Rec Sports Welcomes A New Program Area

With students constantly moving in and out of the Student Rec Center to work out or take part in Rec Sports’ programs, it’s easy to think Rec Sports is all about fitness, sports and athletics. But this semester, Rec Sports is going beyond the traditional offerings to welcome a new program area centered on the extra 2% — those looking to connect, learn and try something outside of traditional recreation. .

“I think in the minds of the public, they see Rec Sports as the place where you go lift heavy things, compete against other people and sweat,” said Jason Kurten ’09, associate director of Programs. “But the very definition of recreation is doing things that rejuvenate you, inspire you or make you feel better, and that includes how you spend your leisure time. So, maybe you don’t see yourself as the type of person who comes here to sweat, but do you see yourself as the type of person to meet up with friends to play a board game?”

From asking that question, Leisure & Instructional Programming, the ninth program in the Rec Sports’ directory, was born. Students have the opportunity to participate in doodling classes, coloring sessions, practice meditation and relax at a movie night. Headed by Brandon Bermea ’17, the director of the program, Leisure & Instructional is still under development, but Bermea is looking to hear from the students.

Bermea’s brain has been a stockpile of ideas, from cooking classes to photography to videography, he has been brainstorming his way through creating the program. 

With Rec Sports hosting Find your Fit, the program is also holding something that anyone can enjoy, a movie night on the terrace. Partnering with Aggie Cinema, a student organization that screens feature films, Leisure & Instructional Programming is inviting students to enjoy a movie night at the Rec. 

“I said, “Let’s do [a movie night] on the terrace because I think it’s pretty cool,” Bermea said. “You got the movie playing on one end. You turn around, you’ve got Kyle Field as your backdrop. It’s also the Friday of Midnight Yell, so we’re hopefully planning it to where when you’re done with the movie, and you go to Midnight Yell right after.” 

For students, like Natanya Dominicz ’30, the Rec can also be a place of leisure, a place that goes beyond counting reps, winning games and establishing records. The new program creates room for the hobbies, the routines and the little comforts that make a place feel like home, only this time, surrounded by a community of like-minded students.

“I was so excited to see [the new program] because I’m not much of a sportsy gal, but I do love me a good coloring session,” Natanya Dominicz ’30 said. “I was so happy to see this new opportunity. This is how [Rec Sports is] going to lure me in. That was the goal.” 

Bermea’s vision for the program extends well past this semester or this year, he sees the future impact of the program years down the line. 

“I think it’s really cool to start things from the ground up and to be impacting 80,000 students at one point,” Bermea said. “We might be starting off kind of small this year, but three or five years down the line, when people are saying, ‘I took an instructional class, and that was one of my favorite things that I did at A&M.’ That’s my vision and my goal.” 

As the Leisure & Instructional program kicks into gear, students can help shape the program by pitching their own ideas for class through a survey. Try out a variety of leisure activities like Zen Doodling and Tai Chi, and come find your fit with Leisure & Instructional Programming this semester!