For the second consecutive year, the Junior Health Fitness majors will be hosting a Wellbeing Fair, formerly known as the Chill Out and Wellbeing Fair, to educate the Gustavus community about the different dimensions of wellbeing. This year’s fair, titled Gusties Go Healthy, will be held on Thursday, April 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Lund Arena.

There are nine dimensions of wellness that the Fair will be focusing on: Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Relational, Career, Financial, Vocational, Environmental, and Intellectual.

“I think the importance of the Wellbeing Fair is to provide the Gustavus Community with healthy options for the nine dimensions of wellness and to show that these options are available to them,” Junior Health Fitness Major Cassie Rogness said. “It is important that the Gustavus Community helps one another to make sure that we stay healthy in all different kinds of ways.”

This year’s fair will be focused on inactivity. Instead of simply informing the Gustavus community about the various aspects of wellbeing, attendees will be able to participate in activities at each of the booths, allowing them to learn through experience.

“There are going to be many events and activities for students to participate in. These include Zumba, Bootcamp and Pilates classes, injury evaluations by the Athletic Trainers, blood pressure and grip-strength assessments, informational booths, free popcorn, fantastic door prizes, music by a Mankato radio station, rock climbing wall provided by ROTC, and much more,” Rogness said.

In addition to the Junior Health Fitness majors, the Office of Peer Education and Chemical Health, Health Service and Counseling Center are involved in the planning.

“There may be some outside groups from the St. Peter area, but most of the booths will be run by Gustavus offices and departments,” Assistant Athletics Director for Student Athlete Services and Assistant Director in Alcohol and Drug Education Kari Eckheart said. “We’re excited for it to be more interactional than purely informational this year. We’re also excited to allow students to put on the event because an event like this needs student input to grow.”

“It’s important for our Health Fitness majors to have an opportunity to plan an event like this because they may move on to careers that ask them to plan wellness events,” Assistant Professor in Health and Exercise Science Stephanie Otto said. “Allowing them to gain experience planning and facilitating the Wellbeing Fair fits really well into the class.”

“This event is student-run from the title to the t-shirt design,” Otto said. “I’m glad that we’re able to give them ownership of the event, and excited for them to experience the event coming to life. I also love giving students the opportunity to plan it because they know what students want to do. They’re connected with that community.”

“One of the activities I am most looking forward to is the ROTC rock climbing wall. It is a fun activity that I think a lot of people can enjoy. I am also excited for the Fair to share the importance of health and wellness among the Gustavus community,” Rogness said.

“We received a Coca-Cola grant to help enhance the fair, which allows us to provide services like massage therapists and bring the Mankato radio station,” Eckheart said.

“Everyone should come to the fair,” Rogness said. “There is free food, games, and prizes.  What more do you need?”