highlights
- Intramural Sports includes both physical and electronic competitions.
- Club Sports holds over 790 athletes and 50 established club sports.
- Wellness Programs include health awareness and social engagement events.
- Around 22-25 group fitness classes are offered weekly with 36 instructors and 21 certified student instructors.
- The personal training program features 14 certified personal trainers and five non-student personal trainers open to faculty and staff only.
- Aidan’s Climbing and Bouldering Wall hosts climb nights, belay clinics, bouldering clinics, climbing wall training, boulder setting courses and club climbing competitions.
- The Recreation Office saw over 4,000 equipment checkouts last academic year and oversees marketing content and social media posting.
Fun Facts
- The Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and the Department of Recreation share the same birthday.
- We have an ice rink in our facility, as well as Johnson’s Pond on campus. During the winter, Johnson’s Pond freezes over, allowing ice and figure skating activities. Ice and figure skates are provided to students, faculty and staff in the Recreation Office located inside the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center.
- We host Regional and National Competitions, including the Maine State Swim Meet, the Northeast Regional Tournament for Ultimate Frisbee and Women’s National Collegiate Championships for Women’s Water Polo.
- We have five paid Club Sports coaches: Men’s and Women’s Rugby, Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey, and Woodsmen.
- Colby Recreation employed over 175 student staff last academic year across eight different component areas.
Social Media Handles
Instagram: @colbyrec
