The leisure pool at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center celebrated its spring opening Wednesday.
Every winter the pool closes for the chilly months and opens in time for UH students to get a tan before spring break.’
‘We’re having this pool party today so that everyone knows that the leisure pool will be open now,’ geology senior Pat Huff said. ‘We also have a family night once a month like this where people can come and hang out. We usually have a grill going. I like to volunteer for that too.’
Festivities included a 2-on-2 sand volleyball competition, an in-pool basketball shootout and drawings throughout the day for prizes from Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, CiCi’s Pizza and Houston Rockets apparel.’
‘ ‘There is going to be a lot of things to do. We have some T-shirts for the winners of the basketball shootout and there will be a hula hoop contest. We are cooking for 150 people,’ Huff said.’
The pool party was complete with a barbecue. CRWC provided free hamburgers and hot dogs and students lined up for a taste. Huff manned the grill to serve the hungry masses. The line for food stood still as the hamburgers finished cooking.’
‘ ‘It took a while to get the food, but the burger is very good. It tastes as good as one from Burger King,’ music junior Kenneth Tillis said. ‘The music is good too.’
Cloudy skies gave way to sunshine in the afternoon and partygoers shed some layers to enjoy the poolside setting.
‘It’s a really nice day today to have a party. We’ve been having some colder weather lately, but it’s nice and warm today. I’d like to see a lot of people show up and enjoy the pool party,’ assistant director of aquatics Jenny Upah said.
Upah will also be coordinating a swim-in cinema in which students can float on kayaks and inner tubes in the swimming pool while watching a movie.’
‘That should be a lot of fun because you can get together and just float around while the movie is showing,’ Upah said.
Departments of the Recreation and Wellness Center pitched in to help make the event possible.’
Outdoor Adventures contributed a Dutch-oven pineapple-mandarin and pear cobbler cooked in a cast-iron cauldron with hot coals.’
The rustic campground cooking gave a taste of what CRWC Outdoor Adventures is all about. Equipment Supervisor Richard Wooten is an experienced outdoorsman and has led group outings for Outdoor Adventures.’
‘It’s all about the crust,’ said Wooten. ‘That’s how I judge cobbler.’
Outdoor Adventures hosts events in and out of the CRWC throughout the semester,’ including rock climbing competitions and surfing and kayaking lessons.
The CWRC leisure pool hosts an intramural sand volleyball league for UH students. The deadline for entry is March 24 and league play beings March 29.
