The Gaucho R.E.C. program at UCSB offers creative outlets that enhance student well-being and broaden what campus rec can be.
At the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), recreation isn’t confined to the gym — it’s also on the pottery wheel and in the dance studio.
While campus rec has long been equated with weight rooms and intramural sports, UCSB is proving recreation can be much more. Through class offerings ranging from guitar lessons to wine tasting, UCSB is expanding its reach through Gaucho Recreation and Enrichment Classes (Gaucho R.E.C.) to ensure every student finds a place where they belong.
Christine Burleson, the instructional and enrichment coordinator for UCSB Recreation, said the department’s mission is to cultivate holistic well-being for all students through programs, services and facilities. While fitness classes promote physical health, the enrichment and arts classes address mental, emotional and social wellness.
“We’re committed to creating truly inclusive opportunities. As we like to say, not everyone is a ‘Sweaty Betty’ or a ‘Baller Bob,’” explained Burleson. “We want all students to feel welcome to explore, learn and enjoy everything Recreation has to offer.”
Gaucho R.E.C. provides students with creative outlets, stress relief and a chance to connect outside of a traditional fitness setting. By integrating these courses into recreation offerings, UCSB is expanding access to opportunities and cultural experiences for all students — regardless of skill or activity level.
Since UCSB added enrichment classes in the 1960s, there’s been a wide variety of courses. In the arts and crafts category, UCSB offers pottery and loom weaving. In addition to fitness essentials like yoga, Pilates, tennis and pickleball, Gaucho R.E.C. offers more non-traditional physical activities. A few courses include martial arts, self-defense and a variety of dance classes — from ballet, salsa and Bachata.
Burleson said the campus rec enrichment classes are consistently popular, often filling up immediately and resulting in long waitlists. Both the pottery and wine classes have become campus staples, even considered a bucket list item for students before graduating from UCSB. Because so many students sign up for pottery courses, the department set a separate registration date to avoid overwhelming the system.
This student interest is vital for the department, as students are at the heart of the Gaucho R.E.C. program. Burleson said listening to student feedback shapes everything the department does, guiding programming to truly resonate with the campus community. For other schools looking to add enrichment programs, listening is her greatest advice.
“The student feedback shows how recreation can be more than fitness — it can be about finding balance, managing stress and building community,” said Burleson. “We hear stories of students meeting lifelong friends or future spouses, discovering new passions and sometimes changing their majors because of these experiences.”
By expanding its offerings beyond traditional fitness, UCSB and Gaucho R.E.C. create a place where every student can feel included, inspired and engaged — whether through cardio and weight training or enrichment classes and creativity.
