Getting active in the Rose City

With finals around the corner, students are looking for stress relievers both on and off campus. From dodgeball to group bike rides around the city, there are plenty of options for those who need an organized event to get active and do some socializing.

For students who want to relive the fun games of their childhood, Portland State Rec Center offers a six-on-six dodgeball tournament Thursday, June 2. Teams must register by Tuesday, May 31, at the Member Services desk at the Rec Center. The cost is $10 per team and the games begin at 4 p.m.

If dodgeball doesn’t pique your interest, the Rec Center also offers their Climbing 101 program. The classes range from new climber classes to intermediate and belay classes. The Beginner’s Night class is held on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Rec Center climbing wall. These classes are free of charge.

For students who have slight experience but want to learn more, the Beginner Movement class is offered on Mondays at 3 p.m., and for the more advanced climbers, the Intermediate Movement class is at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. Belay Classes are held on the weekends, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

For students who want to get off campus and enjoy an interesting bike ride, the Columbia Slough Watershed Council has an upcoming free bike tour of Portland and its groundwater systems. The 16-mile ride takes place Saturday, June 4 and is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. Light refreshments will be supplied. Interested bikers need to pre-register for the event at www.columbiaslough.org.

Whether it is biking, climbing or even dodgeball, Portland State and the surrounding area offers multiple fun and healthy group activities for students to stretch their legs before finals. ?