• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Login
Campus Rec Magazine
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Campus Rec Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Vendor Content Supplier Voice

Health and Outdoor Recreation are Perfectly Paired

AORE by AORE
August 1, 2019
in Supplier Voice, Well-being
0
Health and Outdoor Recreation are Perfectly Paired
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

The secret is out – just like when your favorite campsite location is disclosed – the newsfeeds have been filled with data supporting the correlation that being outside is good for your health. The industry verifying what we’ve known intuitively is like the satisfaction of a perfectly toasted s’more. 

In 2018, a team of industry leaders (Stacy Bare, Chris Rutgers, Courtney Aber) examined how post-secondary institutions are working at the intersection of health and outdoor recreation. The team interviewed 12 member programs that have made major strides within the health and outdoor recreation space to identify the magic mix for success. A consensus was reached on five points:  

  1. Outdoor recreation providers can play a greater role in positive outcomes for students’ health and wellness by linking campus health systems with outdoor recreation programs, both academic and extracurricular, that feature a range of activities from indoor/outdoor climbing to orientation trips and day/weekend/weeklong expeditions. 
  2. Climbing walls and challenge courses typically allow outdoor education programs to connect with the greatest number of students and are seen as a means to address wellness concerns. These include providing students with a fun, alcohol-free alternative to late night partying – especially at the end of semesters; supporting town/gown relationships; and advancing DEI efforts, such as outreach to people of color, women, veterans, etc. 
  3. Challenge courses enrich leadership and team building by offering direct engagement with the broadest cross-section of campus populations, especially when it comes to supporting online and distance learning candidates who may only visit the campus for a few weeks during the program. 
  4. Freshman orientation programs have demonstrated success in improving student retention rates by 50% when an outdoor component is incorporated into the curriculum, prompting some universities to invest in more outdoor recreation offerings since it is often cheaper to retain existing students versus recruiting new ones. Additionally, time in the outdoors creates opportunities to teach positive habits and meaningful skills that students can apply in other areas of their lives. 
  5. Outdoor expeditions are intimate and impactful with the power to unify a group of students regardless of differences in age, background, knowledge, ability, education focus and/or interests. Be it a backpacking trip or rafting adventure, the shared experience and learning of an activity has parallels for building confidence, embracing new ideas and perspectives, developing community and increasing resilience.   

There is still much to understand about the complex intersection of health and outdoor recreation, and how it can help campuses expand programming, enhance learning and support student wellness. As research continues with the consulting team, there is mounting excitement for cross-sector collaboration and great potential exists for piloting programs that will lead to future replication within the industry. One thing is abundantly clear – outdoor recreation is a conduit for connection and growth. This is only the beginning. 

By Jeannette Stawski, the executive director of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE). For more information, email jstawski@aore.org.

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: AOREcampus reccampus recreationHealth and WellnessOutdoor Recreation
Previous Post

Let’s Talk About Gen Z

Next Post

Grady Sheffield to be the 2020 Leadership Summit Moderator

AORE

AORE

Related Posts

Mental Health
In Print

Tackling the Mental Health Crisis

July 8, 2025
Wellness
Education

The Intertwined Paths of Mental Wellness and Fitness

July 8, 2025
How Campus Rec Centers Prioritize Student Wellness All Year
Programming

How Campus Rec Centers Prioritize Student Wellness All Year

June 5, 2025
Wellness on campus
Programming

Well-being Roundup: How Recreation is Promoting Holistic Wellness on Campus

February 13, 2025
Nutrition programming
Expert Q&A

Expert Q&A: East Texas A&M on Nutrition Programming

January 30, 2025
unwind with wellness wednesday
Programming

Unwind with Wellness Wednesday Promotes a Caring Community at the University of Houston

December 19, 2024
Next Post
Grady Sheffield

Grady Sheffield to be the 2020 Leadership Summit Moderator

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
Campus Rec Logo

The premier business resource for college and university recreation centers.

The Current Issue

July/August 2025

July/August 2025

Browse

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Media Kit
  • Contact

© 2025 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.