Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

Warmer weather on the horizon means more opportunities to get outside! If you need some ideas to help you and your family get active this spring, the following resources and opportunities are available for MSU employees:

In-person Opportunities

  • Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. MSU Bikes also rents bikes to departments for staff to use during the work day with their Department Fleet Services. Bikes are a great way to get around campus for meetings, lunches, errands, or a nice break! Save the hassle of traffic, offer a healthy alternative for your staff breaks/on-campus transportation, and avoid problems finding car parking by adding a bike to your department transportation fleet. If you’re working remotely, find several Greater Lansing area biking groups to join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
  • Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
  • Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
  • Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes (currently full but waitlist available) or private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels (league is full but fill out the form to sub). MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
  • Swimming: Present a valid staff or faculty ID to use one of the pools available on campus for laps or open swimming during designated pool hours.
  • Group Fitness Classes: MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness offers a variety of group fitness classes with membership pricing for MSU employees.

Virtual Opportunities

  • MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of fitness and wellness discounts, including gym memberships and personal training. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Deals from the top navigation, then Gyms and Health Clubs to see all current offerings.
  • Sign up for a virtual Chair Yoga, Good Form Walking/Running, or Spring Active Office Workshop classes through MSU Health4U.

Articles and Resources to Increase Motivation:

Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

Updated March 2023

Warmer weather on the horizon means more opportunities to get outside! If you need some ideas to help you and your family get active this spring, the following resources and opportunities are available for MSU employees:

In-person Opportunities

  • Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with a variety of commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. If you’re working remotely, there are a variety of Greater Lansing area biking groups you could join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
  • Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
  • Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
  • Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes and private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels. MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
  • Swimming: Present a valid staff or faculty ID to use one of the pools available on campus for laps or open swimming during designated pool hours.
  • Group Fitness Classes: MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness offer a variety of group fitness classes with membership pricing for MSU employees.

Virtual Opportunities

  • MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of health and wellness discounts, including a virtual gym membership through GlobalFit. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Employee Discounts from the top navigation, then Health and Wellness – GlobalFit will be one of the options.
  • Sign up for a virtual Chair Yoga or Good Form Walking/Running class through MSU Health4U.

Articles and Resources to Increase Motivation:

Winter Events, Activities, Holiday Shopping, and Courses

As the colder weather sets in and the holidays approach, take note of the following opportunities on campus or in the surrounding area for you and your family. Please note: the events below are subject to change at any time. Please confirm event details, safety policies, etc. directly with each event listed.

Family/Kid Friendly

  • Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – MSU Abrams Planetarium Family Shows: In November, check out Violent Universe: Catastrophes of the Cosmos and The Little Star That Could. They also offer sensory friendly shows on the third Sunday of the month.
  • Nov. 6 – Family Day: Perspective: Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum. All ages are welcome. See all upcoming events at the MSU Broad Art Museum here.
  • Nov. 19 – Silver Bells in the City: Millions of lights. Thousands of people. One very special guest. Lansing’s premiere holiday event.
  • Starts Nov. 20 – Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo: Tour grounds with friends and family as thousands of lights and decorations transform the zoo into a holiday spectacle.
  • Nov. 21 – CADL-Downtown Branch Sensory Friendly Movies: Join in on the 3rd Sunday of the month for sensory-friendly family-friendly movies when we turn the lights up and turn the sound down. Feel free to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Snacks provided.

Holiday Shopping

  • Nov. 4 – Dec. 23 (every Thursday, Friday and Saturday) – Michigan Made Holiday Art Exhibition: Showcasing established and emerging artists, enjoy holiday shopping and opportunities to support makers in the local economy.
  • Nov. 5 – 2021 MSU Houseplant & Succulent Sale: All sales from this fundraiser help support the gardens, including funding for garden maintenance, educational programming, and support for our undergraduate student employees.
  • Nov. 5 – Arts Night Out: Shops host a special sale, exhibits, arts and crafts demo, live performances.
  • Second Friday of the Month – Second Friday Shop Hop in Old Town: Hop around to multiple participating businesses for specials, make and takes, pop up shops, local artist, and more.

Music

Performance and Art

  • Nov. 3 – Whose Live Anyway? 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions.
  • Nov. 14 – Print Club!: Print Club! is a LGBTQ+ affirming social club founded by Lansing artist Randi Richards (they/them/she/her) dedicated to making space for those that love ink to work together, share, and build skills without financial barriers.

Personal/Professional Development Opportunities

Sports/Fitness

  • Nov. 20 – Silver Bells 5K: Participants will be able to run/walk the 5K marked course in downtown Lansing or from home virtually.
  • Nov. 25 – Lansing Turkey Trot (in-person or virtual): Proceeds from the race go to support High School and Middle School Cross Country and Track programs, and Youth Running Clubs through the Michigan Running Foundation grant program.

Do you have an event you’d like us to consider including in a future article? Please email HR.CommunicationsList@campusad.msu.edu with the details.

Events Round-Up – November

Arts

Friday, November 1

Arts Night Out

Thursday, November 7

Block Printing with Regina Pericini

Friday, November 8

The Broadcast Exhibition Opening Preview

Friday, November 15

Project & Sign pARTy

Saturday, November 16

Twelfth Night presented by MSU Dept. of Theatre

Community Events

Saturday, November 2

Public Plant and Succulent Sale

Thursday, November 21-December 29

Wonderland of Lights

Friday, November 22

Silver Bells in the City

Saturday, November 23-December 24

Family Farm – Christmas Season

Sunday, November 24

Breakin Bread with the Blues

Thursday, November 28

Bordeaux’s Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving Buffet or Dinner

Family/Kid Friendly

Saturday, November 2

PhUn Day

Jungle Book

Family Day at the MSU Broad Museum

Nighttime Scavenger Hunt

Monday, November 4

South of the Border: Celebrating the Music of the Other Americas

Thursday, November 7

Sensory Friendly Movie Night

Saturday, November 9

Zoo in Your Neighborhood

Monday, November 11

MSU Bug House Open House

Friday, November 15

Sensory Friendly Story Time

Saturday/Sunday, November 23-24

Brunch with Santa

Saturday, November 30

Caroling at Schuler Books

Music

Saturday, November 2

Lansing Symphony Orchestra

Wednesday, November 6

Jazz from Detroit

Saturday, November 9

Live Music w/ Time2Play

Singers on the Grand “Fifties Favorites”

Jazz Octets and special guests

Sunday, November 10

JAMM Tribute Concert

Saturday, November 16

Sensory Friendly Spartan Concert

Sunday, November 17

“Feel the Beat” Drumming Circle

Thursday, November 21

Wind Symphony

Professional Development Opportunities

Tuesday, November 5

Managing Difficult Customers

Wednesday, November 6

Identify and Maximize Your Strengths

Thursday, November 7

Thriving Through Change

Identify and Maximize Your Strengths

Saturday, November 9

Lean In Michigan Leadership Conference

Tuesday, November 12

Payments to Non-Resident Aliens and Foreign Vendors

Roadmap to Retirement

Wednesday, November 13

Supervisor Strategies for Performance Planning

From Distracted to Productive

Thursday, November 14

Communicating and Influencing Up

Fundamentals of Supervision

Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace

Tuesday, November 19

Capital Asset Management

Wednesday, November 20

Presentation Skills 101

Thursday, November 21

Ten Tactics for Powerful Business Writing

EBS Financial System Roles/ Onboarding

Sustainable High Performance

Sports/Fitness

Sunday, November 3

Run-A-Munk 5K Trail Run

Thursday, November 28

Lansing Turkey Trot