Collaborations, training for excellent service, and a blend of history and modern have created a thriving Campus Recreation department at the University of Wyoming.
At the University of Wyoming (UW), the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center (Half Acre) is a century-old building. And it has a past worth noting.
Dedicated in 1925, it was the home of Athletics, including the 1943 National Champion basketball team, until 1955. From 1925 to 1983, it was home to the military science program. Through the years, the facility has also housed the student health center, student class registration, school dances and much more.
“It’s played a key role in meeting the physical education and wellness needs of the university community for many years,” said Pat Moran, the director of Campus Recreation at UW.
In 2016, the center saw completion of a $31 million renovation and expansion, turning it into a state-of-the-art recreation and wellness facility. The updates included increased cardio and weight training areas, larger group fitness rooms, new locker rooms, a heated spa, a Wellness Center, and more. Then in 2023, the swimming pool in Half Acre closed and programming was relocated to another pool on campus. But the university is in the process of building a brand-new aquatics center located at the southeast corner at the intersection of North 22nd Street and East Willett Drive, set to open April 2026. Plus, the former pool space was transformed into a functional fitness area featuring turf, Torque sleds, rowers, VersaClimbers, a Treadwall, plyo boxes, Flip’T Tires, battle ropes, agility ladders and much more.
Despite all the new, Half Acre continues to showcase its history. For example, you can still find the ROTC Torch of Knowledge over the original north entrance and the Army Seal over the original south entrance. “This blend of history and innovation makes our rec center a unique space that honors the past while providing the best in recreation for today’s students,” said Moran.
Providing Excellent Service
These changes and an updated facility have helped Campus Recreation as it strives to live out the motto, “Something for Everyone.” However, it takes a team of professional staff and students to oversee the 140,900-square-foot center and beyond. And what’s a great facility without great service?
“What really makes our department succeed are our incredible student employees,” said Moran. “They bring energy, dedication and passion to everything they do. They play a vital role in creating a welcoming environment for all participants. Their commitment to providing excellent services is truly remarkable and we’re very proud of the talented and driven students we have as part of our team.”
However, that excellent service begins in training. Every department requires its own unique instruction, but Anna Mueller, the member services coordinator, noted three common threads between them all: the trainings have student led/student autonomy elements, scenario-based features, and are often active and/or relatable.
In fact, when instructing the front desk staff, Mueller said some of the best trainings have been scavenger hunts and student-led demonstrations. “I would say students learn best when they have a part in leading it or problem solving on their own,” she noted. “This doesn’t come without direction or preparation from pro staff; however, it’s an important aspect of our training that we can let our staff problem solve.”
For education of the Fitness staff, Kevin Bretting, the Fitness coordinator, said it works to have area-specific conversations. So, in personal training group meetings they may review a case study and discuss exercise concerns, assessments, etc. for a client. Or, in a training to lead a cycling class there would be a tutorial on bike fit, foot strap placement and battery swaps for the consoles, followed by a sample class.
Leading With Creativity
In addition, Bretting leans on tips from the book “Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership” by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner: to model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart.
But Bretting also works to add supportive and creative elements. For instance, he’ll have his veteran team give a standing ovation to new teammates on their first team meeting, welcoming them in. He also teaches a team dance choreography at the first and last meeting of the semester, noting it’s like a secret handshake of the Fitness team.
“I remember overhearing a new hire walk out of their first meeting at the start of the semester asking a veteran instructor with a smile on their face, ‘Do we always do a dance at meetings?’” recalled Bretting. “I create defining moments. I break the script. I want this job and their experience to feel different than a normal job.”
That creativity is also found in the UW lifeguard training. For example, Adam Comeau, the Aquatics and Facility coordinator, will run scenarios based on if a patron were to pass out or become injured during a BOGA class — inflatable mats on top of the water on which users do exercises.
However, coming up with unique trainings isn’t just on Comeau. “If I could have one piece of advice for other professionals in the field, it would be to ask the student employees for their opinions on potential emergency scenarios or concerns they have about the facility because they’re the ones at the forefront of our daily operations,” he said.
Local to Global Collaborations
Beyond its internal trainings, Campus Recreation at UW is also thriving due to its partnerships and collaborations. “Our department and team members as a whole are very good at collaborating with other departments and individuals on campus and in our community,” said Moran.
These include sharing facilities with Intercollegiate Athletics, working with Student Affairs to support holistic wellness efforts and hosting a variety of academic classes in Half Acre.
One local partnership brings in therapy dogs for one hour, monthly. “This program is very popular, and we often have a line of students waiting to spend some time with a dog,” said Jennifer Knerr, the assistant director. “We have amazing volunteers who share their dogs and their time with our students.”
Another wellness collaboration involves a destressor-week event before finals with the library. Grab-and-go breakfast is offered one day, a craft kit is handed out, there’s a daily beverage break and students can participate in other activities all week long. “This event is successful because of the many different campus partners that participate,” said Knerr. “We try and capitalize on the strengths of each of our partners to make it as engaging and stress free as we can for the students. We get participation from the student government, our student entertainment organization, as well as the writing center and tutoring center.”
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training Campus Recreation provides is another thriving partnership. A one-day class is offered each month, sometimes in a full day or two half-days format. “From the beginning of bringing this training to campus, we had excellent support and interest from the members of our Student Affairs team,” said Knerr. “As time went on and our marketing continued, we also received interest from other departments on campus.”
That interest is evident in the fact that over 500 individuals have been trained to date. Plus, the university recently received a grant from the State of Wyoming, allowing Campus Recreation to offer a reduced-price gym membership to faculty and staff who complete the MHFA training if they’re participants in the group insurance plan.
But of course, UW collaborations don’t end at wellness, nor even the local community. In fact, they’re going global. For the first time in June 2025, 12 men’s hockey club student athletes along with two coaches went to China to partner with Shanghai University of Sport (SUS) and Xi’an Jiaotong University. The team spent their time at the universities playing hockey, assisting in teaching a youth clinic, and participating in cultural and language immersion programs.
Joe Rademacher, the assistant director of Programs, said the goal is for the students to learn about other cultures, see new perspectives, strengthen their hockey skills and grow the community within their club. “Additionally, the hope is the trip can establish a lasting relationship surrounding hockey, and potentially lead to a lasting exchange program that could provide even more experiences such as this one for students in the future,” he said.
The partnership came about from connections UW already had, and Rademacher said that’s the place to start for anyone looking to do something similar. “Reach out to your university’s global engagement office, or another similar department that works with international students or research,” he shared.
Into the Future
With over 100 years of service at UW, Half Acre has a rich history to uphold on campus. But Moran made sure to note they couldn’t do it without support and collaborations, including from the students.
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of actively involving students in shaping the vision of your Campus Recreation center,” said Moran. “Having support from the student government and broader student body has been a significant driver of momentum for many of our initiatives throughout the years.”
Knerr echoed this. “The student government helps us to see where the needs are for students and how we can meet those needs,” she said.
So, whether it be other departments or the Student Body Government, Moran and his team are bringing in students, staff, faculty, and the local and global community to achieve their mission. After all, you can’t accomplish “Something for Everybody” without getting “everybody” involved.
