TWU seeks title of National Outdoor Champion in AORE Campus Challenge
Sept. 9, 2019 — DENTON — Texas Woman’s University will join 98 other universities across the nation to participate in the AORE Campus Challenge, a competition that seeks to promote getting outdoors and getting active. The challenge officially kicks off September 16 at 10 a.m. with a “Walk Out” with Dr. Feyten in front of Fit & Rec and ends October 13.
Universities compete against each other to accumulate points. The university with the most points wins the title of National Outdoor Champion. Other prizes include: Outsider of the Year, regional winners, recognition awards, free gear and more.
Coordinated by the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE), the challenge replaces what was formerly known as Outdoor Nation. TWU competed three times in Outdoor Nation and came in third place twice and second place in 2017, the last year the event was organized.
“Participating in the Campus Challenge supports the Health and Wellbeing Initiative that encourages our student population to embrace self-care,” said Karrie Fletcher, Associate Director of Fitness and Recreation at Texas Woman’s University. “We want to encourage our community to get active in the outdoors to enhance their personal growth and foster a healthy lifestyle while on campus.”
According to data collected by Outdoor Nation in 2015, the average college student spends seven hours daily in front of a screen and only four minutes actively outdoors. Additionally, people of color and women traditionally participate less in outdoor activities.
In 2017, 1,800 people participated in the TWU team and logged more than 4,650 hours of outdoor time through participation in 9,287 activities, and 60% of TWU participants were racial minorities.
Anyone can register to be on the TWU team, including faculty, staff, alumni and students from all three campuses. Family, friends and anyone who is a U.S. resident can also join the TWU team.
Points include various nature-based activities where an individual intentionally engages in the outdoors. Each activity must take place for a minimum of 30 minutes, occur during the challenge and must be logged in the free AORE Campus Challenge app. A maximum of five activities may be logged per day.
For additional information, check out the TWU Campus Challenge website.
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Page last updated 8:31 AM, January 2, 2020