With the help of Residential Living and the Office of Student Involvement and Development, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center will be hosting their 11^th annual All Night at the Rec from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. Washburn students will be able to take part in a variety of activities at the SRWC, which are all free of cost.

“We have a lot of active activities planned, but we’ll also have a room where there’ll be board games and some kind of craft that is something more low-key,” said Emma Wittmer, SRWC student marketing assistant.

Of the active events, there will be a group exercise class, the rock wall will be open and several activities in the gym. In the works is also a photo booth and a possible escape room activity. The SRWC will provide free pizza, drinks, “All Night at the Rec” t-shirts and giving out prizes throughout the night.

“We’ve gotten lots of prizes, like gift cards to The Pennant, vouchers to Chipotle, vouchers for free sandwiches from Jimmy John’s and items from a lot of the places around campus,” said Macy Howell, SRWC student group exercise assistant.

While a big goal of the SRWC in hosting this event is to promote wellness and the mission of the SRWC, they are also hoping to provide an alternative event for a Friday night that involves socializing, fun and physical activity.

“We want to show students you can have a good time without alcohol,” said SRWC Director Whitney Slater.  “There will be some aspects of alcohol awareness and participating in a safe break with our Safe Spring Break Pledge as we look forward to March, so hopefully there can be some education to go along with all the exciting things planned.”

The SRWC, with the collaboration of Residential Living and OSID, have put in nearly a month and a half’s worth of planning for the All Night at the Rec event. Each of the student assistants have put work into the event and have reached out to local businesses to ask for the donations of the prizes being given out.

“As the director of the SRWC, my role in this event has been to help execute the ideas that my student staff has come up with. I really wanted them to take ownership in this event, so I have been trying to let them come up with the ideas and then I have been there to just help guide them to complete all the tasks that need to be completed,” Slater said. “Our mission at the SRWC is to provide awareness, education, opportunities and support for healthy lifestyle habits and I think this event checks a lot of those boxes in a fun and engaging way.”

Students wishing to attend All Night at the Rec must arrive before the doors lock at midnight. Washburn student ID’s will be required for entrance. If inclement weather occurs, the event will not be moved to another date.