Each spring, we inspire Active Badgers everywhere to get up, get outside, and get moving. Inspired by National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day, Active Badger Day is a full day of opportunities to play hard, get fit, and live well.
Past activities have included healthy meals at campus dining halls, group fitness classes at various campus locations, log rolling, a snowshoe trek across Lake Mendota with Outdoor UW, Late Night Skate, and more.
2023 SCHEDULE
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All Day: Second Harvest Food Drive
Being active isn’t just physical. The various departments at Rec Well are being active in our communities with some friendly competition to see who can donate the most to Second Harvest Food Bank, now through March 5.
Click here to see what is most needed.
All Day: Discounts at Nielsen Tennis Stadium
All day there will be discounted court reservations at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
All Day: Free Group Fitness Classes
Whether you want to start your day with an energizing HIIT workout or end it with a fun Zumba class, all group fitness classes are free today.
Classes are at the Nicholas Recreation Center. You must sign up before class on services.recwell.wisc.edu. Registration opens 48 hours in advance.
Group Fitness classes are free for students and Rec Well members. Please bring your Wiscard or Rec Well membership card to class.
All Day: Active Badger Meals
University Housing Dining is keeping you fueled with delicious food all day. Stop by Gordon Avenue or Four Lakes Markets all day for healthy, protein packed items for each meal period.
Menu
- Breakfast: Avocado Toast, Green Power Smoothie, Scrambled Egg Whites
- Lunch: Miso Cod, Spicy Sweet Potatoes and Quinoa, Green Beans with blistered peppers shallots
- Dinner: Curry Stew Brown Basmati Rice, Wheat Berry Pilaf, Ginger Glazed Salmon, Swiss Chard, Roasted Root Vegetables
7 - 7:45am: Yoga & Yogurt
Join us in the Lake Mendota Room in Dejope for a relaxing and delicious start to Active Badger Day!
7:30 - 8:15am: Rhythm Ride: Movie Soundtracks
Meet up in the Revolution studio at the Nick to start your day feeling like the main character. Reservations are encouraged but not required for Group Cycling. Participants will receive an Active Badger headband and sticker!
8:30 - 9:30am: Active Badger T-shirt Table
Grab some free swag on level 1 of the Nick!
10am - 7pm: Self-Guided Tours at Chazen Museum
In collaboration with the Chazen Museum, experience art while moving! Use different walking paths with specific mileage for each guest. Make sure you grab a free Chazen water bottle and an Active Badger sticker.
11am - 1:30pm: Bakke Virtual Reality @ Dejope
Get a sneak peak of the brand new Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center while grabbing lunch at Four Lakes Market in Dejope. Grab an Active Badger sticker and free Ian’s slice card, too!
12 - 2pm: Jr. Active Badger Jamboree
We are partnering with Special Olympics to host a variety of activities taking place in Courts 1 & 2 from basketball and futsal to parachute games. While most of the attendees will be students visiting from local schools, this is open to everyone to drop in, have some fun, and get an Active Badger headband!
12:15 - 12:45pm: Cycling: Badger Game Day
Jump Around, Sweet Caroline, Build Me Up Buttercup; the list goes on. There’s nothing better than Badger game days, so we’re turning up the heat during this game-day-themed cycling class with Briana in the Revolution studio. Participants will receive an Active Badger shaker bottle and sticker! Reservations are encouraged but not required for Group Cycling.
12:15 - 1pm: Yoga for Stress Relief
Midterms got you down? Stop by the Festival Room in Memorial Union for a mid-day stress reliever and a free Ian’s salad coupon!
2 - 4pm: Guided Hike to Picnic Point
In collaboration with Outdoor UW, we are hosting a guided hike to picnic point. We will be giving away free Active Badger beanies at this event! We will start behind Memorial Union by the Outdoor UW sign.
3:30 - 6:30pm: Ready, Sett, Bowl
Head down to the Sett and bowl with your buddies! Prizes will be given to the highest score each hour, and attendees can choose between an Active Badger beanie or headband while supplies last.
4:15 - 5pm: Cycling: 2000's Remixes
Did someone say Throwback Thursday? Join Ellie S. in the Revolution studio and cycle to some of your favorite 2000’s songs. Participants will receive an Ian’s salad card and an Active Badger sticker. Reservations are encouraged but not required for Group Cycling.
4:30 - 5:15pm: Barre: Female Pop Artists
Hang with Reese and join us as we celebrate some of our favorite female artists in this fusion of yoga, Pilates, strength training, and ballet. Grab a free Active Badger sticker and free Ian’s salad coupon, too!
4:30 - 5:30pm: Campus 5k Run/Walk
Tired of running alone? Connect with others at the top of Bascom Hill for an informal campus 5k run/walk. Starting at 4:30pm, leaders from November Project – Madison will lead a fun and simple workout tour of iconic campus sights. Attendees will also get to choose between an Active Badger headband or beanie.
4:30 - 7:00pm: Bakke Virtual Reality @ Dejope
Get a sneak peak of the brand new Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center while grabbing dinner at Four Lakes Market in Dejope. Grab an Active Badger sticker and free Ian’s slice card, too!
5 - 7pm: Active Badger Family Fest
Join our youth programs staff as we spend some time playing games and having fun at Eagle Heights! We will have both drop in and large group games, so come join in on the fun! Attendees will get a Rec Well puttie. Grown-ups are required to stay and encouraged to participate.
5 - 7pm: Athletic Training Tabling
Curious about our athletic training services? Stop by and chat with our athletic trainers in the Lower Level of the Nick.
5 - 7pm: Active Badger T-shirt Table
Grab some free swag on Level 1 of the Nick.
5:15 - 6:15pm: Cycle Strength: Throwback Thursday: 70s and 80s Hits
Hit the bike with Gretchen in the Revolution studio and jam to some classics! Participants will receive an Ian’s pizza card and Active Badger sticker. Reservations are encouraged but not required for Group Cycling.
5:30 - 6:30pm: Shallow Water Fitness
Shallow Water Fitness is a fast-paced, low-impact water workout combining cardiovascular and muscular conditioning in shallow water (4 ft). Attendees will receive an Active Badger headband.
6:30 - 7:15pm: Rhythm Ride: Childhood Throwbacks
Feel the nostalgia with this rhythm based cycling class. Participants will receive a Rec Well towel and an Active Badger sticker. Reservations are encouraged but not required for Group Cycling.
6:30 - 8:30pm: Log Rolling
Test your balancing skills with log rolling in the pool, and grab a free Active Badger beanie.
7 - 8pm: Badger Wellness Jeopardy
Participants will test their knowledge while learning about resources for physical health, mental health, substance use and more during Active Badger Wellness Jeopardy! This event will be located in the Spark Studio at the Nick, and attendees can grab a red or black Active Badger shaker bottle.
7:30 - 8:15pm: Candlelight Powerflow
Is there a better way to wind down the night than under candlelight? We don’t think so. Practice those cat and cows with us at the Nick for some yoga with ~ambiance~. There will be free Ian’s salad coupon and Active Badger stickers given away at this event!
8:30 - 9:15pm: Glow in the Dark Zumba
Glow in the dark makes everything better… including Zumba. We will be giving away Ian’s slice cards and Active Badger stickers. First come, first served!
11:15pm - 12:30am: Late Night Skate
This is your chance to be Rec Well’s Nathan Chen and win gold. Whether you are whipping axels or just trying to stay on your feet, join us as we round out the night at open skate. Close out Active Badger Day with free shaker bottles and Ian’s slice cards!
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Shout out to our friends on campus and in the community for making Active Badger Day the best way to spend a Thursday.