Outdoor Nation’s “Campus Challenge” is bringing together students, staff and faculty alike, all in the name of outdoor activity. The challenge is an initiative put on by the Outdoor Nation Foundation, a large community for college students that is pushing for outdoor recreation.
According to Peter Prescott, fitness coordinator for Bellevue College, “We joined the challenge because it is great exposure for the Wellness Center and all that we do.
Also, because it aligns really well with the mission of the BC Wellness Center which is about providing inclusive access to outdoor recreation activities.” The Wellness Center “strives to focus on providing leadership, planning, opportunity and education in pursuit of healthier lives,” according to its website.
Prescott says the steps to sign up are simple. Download the “Outdoor Nation” app, which is available in both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, register with name and school, then start logging outdoor activities and events.
As for the challenge, hundreds of schools across the country are participating, from the University of San Diego in California to Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. Schools compete by receiving points after logging various outdoor activities and fighting for various awards, prizes and prestige.
There are several activities on the app from star gazing to camping which can gain points for the user. Players include the duration of the activity, a photo including the user, a title, comments if desired and the date of the activity in their entry.
Users can also look at recent entries and view the competition as far as schools and individuals in their rankings. The challenge runs for six weeks from Sept. 4 to Oct. 15.
There are many different prizes and awards for participating. Among the awards are “Outsider of the Year” and “National Outdoor Champion.” Individual prizes range anywhere from a $100 certificate to REI to outdoor gear from The North Face.
The Wellness Center is an advocate for this event, pushing for the improved wellness of participants rather than just competing to win. “It is all about getting people outdoors. That is the main goal through a social media platform that Outdoor Nation created.
It is also a way for people to share their time, and how they are spending time outdoors,” said Prescott. The center is encouraging participation by all students, staff and community members and is also awarding free giveaways to participants through the foundation, mostly outdoor gear and apparel.
The challenge ends Oct. 15 and Bellevue College is number 55 on the leaderboard between schools. For more information, contact Peter Prescott in the G building or visit the Wellness Center website.