Jena Whalen
Equinox Staff
Ever felt like your shoes were not the type to wear in the snow?
Well, instead of spending money for a new pair, the Rec Center is now offering snowshoes for students, faculty, and staff members.
The snowshoes are funded through a Pepsi Partnership Grant that was submitted by Lynne Andrews in the fall of 2011.
The grant funded 15 pairs of these shoes, eight women sizes and seven men sizes.
The idea came from Donna Smyth, the chair of the physical education department.
Andrews said she confirmed information on how we could possibly earn a school discount for the snowshoes so that it would significantly lessen the price rather than pay the full amount if we were to pay for them on our own.
Andrews said the physical education department was getting multiple requests from students and staff to use their snowshoes.
The department has a limited number of snowshoes for their Outdoor Skills class, so unfortunately they were unable to let the Physical Education department use the equipment.
“Personally, I love snowshoeing and have my own pair that I use whenever the snow conditions are good,” Andrews said. “It is a great form of exercise and not too difficult to do. I have only been out once this year and hope that we get some more snow so people will be able to use the snowshoes.”
The shoes allow the students and faculty to escape from the gymnasium and classrooms, and breathe the fresh air of the outdoors.
“It’s different,” a student and a staff member in the Rec Center said. “We’ve never had snowshoes before. It gives the students an opportunity to get outside the gym. Some kids have never been snowshoeing before.”
These shoes offer students to try new things and adventure outside of their comfort zone.
These snowshoes are found in the rec center behind the front desk.
Jena Whalen can be contacted at jwhalen1@ksc.mailcruiser.com
