For the second straight year, Lees-McRae College (LMC) will be offering citizens of the surrounding community two-month summer memberships to the Arthur Student Recreation Complex (SRC).
Maddison Beck, the director of Campus Recreation, said several residents of Banner Elk, North Carolina, were already on the lookout for the opportunity to come up again this summer.
“I get calls throughout the year asking if it’s open to the community, or if we’re doing the membership again,” said Beck. “Everyone gets pretty excited since it’s located right in town, we have new equipment and it’s very affordable. LMC has a special relationship with the city of Banner Elk.”
Beck said the college and Banner Elk are very intertwined and work together often in the public sphere which includes athletic events, the annual Mountain Day of Service and the local Woolly Worm Festival.
Prior to the November 2021 renovation of the SRC, there was a room in the building with workout equipment that was available to the community. With the renovation, Beck said Campus Recreation knew the partnership needed to continue after the department received new cardio and weight equipment.
Details on Summer Memberships
Beck said there’s only around 70 students on campus in the summer for the Wildlife Rehab program, so the SRC has the capacity to welcome plenty of visitors from the community. However, she said balancing the usage of space is still an art.
“When we initially decided to offer this, my main priority was making sure the students are not negatively affected,” said Beck. “After all, the students are why we are here and why we do everything we do. I get requests all the time about offering a year-round membership, and I must explain we just don’t have the space to cater to both the community and college during the school year.”
Beck added the the two-month summer membership is a perfect compromise, as it allows snowbirds workout space while they are in town. Then, they are gone by the time the students come back on campus.
The membership lasts until Monday, July 31, with a cost of $50. Discounted memberships will be available to LMC alumni for $35. Each person who pays the fee will receive a personalized ID card to access the facilities.
Marketing, Hopes and Advice
Thanks to the Banner Elk community being closely involved with the college, Beck said news spreads quickly and word of mouth is a big marketing tool. “I’ve also found the old-school method of hanging flyers around town works well,” she said. “I have one up at the post office which gets a lot of attention from people.”
While Beck hopes the biggest benefit that comes from this development is increased health and wellness in the area, she also wants relationships to continue to grow with the city.
“The community offers the support and encouragement that makes you feel like you have a home away from home,” said Beck. “These connections can be what makes a college student feel safe and loved while they are away from their families. One of my goals in my time here at LMC is to grow the Bobcat pride and spirit, which happens through building a strong community.”
Beck’s largest piece of advice for the campus recreation industry pertaining to community visitors is to try and adjust continuously. “One thing I’ve learned is you never know what is going to be popular or what will work until you try it,” she said. “You must be willing to offer something and fail over and over until you fine-tune it for your specific audience. There isn’t a manual to this. What works for one school and community might not for the next. You need to get to know your community and find how you can best serve them.”
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