Correction: We initially published Dixon Recreation Center’s summer hours instead of the academic year hours. This error has been corrected.

In addition to tuition, the majority of Oregon State University students pay student fees each term to support a variety of programs, including Recreational Sports.

“Student memberships are included in the ‘incidental fees’ that on-campus Corvallis students pay,” said Cyrus Mooney, the recreation membership and operations coordinator for Rec Sports.

This grants fee-paying students access to the Dixon Recreation Center, McAlexander Fieldhouse, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, volleyball courts and the Student Legacy Park. 

Day use rentals are available at no extra cost to students for everything from basketballs, soccer balls and tennis racquets, to wrist wraps, weight belts and swim fins. Lockers and towels are also available. All of these items are intended for short term use and have to be returned in the same day that they are checked out.”

Students interested in team sports can purchase passes to participate in organized Rec Sports programs. 

“A couple of examples include the $20/term IM Pass that provides access to Intramural Sports leagues and tournaments, and the $55/term Group Fitness pass that provides access to over 70 group fitness classes per week,” Mooney said. 

The Rec Sports schedule of these fitness classes and other activies can be found on the Rec Sports website. 

The second type of rentals that you can use with your membership are space rentals, where you can rent a space of the Dixon Recreation Center facilities for an events such as practices, tournaments, games, meetings, workshops and more. According to the Rental Process section on the recreational sports website, in order to make this rental possible, you have to submit a rental request form and allow three to five business days to see if the space is available and if your request is approved. Once your request is approved, you will have to sign a contract and provide insurance. These rentals do have a cost, and the costs vary depending on if you are renting the space for a student fee funded group, non-profit, private entities and organizations or part of the OSU community. 

Dixon is open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the school year. It is free for OSU students as long as student ID is provided. Dixon has a pool, several courts for basketball, tennis and badminton, weightlifting rooms, a full track and other exercise machines.

Bowling is available in the Memorial Union basement from Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. It costs three dollars for shoe rentals and a bowling pass before 2 p.m., and four dollars for a bowling pass and shoes after 2 p.m. Cosmic bowling is $8 for students and $10 for the public, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday through Saturday.

If you are an adventurous person and want to spend more time outdoors, you can also join the Adventure Leadership Institute (ALI). 

“The Adventure Leadership Institute (ALI) is a co-curriculum program and service for students to utilize in a variety of ways. Students can take one of the 40+ unique classes for credit or non-credit through PAC and KIN, or utilize our climbing facilities, rental program, or university trips to get involved and gain experience,” said ALI Operations Coordinator Emily Abrams. “We offer several opportunities for student employment which range from guiding students in wilderness environments to helping groups develop out at our Challenge Course. Our spaces include the Challenge Course (35th and Jefferson), two indoor climbing centers (Dixon Rec Center and McAlexander Fieldhouse) and the ALI Rental Desk and Lounge (east side of Dixon Rec Center).” 

The programs are so popular that according to Abrams, “every year we see more than 6,000 rentals and purchases at the ALI Rental Desk, with the majority being student renters. Often students who take an ALI class and want to get more experience will come back and rent gear for personal adventures. We also rent to on-campus groups who need tents, boats, etc. for class activities.” 

According to Abrams, the pricing varies based on the type of program and group size. For example, the two indoor climbing facilities can be rented at an hourly rate, starting at $54/hour, depending on the type of group. Staffing cost is not included in the hourly rate, and ranges from $13-15/hour per staff. In addition, student fee-funded groups not only get priority, but also pay the lowest prices.