A student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) takes advantage of a free fitness assessment and free snacks for National Recreational Sports & Fitness Day. Photo courtesy of NAU.

CORVALLIS, OR -- Students around the country celebrated the 60th annual National Recreational Sports & Fitness (NRSF) Day on Feb. 22 to honor the founding of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).

Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, AZ, opened its rec center to nonmember students and staff all day for NRSF. The rec center offered half-price memberships at the event and gained a few new members that day, according to Scott Cassells, rec center director. Evening activities at the NAU rec center included chair massages, free fitness assessments with a personal trainer, a weightlifting championship, Wii boxing, spinal screenings and a nutrition interaction table. About 500 students participated in the evening events, Cassells says. NAU also raffled prizes, which included a free small group training package and a free orientation personal training package.

Georgia Southern University’s Campus Recreation and Intramurals Fitness program sponsored a NIRSA Day 5K Fun Run/Walk in Statesboro, GA. About 150 people participated in the event, according to Greg Stephenson, fitness program director for campus recreation and intramurals. The rec center invited residents from the community and surrounding region to participate. The 5K course ran through Georgia Southern’s campus, and a 1/4 Mile Kiddie Run also was scheduled. The top three participants in each age group, a masters winner for the 40-plus group and the top male and female winners received awards.

At Towson University, in Towson, MD, rec center staff created a YouTube video to promote the school’s NIRSA Day activities. At the C.R.i.B (Campus Recreation in Burdick) center, students received free rec center guest passes and free fitness assessments. The staff highlighted Wii sports games and gave away free pedometers to several students who attended. The center also offered free sessions with a nutritionist and group exercise classes that included yoga, Bodycombat, Bodypump and Zumba.

The California State-Fullerton Student Recreation Center organized an outdoor party with a free buffet that included pizza and cake. The staff also set up activity stations to raise awareness about the rec center’s offerings. A Meet the Trainers station introduced students to the personal training program through free BMI measurements. Students also could use an Xbox station to play recreational games.

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