Campus Recreation Blog
Why You Should Visit the Montview Game Room
Campus Rec FacilitiesApril 1, 2022
Written by Noah Trent, Montview Recreation Manager
The Montview Game Room sits on the second floor of Montview Student Union, directly over “Hey Cow!”. It’s one of the few locations on Main Campus where you can relax and enjoy recreational activities provided by Liberty University. This blog will give you a quick rundown of what the Montview Game Room has to offer.
My Personal Experiences
One of my main hobbies since elementary school has been gaming. I’ve played pretty much every genre of game out there, and while I’ve not liked them all, they’ve always provided a way for me to relax and recharge after a stressful day. I’ve spent many hours in the Game Room enjoying the games and challenging random people to different games, both on a screen and off. The Game Room is a great place to meet people and unwind after or during a long day. I’ve made many friends in the Game Room and even met my girlfriend there.
The Game Room, to me, is a reminder that college is more than just classes. College is a time to figure out who you are and to make connections that you’ll have with you throughout your life. What better way … Read More
Why Climbing Should Become Your 2022 Hobby
Fitness and SportsMarch 18, 2022
Written by Kylie Tidmore, Rock Wall Manager
Six years ago, I began climbing. I clung to the rock, struck with new anxiety, breathing heavily — my mind is racing trying to figure out the puzzle before me before my body gives out. My toes edged higher and higher on tiny holds as my hands sunk into white-coated pockets. The higher I climbed, the better I felt. Climbing centered me. It allowed my brain and my body to work together in an all-consuming and focusing way that grounded me.
Six years ago, I walked into an indoor climbing gym for the first time and was overwhelmed by colorful rocks, rope, tape, and puzzles. This was it for me; the beginning of a grand romance–love at first sight–if you will. Climbing became my safe haven. It became a way to push myself when I felt mentally blocked. It became a release and a distraction from anxiety and fear. I climbed for 3 hours the day I graduated high school in order to distract myself from the life change happening later that day, and I climbed after getting in the worst fight with my best friend (and sent my first v5).
So, what’s the appeal of climbing?
If … Read More
If It’s on the Jersey Shore, It’s Not Coming Through the Door
Campus Rec FacilitiesMarch 11, 2022
Written by Abbey Marrin, Event Manager
Dress code seems to be a controversial topic at Liberty University. In today’s culture, times are changing, and modesty can be seen as subjective. The Liberty Way is updated every now and then, so it can be hard for students to understand why the dress code can’t be more lenient. As a girl who both is asked to enforce dress code but also works out at LaHaye Rec & Fit, I have my own thoughts on the topic of dress code that I wanted to share below.
The Changing Fitness Industry
The fitness industry is changing drastically. I would say that the gym is one of the biggest places for trendsetting. So many brands are changing the colors and cuts of their collections. The gym used to be for jocks and meatheads — a place full of guys in cutoffs and shorts. Women would join group exercise classes rocking leggings and bodysuits that covered their whole body. Now, the trends seem to be cutting off more and more clothing. For example, Gymshark, Halara, and others sell athletic wear that is cropped and form fitting. I believe this change in the athletics industry comes from the body positivity movement … Read More
Concealed Carry Holster Features to Consider
Campus Rec FacilitiesMarch 3, 2022
Written by John Nelson, Former Range Safety Officer
Many individuals today find themselves going through the process to acquire the necessary permits and equipment to carry a concealed firearm throughout their day-to-day lives. A common tendency is to focus heavily on which firearm is “best” for these purposes, and another critical piece of equipment, the holster, often goes overlooked. Far from being a trivial afterthought, the holster is a piece of gear essential for successful concealment and comfortable carriage of a firearm. This article will cover a number of factors to consider when shopping in the market to aid in finding the best solution to your individual needs!
Holster Material
Holster material is an excellent first criteria to examine. Common options on the market today include Kydex plastic, leather, flexible nylon, and “hybrid” options of the previous materials. There are many good options in existence today, but any holster selected should: be made for your specific firearm (not for all firearms of a certain size), “seal” the trigger guard on all sides so no foreign objects can inadvertently reach and pull the trigger while the firearm is holstered, and offer some degree of positive retention to a holstered gun.
Means of Attachment
The means of attachment … Read More
2021 National Park Adventures
Get OutsideFebruary 18, 2022
Written by Sid Williamson, Hydaway Outdoor Center Manager
During the past year, I have had the privilege of seeing multiple national parks on separate occasions. The first trip was out West back in the spring with one of my friends, Abby. The second trip involved visiting Alaska on a mission trip with my small group leaders. The last trip was spent in the Smokies during Thanksgiving Break with two of my friends. I’ve dreamed of visiting national parks since I was a child, so it was cool to see how the Lord has allowed that desire to come true, especially in this past year. It’s also neat to see how the Lord has provided me with educational development through my job at Hydaway Outdoor Center; I have learned the importance of Leave-No-Trace Principles, which were a large factor in all the national parks I visited. These seven principles include thoroughly planning out your trip, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, properly disposing of waste, leaving what you find, respecting wildlife, minimizing the impacts of campfires, and being mindful of others.
Out West
Abby and I decided on flying into Las Vegas, picking up a rental car, and venturing out to the Grand Canyon for … Read More
The Reason for Blanketing Horses
Campus Rec FacilitiesFebruary 4, 2022
Written by Amber Gayheart, Programming Coordinator
When you look at a field filled with horses in the middle of winter, you might notice that some horses are wearing blankets. You may also notice that other horses are not wearing these blankets. At Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center, we have a wide variety of horses with different blanketing needs. Let’s find out the difference and why a horse would need to wear a blanket vs why they wouldn’t.
A Horse’s Natural Coat
Horses are designed to be able to regulate their body temperature in cold and hot weather. In the winter, a horse has the ability to make itself warmer by growing out a fluffy coat. The longer the horse’s hair is, the easier it is for the horse to hold heat between its fur and its skin. Another unique quality that horses have that helps them to stay warm is they huddle together in order to share body heat. Horses are herd animals and, with that, they can share not only body heat but also protection from the elements (rain, wind, predators, etc.).
There are more than a few reasons why we would need to blanket a horse when it is cold outside. Let’s talk about … Read More
Making Time for Intramural Sports
Fitness and SportsJanuary 21, 2022
Written by Sammy Flecker, Intramural Sports Coordinator
Is your class schedule full? Stuck in labs or studying in the library more often than not? Does your significant other need a date night, but you have an Intramural basketball game scheduled? If you didn’t know, there are other sports you can play where the scheduling is more flexible, with single-player or doubles formatting. Playing tennis, cornhole, spikeball, disc golf, or racquetball allows you to avoid the stress of time management and multiple-day commitments while continuing to get your competitive fix.
Individual Sports
Disc Golf, Racquetball, and Tennis are three of the individual roster sports Intramurals offers to students. Participating in these sports requires extra communication but benefits players with flexibility. Participants schedule matches directly with their opponent. Each sport has a specific facility to be used, but you work with your opponent to plan a day and time. You could play at 6 a.m. on a Monday or at 11 p.m. on a Saturday. You get to choose!
To schedule a match for these 3 sports, players can access participant information on IMLeagues to connect and set a date to compete. Best part? You qualify for playoffs if you play at least one game before the … Read More
Finding True Fitness in 2022
Fitness and SportsJanuary 6, 2022
Written by Heather Salvia, Associate Director of Programs and Fitness
When you think of fitness — what comes to mind? Maybe it’s big muscles, marathon runners, CrossFit athletes, or any of the like. You’re not wrong, but as we approach another new year, maybe we can look at fitness in a new way. Here’s my definition for fitness in 2022:
Fitness is how well your body functions and responds to stress to help you thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Many of us are stressed out, depleted, and burnt-out day in and day out. We may not be able to control the stress of our circumstances and schedule each day but finding true fitness can help your body become resilient to stress in the days to come. Here are a few ways to do this.
Intuitive Exercise
Exercise can be a great asset to health and fitness or its greatest foe. Here is how you can use intuitive exercise to keep stress down:
Use the Two R’s
Ask yourself before your workout, “Am I rested? Am I replenished?”. When you sleep well and feed yourself well, your workouts will glean greater gains than beating it when it’s down.
Assess Your Stress
If you have a workout program that requires you to … Read More
How to Wax Skiis and Snowboards at Home
Campus Rec FacilitiesDecember 16, 2021
Written by Casey Reed, Facilities Coordinator
Keeping your equipment waxed will not only make it last longer, but it will make for a more enjoyable time on the hill. With just a few items and a little practice, you can wax your board at home with ease! Here are the items you’ll need:
Waxing Iron
We recommend against using a clothing iron as there are a few disadvantages. Most have holes in them, which can retain wax. Also, clothing irons can have a higher variance in temperature, so it’s likely for the equipment to get damaged. After waxing with a clothing iron, due to it retaining wax, you cannot use it again on clothes.
Ski/Snowboard Wax
When purchasing wax, make sure it is ski/snowboard wax and not candle wax. Snowflex has some wax bars available to purchase if you’d like to go a safe route!
Scraper
A plastic scraper is another thing you’ll need and is available online for a low cost.
Base cleaner
You can get some ski/snowboard base cleaner online, or you can use Simple Green. Simple Green is a universal cleaner/degreaser and should be available to you locally and works well.
Paper Towel or Rag
Getting Prepared
If you’re waxing skis, get a thick rubber band and place it around one … Read More
Winter Camping is for Everyone
Get OutsideDecember 2, 2021
Written by Mike Ellsworth, Outdoor Recreation Director
Let’s face it…some of us are not crazy about this cold weather rolling in. We long for the days of beach vacations, river trips, and summertime campfires. But these winter months don’t have to put a damper on your outdoor trips. Some of my most memorable camping trips were cold weather trips. They do require a bit more planning and preparation, but they can create much more rewarding and unique experiences.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Brush up on your knowledge of hypothermia and frostbite. Being able to catch these injuries early and treat them appropriately will be crucial in you having an enjoyable time camping.
Pack Correctly
Winter camping can be a little more problematic to pack for. Think warm, insulated, quick-drying materials for everything. If you haven’t eliminated cotton from your outdoor wardrobe yet, this is the trip to do it. Think fabrics like wool or polyester — these wick away moisture that will sap heat from your body.
Having a cozy and comfortable “home away from home” will be your lifesaver. Check out the temp rating on your sleeping bag and be sure that your tent is sturdy enough to handle the winter winds. Don’t forget the sleeping … Read More