M.O.V.E. Bootcamp draws a crowd to Lewis Place
Series focuses on health and wellness as hundreds participate in latest event
•
Published
Miami University senior Bridget Stafford leads the M.O.V.E. Bootcamp event on Aug. 30 at Lewis Place. The event had 500 registered participants. (Photo by Ricardo Treviño Jr.)
M.O.V.E. Bootcamp draws a crowd to Lewis Place
•
Published
Miami University’s M.O.V.E. Bootcamp series has been a celebration of health and wellness over the years.
The bootcamps have also continued to grow, as shown by Saturday’s notable attendance numbers.
University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford said 500 participants registered for the morning event as members of the Miami community filled Lewis Place, extending near the backyard’s gazebo for an hour of exercise, music, and camaraderie.
“They just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said of the bootcamps. “It’s a lot of fun and energy to see the students all getting here early on a Saturday morning to enjoy the Miami spirit together.”
Bridget Stafford, a senior double major in Mathematics and Integrated Mathematics Education from Columbus, again served as lead instructor. It’s a role Stafford has held in some form since her first year at Miami when she was a co-teacher for the bootcamps.
The bootcamps are a chance for Stafford to showcase leadership skills and another opportunity to engage with the community. Stafford also teaches Zumba and kickboxing classes at Miami’s Rec Center.
“It’s a great way to start your weekend and get involved on campus,” Stafford said.
“This is an experience most people do not get to participate in, and it shows that the president and Dr. Crawford really want to have a relationship with their students and connect individually.”
Senior Katelyn Zuehlke, an Integrated Social Studies Education major from Columbus, is a veteran of the bootcamps, having attended most of them for the past four years.
What keeps Zuehlke coming back? The connections formed during the workouts – and the opportunity to see presidential pups Newton, Ivy, and Charlie.
Participants in Saturday’s bootcamp received a T-shirt featuring all three dogs.
“I try to go to all of them,” Zuehlke said. “I’ve connected with them (the Crawfords) over the last couple of years and talked to them. I’m in band too, so I see them all over campus.
“I think people like coming here and seeing the house and getting to know our president.”
Several attendees were at the bootcamp for the first time, including sophomore Sidney Zawila, a Political Science major from Liberty Township.
The T-shirt was a popular incentive for newcomers, but so was the opportunity to interact with people who share common interests.
“Meeting new people is definitely part of it,” Zawila said. “It’s just a great way to come out, meet people who are active, and maybe do things that you like to do, too.”
Matt Barney, a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major from Glendale, Illinois, was attending a bootcamp for the first time.
“There are a lot of opportunities to stay active on campus, and I’m excited to try this one,” Barney said.
The bootcamps are a way to focus on health, both physical and mental, said Renate Crawford. While they started with a handful of attendees, they’ve flourished over the years with repeat participants as well as new faces.
“This is what we feel passionate about,” Renate Crawford said. “That’s why this is one of our platforms. We really get that interaction with the students, and many of them come back every time. Once they go to one, they keep coming back.
“I am so glad that they are embracing this and that they want to be a part of this.”
The next bootcamp is scheduled for Sept. 27 at Lewis Place.
“We look for various ways we can engage students with exercise and how important exercise is to studying,” President Crawford said. “We hope that they think about their health and wellness throughout the year. We do these Saturdays throughout the year, but we want them to continue that throughout the week because exercise, sleeping well, and eating right are really key to student success.”
The bootcamps have also continued to grow, as shown by Saturday’s notable attendance numbers.
University Ambassador Dr. Renate Crawford said 500 participants registered for the morning event as members of the Miami community filled Lewis Place, extending near the backyard’s gazebo for an hour of exercise, music, and camaraderie.
“They just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said of the bootcamps. “It’s a lot of fun and energy to see the students all getting here early on a Saturday morning to enjoy the Miami spirit together.”
Bridget Stafford, a senior double major in Mathematics and Integrated Mathematics Education from Columbus, again served as lead instructor. It’s a role Stafford has held in some form since her first year at Miami when she was a co-teacher for the bootcamps.
The bootcamps are a chance for Stafford to showcase leadership skills and another opportunity to engage with the community. Stafford also teaches Zumba and kickboxing classes at Miami’s Rec Center.
“It’s a great way to start your weekend and get involved on campus,” Stafford said.
“This is an experience most people do not get to participate in, and it shows that the president and Dr. Crawford really want to have a relationship with their students and connect individually.”
Senior Katelyn Zuehlke, an Integrated Social Studies Education major from Columbus, is a veteran of the bootcamps, having attended most of them for the past four years.
What keeps Zuehlke coming back? The connections formed during the workouts – and the opportunity to see presidential pups Newton, Ivy, and Charlie.
Participants in Saturday’s bootcamp received a T-shirt featuring all three dogs.
“I try to go to all of them,” Zuehlke said. “I’ve connected with them (the Crawfords) over the last couple of years and talked to them. I’m in band too, so I see them all over campus.
“I think people like coming here and seeing the house and getting to know our president.”
Several attendees were at the bootcamp for the first time, including sophomore Sidney Zawila, a Political Science major from Liberty Township.
The T-shirt was a popular incentive for newcomers, but so was the opportunity to interact with people who share common interests.
“Meeting new people is definitely part of it,” Zawila said. “It’s just a great way to come out, meet people who are active, and maybe do things that you like to do, too.”
Matt Barney, a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major from Glendale, Illinois, was attending a bootcamp for the first time.
“There are a lot of opportunities to stay active on campus, and I’m excited to try this one,” Barney said.
The bootcamps are a way to focus on health, both physical and mental, said Renate Crawford. While they started with a handful of attendees, they’ve flourished over the years with repeat participants as well as new faces.
“This is what we feel passionate about,” Renate Crawford said. “That’s why this is one of our platforms. We really get that interaction with the students, and many of them come back every time. Once they go to one, they keep coming back.
“I am so glad that they are embracing this and that they want to be a part of this.”
The next bootcamp is scheduled for Sept. 27 at Lewis Place.
“We look for various ways we can engage students with exercise and how important exercise is to studying,” President Crawford said. “We hope that they think about their health and wellness throughout the year. We do these Saturdays throughout the year, but we want them to continue that throughout the week because exercise, sleeping well, and eating right are really key to student success.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.
