Caley Conney, the Director of External Relations, at the University of Minnesota’s Recreation and Wellness Center (RecWell), shares how the RecWell has adapted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the resources and policies that have been put in place to make sure that students stay healthy while keeping fit.
Could you share what policies and practices the RecWell has put in place during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
There is no shortage of information on guidelines and practices that have been put in place. Right now, there is a maximum capacity of 250 people in the main recreation center; people are asked to keep their workout duration to approximately an hour; masks are required at all times, and people are to stay 6 feet apart. People can still use the other facilities such as the pool, climbing wall, and group fitness, but reservations need to be made in advance.
All RecWell staff are also trained on the latest CDC guidelines. We have frequent check-ins with our staff to ensure our facilities are up to date with the latest executive orders and CDC protocol. The RecWell website is the best location to find the latest information on the RecWell guidelines and practices.
How many people are using the facilities on a day-to-day basis?
Since students have returned to campus this spring the RecWell is seeing about 45% of its pre-COVID traffic. People can use a live tracker on the website to try and find a less busy time that suits their needs
What do students need to know before they show up to work out at RecWell?
Read the guidelines! We want people to come in and use our facilities. The new practices and policies can be intimidating, but they are keeping all of our members safe, and we really encourage you to come into the facility if you’re comfortable doing so. There are lounge spaces available for studying as well. Basketball courts are open to shoot hoops, badminton and table tennis are open, and intramurals are running in a limited capacity.
What advice would you give students who have concerns working out at your facilities?
At the end of the day, you need to make the best decisions for your personal health. Do your own research on our COVID practices to make sure they fit your standards and needs. The RecWell is a large space, so keeping your distance when working out may be easier by spreading out to the different floors and sections. Also, we have other facilities around campus that may have lower traffic for students not comfortable using the RecWell’s main spaces.
Do you have alternative wellness resources for students who don’t feel comfortable coming in?
The RecWell is offering online group fitness classes that you can do at home and don’t require equipment! Additionally, we offer free health coaching for students that can cover nutrition, activity at home, and even study habits. Check out the Virtual RecWell on the website periodically to see what has been added. On this page, you can find a whole library of videos from different resources created in a collaborative movement, mindful Monday posts, and stress check-ins. People can also find some of this content on our social media pages such as Instagram and Twitter.
How are the fitness classes being run this semester?
Group Fit is taking place, passes are on sale, and there are a variety of classes available. Reservations are required, and masks are required to be worn during the full class. Group fitness helps with building community, while still being safe.
Does the RecWell plan to return to full capacity?
The goal is to serve as many students as possible. We hope to return to larger Group Fit classes and hosting events when it’s deemed safe to do so. In the future we also look forward to seeing the return of our annual indoor triathlon, intramurals being expanded to include more sports, and being able to hire more students over time as a new normal is established. Overall, the RecWell is just excited to have more students on-site again!
Please note that the CDC and MDH guidelines cited in this post are accurate as of the time of publishing. Guidelines can and do change frequently, so for the most current policies please visit RecWell’s COVID-19 FAQ page.
