Why Having a Variety of Activities in the Winter Matter at Elevations RTC?
The easiest thing to do for most people is to stay indoors during the wintertime. With the cold weather and snow getting in the way of normal outdoor activities, many residential treatment centers will stick to warmer temperatures indoors.
One of the advantages of Elevations RTC being in the Salt Lake City metro area is that there are so many opportunities to participate in outdoor activities 12 months out of the year. No matter where students are from, they can experience winter outdoor activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, that get them off the campus and enjoy new challenges.
Those weekend trips are just one highlight offered by the Elevations RTC school. They believe in offering variety to all their students to find what they enjoy while also staying motivated during the year’s toughest time.
Physical Activity in Less than Ideal Weather
There is only so much that can be done inside of a building during the winter. When students have less of an opportunity to get out and about, it could hurt their general state of mind. That is why it has always been important at Elevations RTC to develop opportunities during those colder months.
Even if the colder weather is starting to come to a close, going high up in the mountains locally is a great opportunity to experience something different. Whether it is skiing or snowboarding, or just being around others at the local resort on the weekends, it is a way to step away from campus and step out of the comfort zone in general. The majority of students have minimal experience hitting the slopes, and it has the opportunity of creating a new passion as an extracurricular activity.
No previous skill is necessary to have fun with these outings. It is a way to get physical activity and still stay relatively warm due to all the moving around. The same goes for team games and other sports using the outdoor facilities on campus.
Indoor Opportunities on Campus
With skiing and snowboarding taking place on the weekends, there is still the rest of the week for students to get physical activity on campus. There are indoor and outdoor activities that allow them to burn off energy and stay active during all times of the year.
Elevations RTC has both a gym and outdoor fields that are still perfectly usable during the winter. The activities might change slightly with colder temperatures, but students have all the equipment and clothing necessary to stay warm while also staying active.
One of the positives of indoor activities is that they are not reliant on the weather. Plans are occasionally canceled due to inclement weather throughout the year, but indoor activities are able to stick to a strict schedule.
Strength in Numbers
Many outdoor activities during the winter are much more enjoyable with a group of people. There is always the opportunity for students to enjoy activities by themselves if they wish, but building friendships outside the classroom is important as well.
Some of the lasting memories students have while at Elevations is spending time outside of class with different activities involving their peers. Not having that opportunity during the winter would prove to be a very challenging time. The activities might change when the temperature drops, but having a group to depend on will always matter.
Hidden Health Benefits
Finally, there are some hidden health benefits that students will notice when they are taking part in winter activities. Studies have shown that cold temperatures can actually help increase a person’s resting metabolism, which will help the body stay in shape overall. By burning more energy doing some of the similar exercises as in the summer, a workout can be more productive.
Colder temperatures also contribute to burning off more energy and in turn, more body fat. Researchers have shown that the body burns up stored fat faster when it is cold outside, helping students trying to get under a certain weight as they exercise. More effective workouts and activities keep students motivated more than many other factors.
The body also produces a good amount of Vitamin D in the winter, which is crucial since people spend less time outdoors than in the summer. Vitamin D helps keep bones healthy, which is crucial for the growing bodies of teenagers on campus.
Seasonal Depression
Many students on campus face numerous challenges with their mental health, and seasonal depression can contribute negatively. There are many students coming from warmer climates than the greater Salt Lake City area, so it is important to help them deal with colder temperatures in the winter.
If a student is feeling slow and lethargic due to the winter, the staff at Elevations RTC does a great job identifying those situations and doing what they can. Finding something that interests a student outside the classroom is the easiest way to help fight off depression. Sometimes, it involves stepping out of a comfort zone and experiencing a few different things on and around campus that can help out.
Making the Most of the Winter
Students generally arrive on campus when the weather is warm, but those colder days are always looming when the winter arrives. Even if this is the first time ever for a student to spend time in the winter, there is a chance to make the most of it.
The welcoming Elevations RTC address location specifically caters to students throughout the year. Some students enter campus skeptical of their new temporary home but leave longing for the winter months’ fun and enjoyment in the area.