Sitting on the edge of campus, perched against the sprawling DeMeritt forest sits the University of Maine New Balance Recreation Center. Floor to ceiling windows span across the cutting-edge building making views of the outdoors accessible from 93 percent of the center. Morning, noon and night, students, faculty and local community members can be seen working out and enjoying all the center has to offer.
Prior to the construction of the New Balance Recreation Center, all recreational programming at the university shared space with the Athletics Department. However, as the university began to grow, it became clear this was no longer feasible.
“There was limited space in the field house and it wasn’t a great facility at that,” said Jeff Hunt, the director of campus recreation at the university. “A new facility was in the ‘much needed’ category and honestly with increased competition for students, we needed to have something to help draw students to the University of Maine.”
Students, faculty and staff were heavily consulted throughout the development process to ensure the new recreation center met their standards. “There was not just a survey, but in the initial design phase, designers came up and would meet with contingents of campus,” said Hunt. “The architects actually sat down and got a lot of input from the student body. It was important to set the tone of community involvement in the rec center.” Innovation was also a top priority. From the beginning of the initial planning process, it was the goal to construct a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified building. “At the time it was interesting because it was relatively new and the construction super intendant said that we were doing a lot of unique things, but a few years from now it would all be normal,” explained Hunt. “A lot of the practices that in 2007 were seen as new or revolutionary are now more standardized.”
The University of Maine and the New Balance Recreation Center was awarded Silver Certification under LEED. Some of their green initiatives include monitoring energy use, sustainable cleaning practices like using non-toxic products and hosting zero waste events, where all trash goes into the university composter.
As for its name, they settled on the New Balance Recreation Center when New Balance gifted money to the university. Hunt explained a large amount of the funds went to rebuild the field house and an additional amount flowed into the recreational budget as an endowment for the maintenance of the new recreation facility.
Since its completion in 2007, the New Balance Recreation Center has become a focal point of the university. It is a stop on every tour, every open house and every orientation. During the winter, students and community members flock to the leisure pool or run along the indoor track to escape the harsh temperatures. Or they head out skiing, biking or running through the more than 15 miles of forest trails just behind the center.
Besides extravagant facilities, according to Hunt, recreational programming is another standout feature. “We have a very strong personal training program,” he explained. “It is a key part of our business. It brings in a lot of people and substantial revenue.”
One of the department’s strongest programs is the Big Bears to Little Bears weight loss challenge. The 12-week program is open to community members, faculty, staff and students of the university and runs each semester — fall, spring and summer.
“Spots in the program fill up very quickly and people are usually at the door waiting to sign up,” said Caitlin Caserta, the fitness director. “Each semester we usually have 12 to 14 groups and each group has four to six people. They meet with a personal trainer twice a week for an hour and can attend any of the fitness classes we offer. At the end of the semester we find the average points for the groups and whoever has the most points wins.”
If students prefer to get outside and explore all Maine has to offer, they can participate in the various activities offered through Maine Bound, the outdoor adventures program. Hunt initially joined the team at the University of Maine as an instructor for Maine Bound. “The program has been around for 30 years,” said Hunt. “The program has a long history of providing outstanding opportunities.”
With adventure trips like sea kayaking and mountain climbing, a 32-foot climbing wall and a high and low challenge course, students have a plethora of outdoor options to choose from.
Maine Bound typically runs 13 to 15 outdoor adventure trips per semester, 95 percent of which are student led. Lisa Carter, the assistant director of Maine Bound, explained this has been one key to the success of the program. “I think allowing the student employees to have ownership in the program helps them feel invested,” said Carter. “If they are learning and enjoying working as part of the Maine Bound team, they are going to pass that along to other participants.”
At the beginning of each year, incoming freshman have the opportunity to experience Maine Bound through the freshman orientation program. Students travel north to Baxter State Park for three days. “We do activities that help them get to know each other and get them outside,” added Carter. “We show them the outdoor possibilities that Maine has to offer. We are always looking for new and creative ways to get more students outside.”
According to Carter the program has been such a success, with over 75 students last year, they have added a second trip down south to the coast of Maine. More than 100 freshmen will participate in the orientation trips this fall.
The various programs offered through campus recreation help the department achieve its objective of educating students about the importance of health and wellness. “When students leave here we hope they have engaged in an active lifestyle,” added Hunt. “We are trying to get students to take a broader look beyond just their years here and how this is something that can benefit them for their entire life. As they become active and engaged here, they can carry that forward beyond their time here.”
As for the future, Hunt hopes the campus recreation department will continue to expand and become even more woven into the fabric of the university. But as he explains, with this industry, the future is unpredictable. “I think one of the things that is really hard to do is to figure out what is going to happen in five years because things change so fast,” said Hunt. “If you think you can guess what is going to happen five years from now, you are fooling yourself. It is about being nimble enough to see trends and see what is valuable for your facility and users.”
