As new and returning students flood the campus grounds for the coming school year, the Center for Physical Activity has been essential at the center of student life and engagement here at ETSU.
Since the first openings of the facility over 20 years ago, the CPA has remained a hub for students to not only engage themselves physically, but to also make new connections through activities such as fitness classes, intermural sports and many other opportunities.
With over 120,000 square feet, the CPA offers three basketball courts, one multipurpose court, a three lane jogging/walking track, a fitness/weight room floor, a climbing wall, group fitness studios, an eight-lane pool (which is utilized by the ETSU swim club), an outdoor adventure gear rental center and locker rooms for student convenience.
While the CPA is the physical hub for student activity, the Department of Campus Recreation utilizes the equipment and space through five different program areas of Aquatics, Fitness & Wellness, Outdoor Adventure, Sport Programs (Intramural Sports & Sport Clubs) and Operations.
In addition to the CPA itself, the department also features the Front Yard and Side Yard outdoor fields at the CPA, the Basler Aerial Adventure & Challenge Course, a disc golf course, tennis courts, the Campus Recreation Field Complex on Seminole Drive, and the university trail system. All of these departments work together to create a universally positive experience for all students across campus, newly providing classes and activities outside of traditional weight-room activities.
Featured in the CPA, some classes offered are yoga, step, cycling, martial arts and aqua-based activities, all of which can be accessed through the Campus Recreation section of the ETSU webpage. In addition to these activities, the CPA also offers personal training courses through the department of fitness and wellness in which each student receives a complimentary one-hour consultation with a personal training session.
The Outdoor Adventure program has over 10 trips scheduled for this semester that include a fall break camping trip, a hike to the Beauty Spot, and a hike to Grandfather Mountain — all to keep students engaged and focused on their health and well-being through the semester.
With an abundance of equipment, opportunities for networking and classes offered through each department, it’s no wonder the CPA has remained the center of student life for decades past.
Kari Osborne, the director of campus recreation at ETSU, said that “students that make working out and being involved in collegiate recreation programs typically have higher GPAs than students that do not visit their recreation centers on a regular basis.”
In emphasizing the importance of physical engagement for students, Osborne also said that “participating in CPA programs helps students in building community and promotes positive social interaction with other students.”
As one of the largest employers on campus, students can gain transferable skills and that helps them become career ready for similar opportunities in the future. If you are interested in getting involved in Campus Recreation Activities or becoming a member of the CPA staff, contact Kari Osborne at albarado@mail.etsu.edu, or visit their website at www.etsu.edu/students/campusrec/.
