It’s amazing how many resources the University of Idaho has to help students of every fitness level and activity preference to get outside and get moving. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can improve brain health, reduce short-term anxiety, reduce your risk of developing depression and anxiety, and help you sleep better (hello, college life). I’ve spent the last four years exploring campus and wanted to share my short list of ways to get moving, even in the dead of winter. The best part? You’ve already paid for it with your student fees, so it’s all free and waiting to be discovered.
Get outside
- Arboretum (old) – Right behind the Physical Education Building (PEB), a natural forest feeling
- Arboretum (new) – Seriously, have you seen this place? 63 acres, 17,000 plants, a 1-mile gravel loop with side trails to explore, and the best fall colors
- Paradise Path – To stroll, roll, walk, jog, cycle, or get to Safeway
- Geocaching – Download a geocaching app. There are several caches on campus that you might walk by every day and never know it
- Outdoor Program – Info on outdoor opportunities in the area and trip planning assistance
Get moving
- Weight-training and circuit area – Student Rec Center (SRC). Weight room, stretching hall, and endless equipment options
- Free equipment checkout – SRC. Check out equipment for basketball, badminton, billiards, disc golf, dodgeball, football, frisbee, floor hockey, shuffleboard, soccer, table tennis, volleyball. They have outdoor sets too: badminton, bocce ball, croquet, horseshoes, trac ball, tug-o-war, volleyball
- Basketball courts – Two in SRC, two in PEB, one in Memorial Gym, one in ICCU arena
- Mixed-activity court – SRC. First come first serve; they will set up nets/equipment for you!
- Racquetball courts – Four in Kibbie Dome, one in PEB. Free equipment check out in Kibbie
- Tennis courts – PEB parking lot, Admin Lawn (outdoor), and by reservation in Kibbie Dome (winter only)
- Sand volleyball courts – Between Wallace and the Tower
- Indoor track – One 1/5-mile track on Kibbie floor (winter use only) and ¾-loop Kibbie concourse (year-round), one 1/9-mile track in SRC
- Intramural sports – Grab some friends and register to play flag football, cornhole, tennis, spike ball, frisbee golf, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, pickleball, indoor soccer, doubles badminton, or 3-on-3 basketball this fall
- Club sports – Baseball, bass fishing, climbing, cycling, fast pitch, hockey, horse polo, lacrosse, logger sports, rodeo, rugby, skiing, soccer, trap shooting, ultimate frisbee, Vandal Spirit Squad, volleyball, water polo
- Swim Center – One 25-yard shallow pool and one 25-yard deep pool. See their website for daily open lap swim times.
- Climbing Center – In SRC. A 55-ft pillar and 6000 square feet of climbing area
- Frisbee golf course – Corner of 6th Street and Perimeter Drive, behind the Hartung
- Explore – How many rooftop terraces are open to students? Ever seen the campus gargoyles? Find somewhere you think no one else knows about.
To learn more about any of these resources, stop by our “Get outside, get moving” Health Hut on the ISUB plaza, Wednesday, 22 September 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
So there you have it! Try something new, get outside, get moving, don’t spend a dime, and take advantage of our wonderful campus and your wonderful body.
Brooklyn Perry is a senior double majoring in Exercise Science & Health and Spanish. She is a Peer Health Educator with Vandal Health Education and loves getting outdoors to explore different areas across Idaho’s campus.
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