When more than 90% of the student body at the University of Minnesota-Duluth shows up to play outside, the college's Recreational Sports Outdoor Program must be doing something right.
The program is celebrating its 40th year this summer and is far ahead of many other colleges and universities for inspiring people — any people — to get into the outdoors.
The program encompasses an expanse of fitness offerings, sports clubs and particularly outdoor excursions. Those include scores of opportunities for UMD students, community members and youth groups to experience the natural world. Climbing, skiing, kiting, biking and paddleboarding are among the activities.
Associate director Tim Bates said the program initially was seen as fluff to higher academia at UMD. But it has morphed for the good of the institution, community and individuals. The participation percentage is determined through a two-year student survey. Sometimes it even tops 90%.
"It's one way that we know that we're impacting more students than is typical for an institution of our size," he said.
Bates described campus culture as active. Many students attend UMD because of outdoor and recreational opportunities. Students not previously inclined toward outdoor involvement catch on quickly. He cited research that shows recreational and outdoor programming fosters academic success and improves mental health for students at any level. But college students are often involved for social connections that snowball into further success.
A few days before starting at UMD years ago, Josie Syverson signed up for the university's "freshman sampler" trip to a YMCA camp near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Before that, she had little outdoors experience. But she bonded immediately with that first camping adventure and the people.
"It was actually people who I met with that freshman trip who continued to be my best friends, my roommates, people I still stay in touch with to this day," she said.