Unipol student employee Jacob Berquist and Marketing and Sustainability Leader Chris MacDonell show off some of the equipment that’s available to hire from the recreation centre.
What do marquees, giant Jenga, sleeping bags, skis, bodyboards, cornhole and head torches all have in common?
If you don’t know the answer, you might want to think about a visit to Unipol Recreation.
As well as exercise spaces, drop-in-and-play courts, games and social areas, there is also an outdoor rental centre that offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational equipment for use on the slopes, at the beach, in the bush or on the sports field.
Unipol Marketing and Sustainability Leader Chris MacDonell says the range of services and equipment on offer constantly surprises people.
“We keep adding equipment to the Outdoor Rental Centre as we see the need. At the beginning of this year we purchased mountain bikes, which gives students access to trails and cycleways right on our doorstep – in particular The Big Easy on Signal Hill and the Otago Harbour Cycleway.
“The range of gear for rent has broadened and it’s a great example of sustainable practice, which we are very proud of.”
Ski season is always busy with the Centre able to fit and provide skiers and boarders with everything they need for the slopes – at student friendly prices.
Coming into the warmer months, demand is expected to pick up for aquatic gear, but also for rentals of the University-owned Trotters Gorge Hut, she says.
“It’s a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus life, head back to nature and enjoy relaxing in the outdoors. The area offers numerous bush walks and abundant bird life.”
And even better, it’s only $6 a night for Otago students and a one-hour drive from campus.
The staff works hard to ensure the whole of Unipol is welcoming for students and celebrate the fact that difference is what everyone has in common, Chris says.
“Unipol is a safe space where everyone is welcome to drop in with their tertiary ID card and have some fun participating in a range of recreational activities. Recreation is different for everyone, and we aim to foster that notion.”
Staff recognised that booming music and pumping weights might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so at the end of semester 1, a quieter, calmer exercise space was created.
“This space includes equipment that is lighter, quieter and ‘friendlier’ in nature. The area is a great environment for a more chilled experience and has proven to be popular.”
Phase two of the development is coming shortly with implementation of ‘dinky’ activity stations, she says.
Unipol adopts a wayfinding approach as its kaupapa. Through wayfinding, staff are aware of the needs of students and adapt the facility layouts and programmes to continuously meet changing student activity. This is an active approach to manaakitanga, or student care, and fostering whanaungatanga, or a sense of belonging.
Unipol also employs more than 150 Otago students annually and one of them is Jacob Berquist, a third-year Bachelor of Science tauira, majoring in Sport Development and Management.
It wasn’t until he started working there in February last year that he realised, and was surprised by, the full extent of services the recreation centre offers.
And that’s what makes his job so interesting, he says.
“I have multiple roles including Student Recreation Assistant, Fitness Leader, Outdoor Recreation Assistant, and Inter-College Competition referee.”
That means he could be helping exercisers with questions or signing them up to group fitness, social sport, or other programmes. He also develops exercise programmes, referees sports or helps with the outdoor rentals.
But University studies come first.
“This is one of the best jobs for flexible hours to work around your university schedule. All of the casual workers at Unipol are students and we can enter our availability prior to rosters being published, which allows all of our shifts to be scheduled around our university timetable,” Jacob says.
“My favourite part of the job is the people who I work with at Unipol. Everyone is very friendly and positive, which creates an awesome work environment to be a part of.”
- Find out more about Unipol