Local Eagle Scout project brings indoor walking course to UWSP at Marshfield
For Hub City Times
MARSHFIELD – A local Eagle Scout is providing Marshfield with a safe place to walk during the winter season.
Nathan Kirby has spearheaded a new labeled indoor walking course on the UW Stevens Point at Marshfield campus.
Kirby said that inspiration for the project came when the campus wanted to attract more members of the community to use their campus facilities. He also liked the idea of helping members of the community improve their physical health.
Michelle Boernke, campus executive, and Brian Panzer, facilities and operations director, worked with Kirby to design a course map to be posted at a few starting locations. The maps list the average steps and distance a person has walked.
The administration felt the course would create an added campus benefit to help promote healthy lifestyles, especially during Wisconsin’s unpredictable winter season or rainy days.
The course was measured with a measuring wheel for distance. A design was then created for the signs. While waiting for the signs, Kirby said that the campus fitness brochure was updated to include the map of the indoor walking course.
All of this was done by Panzer, Kirby, and members and parents of Scout Troop 391.
“I feel I gained a lot of leadership experience from this project as well as getting to see how much work it takes in executing a project,” Kirby said. “It makes you realize how much work it really takes to get something done in the world.”
Course maps are posted in the hallways by the main entrance, Laird entrance, and the Fitness Center entrance of the campus. They may also be found on the back of UW’s Fitness Center brochures, which can be found at the Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library, Marshfield Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the 2nd Street Community Center.
The campus is located at 2000 W. Fifth St., Marshfield, and is open for walking Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. during the fall and spring. Summer and winter hours vary.
For more information, call 715-389-6530.