Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Happy Sunday y'. All. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the capstone. And we're November, babe.
[00:00:17] Speaker C: Can you believe it?
[00:00:18] Speaker B: I think I can, I think I can. You know, I, obviously the time change always weirds me out.
I do enjoy it to an extent. I wish that my children understood it or that their circadian rhythm understood it. I'm not really enjoying getting waken, like just, you know, the kids waking me up at 5:05 being like, hey, can we go downstairs now? Like let's go, let's get this, let's get this party started. You know, that was a little tough.
[00:00:47] Speaker C: I don't enjoy watching the sunset on my lunch break.
[00:00:50] Speaker B: Oh yeah, no, absolutely. Yeah, that's a little, and you know, and how true is that statement?
[00:00:54] Speaker D: Right?
[00:00:55] Speaker B: I know, right.
[00:00:56] Speaker C: But we are in November, which if our listeners have been listening for a hot minute, they know this is your birthday month. Happy birthday, my friend.
[00:01:04] Speaker B: Thank you. You know, I, I, I want to tell you I was trying to be really intentional about this first segment because obviously I bring up some real random stuff.
[00:01:14] Speaker C: Right?
[00:01:14] Speaker B: Okay, I, I think it is. But then I'm like, man, if this is a listener's first time hearing this show, they're probably thinking what in the world? But I don't. Okay, so I do have a semi health related question for you.
So and again this, this stems from my birthday being yesterday, turning 41, all of that good stuff. Do you have a skincare routine? Because I sure don't. I'm going to admit on air so that hopefully somebody can call in or message and keep me accountable. I am a, let me use a makeup wipe and get my, get my face like quote unquote cleaned, take out my contacts, brush my teeth and there you go. I have asked people about skincare routines in the past and then when I find out that involves anywhere between five to steps, I usually black out. My mother has a lot of Asian influenced skincare things that have honestly really worked for her, but I just have not been that disciplined. How about you?
[00:02:17] Speaker C: I'm going to answer your question with a question.
[00:02:19] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:02:20] Speaker C: Does it look like I have a skincare routine?
[00:02:22] Speaker B: No, I think it does, I think it does. So I, I ask you, because you look like a very put together person.
[00:02:29] Speaker C: Say you're too kind.
[00:02:31] Speaker D: No.
[00:02:34] Speaker C: No, my, my children who are 9 and 11 care more about going to Ulta and buying skin care. And I'm like, what do you need skincare For. But I know that it's like very in right now, which I am glad we're taking care of our largest organ.
[00:02:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:50] Speaker C: But I'm also like, let's put on sunscreen. Right, Right. You don't need a five step routine, darling. You're third grade. But they're all about it right now. And I think, you know, hey, look, listen, we're getting upstream on this. We're teaching them care of their skin, that it is an organ, the same as we take care of our teeth and.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:07] Speaker C: In our eyes. But it is a sad day when I'm like, hey, where is the bar of Dove soap? I think I need to wash my face so I can collapse in bed.
[00:03:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:17] Speaker C: After writing paper. So.
[00:03:18] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:03:19] Speaker C: I wish I did so. Please don't listen to me say that and think that I'm hating on anybody. I would love for someone to look at me and go, this is specifically what you need to do to look better so that you don't look like Tail from the Crypt. But we're not there right now. So if you have any listeners that wants to, you know, holla at us, I would open arms, listen and be a student. But I don't.
[00:03:46] Speaker B: Okay, so first I'll say, that's not a shout out for anybody who was in an mlm multi level marketing.
[00:03:56] Speaker C: Don't. Tell me something. I'm gonna need you to be like a Mac makeup artist or something like that. They're like, honey, come sit in my chair and let me just help.
[00:04:05] Speaker B: Yeah. Or any dermatologist that wants to be like, hey, I have credentials, education. Let me just talk you through.
[00:04:12] Speaker C: Yeah, Evidence based.
[00:04:13] Speaker B: We like evidence based. So, you know, tell me about hyaluronic acid. Tell me about retinol. These are the buzzwords that I see. Let me know so that I'm informed in my decision.
[00:04:23] Speaker C: Right.
I need, I need to know all the things.
[00:04:26] Speaker B: Okay, well, you've, you've made me feel better. Maybe we can be on this journey together, but I'm going to be balling on a budget. So just don't, don't, don' think I'm about that.
[00:04:36] Speaker C: What's on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx, that's, you know, honestly, three years ago, that's what I'm going for at this point in my life.
[00:04:42] Speaker B: Oh, I cannot. Okay, y', all, if you're listening, as always, what we're talking about right now has nothing to do, thank goodness, with what we will be talking about the rest of the show. But as always, we have Some incredible guests lined up for today showcasing another one of our fantastic programs at ua. But y', all, as always, we've got to take a quick break, run to the Restro, get hydrated. I hear it's good for your skin. Do all the things. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Mika on 90.7 the capstone.
[00:05:19] Speaker A: WVUAFM, Tuscaloosa.
[00:05:28] Speaker C: Welcome back, listeners. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the capstone.
[00:05:34] Speaker B: That's right. And if you are just now joining us, I will say it is choose your own adventure. If you want to go back and listen to the first segment, just as a teaser, we were talking about skincare routines and what we do or maybe more so what we don't do. But again, thankfully, that is not what we're talking about today, you guys. What we are going to be talking about is outdoor recreation here at the University of Alabama and just getting out there in general. And we wanted to make sure that we had fantastic guests to talk about this. So we have the pleasure of having Shelly Scott, assistant director of outdoor recreation programs, and Zach Zachary Cox, coordinator of outdoor recreation. And so, you guys, thanks for being on the show today.
[00:06:14] Speaker D: Thanks for having us.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. And so for our listeners, you guys know, in this first segment, we're always wanting to know more about our guests, you know, what was their life before being here at the Capstone. So I will let y' all duke it out to see who talks first, but tell us about yourselves. Hometown, academic background, professional background.
[00:06:35] Speaker D: Where.
[00:06:35] Speaker B: Where were you before ua?
[00:06:37] Speaker D: Yeah. So my journey starts in Starkville, Mississippi. Okay, so Mississippi State University is my hometown, and that is where I discovered outdoor recreation. When I got into college, I had been working at the rec center in equipment issue. And then I kind of became friends with the GA for outdoor rec. And he was like, you want a job? I said, I don't really know a whole lot about this. And he said, well, if you're willing to teach you, I'm really willing to.
Sorry. If you're willing to learn, I'm willing to teach you anything you need to know. And I said, great. Sounds. Sounds awesome. Sign me up. And so I started working at the climbing wall, started doing trips and just was like a sponge. Just absorbed as much as I could.
I graduated. I wasn't quite ready to go back to school, but I definitely still wanted to do outdoor rec.
So I took a. A double gap year. So two years off. Was looking for stuff in Outdoor rec. Really enjoyed collegiate rec and wanted to stick, but just at the time, you had to have a master's degree. And so I wasn't quite ready for that yet. So I pursued some other opportunities. I was a flight attendant for a little while and an EMT and, oh, my God, a substitute teacher. And I was just like, let's just see what's out there.
Then I finally decided to go to grad school. I got the last graduate assistantship left in the entire country in outdoor rec and waited until, like, the very end of June to apply for it. Got it. Great.
University of Southern Mississippi was where I went for that. And I have a master's degree in sport management.
And then I moved to North Carolina at Gardner Webb University. This is a very long story.
[00:08:19] Speaker B: No, I am like, I have so many.
[00:08:23] Speaker D: So I took a job as the assistant director of university recreation and focused in outdoor recreation at Gardner Webb University.
And then some budget cuts happened, and I found myself in Burlington, North Carolina, working in aqu.
And then continued my journey working in childhood education informally with a focus in outdoor rec and getting kids in, like, streams and just experiential education. It was a lot of fun and still doing aquatics during that time.
And then I started working at a water park, so. So that was a fun time. So I oversaw, like, all the safety stuff for the water park and the EMTs for all of that, and just operations, management essential.
The job opened up here at ua, and I was like, let's do it. I really want to get back into outdoor rec. I miss being close to my family because they still live in. In Mississippi, and so an hour and a half away from them is a lot better than 12 hours.
[00:09:28] Speaker C: Yeah. So I have to ask one question just right quick. What was your undergrad degree in, as when you said, hey, yeah, I'm willing to learn. Yeah.
[00:09:37] Speaker D: Clinical exercise physiology, so kinesiology, if you.
[00:09:40] Speaker C: Okay.
So it all kind of makes sense.
[00:09:44] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:09:45] Speaker C: You know, I mean, like the emt, human body.
[00:09:47] Speaker D: Right.
[00:09:48] Speaker C: You know, science, the outdoor rec exercise.
[00:09:51] Speaker D: Yep.
[00:09:52] Speaker C: But I love this because if our listeners have followed us for any amount of time, they have heard from all our guests that most people have fallen into what they love by backing into it on accident.
[00:10:07] Speaker B: Yeah. Nobody has had it. It's more rare for people to have had a linear path to the role that they or, you know, the space that they're working. So I. I have so many questions and, you know, lots of questions about flight attendance in the amusement park. But, Zach, I need to know about you, man.
[00:10:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
So for me, very similar to Shelly. I started out in college doing the outdoor recreation scene. I went to. I'm from San Marcos, Texas, which is just south of Austin.
I went to school at Texas Tech University. Go Red Raiders.
And I started out in the outdoor recreation scene there in undergrad. I was studying finance. And then I asked my boss one day, my. The assistant director. I was like, hey, tell me more about your job.
And he just kind of explained that you had to go through this process of getting a GA ship and then becoming coordinator and then assistant director and all of that. So I was like, okay, well, I'm kind of want to pursue that. And so from there, I applied to a bunch of different outdoor recreation GA ships. So I applied to the University of Utah, Washington State University, and West Virginia University.
So three very different places. I got offers from all of them.
I ended up choosing West Virginia University, and they had the largest program in outdoor recreation currently, as of right now that I know of.
And so I was there for two years studying parks, recreation and tourism, Got my master's degree there, and then ended up applying to this position right off, right out of grad school.
[00:11:48] Speaker B: So very nice. Now for both of you, how long have each of you been in your roles at ua?
[00:11:54] Speaker D: I started here in January this year.
[00:11:56] Speaker B: Okay, very nice. Almost a year in. And then. Zach, how about you?
[00:12:00] Speaker A: I've been here since August of 2023, I believe.
[00:12:03] Speaker B: Okay, perfect.
[00:12:05] Speaker C: I have to ask, how'd you jump from finance?
[00:12:07] Speaker A: Yeah, I.
I was just in one of my classes, a bunch of my classes, I think, junior year. And I was just like, man, I don't really want to do this. Sitting behind a computer screen like that is just kind of grueling.
[00:12:19] Speaker C: The reason I'm bringing this up is because I, you know, I'm faculty and also advice, and students sit in front of me all the time going, I have to have it figured out right now.
And I'm like, no, you don't. The people that I know who are in love with what they do change 10, 15 times. They were a flight attendant, they were finance, and now look, they love their job. So for our listeners out there who are students, I always just like to. To. That's a little health tip. That's a little like, you know, occupational health tip. Like, don't think you got to have it figured out right now, truly.
[00:12:51] Speaker B: I mean, you know, and I think too, when I hear you all talk about the grad assistantships that are based within outdoor rec, I feel like someone who is just an outsider to that academic area or that life at all. It probably blows their mind that there is a grad assistantship that is structured in that way. Because I think sometimes when you think of a grad assistantship, you, you know, you think of, you know, it has to be like a graduate teaching assistant for, you know, whatever this, researcher this or that. So y' all are some. Some cool cats, ma'.
[00:13:27] Speaker C: Am.
[00:13:27] Speaker B: That's all I have to say.
[00:13:28] Speaker D: So I kind of think it blows people's minds sometimes to think that this is a job.
They just don't think of you being able to have a job in outdoor recreation, and so that's a really cool thing. There's a lot of opportunities in the industry to get involved and. And make it your. Your full time job.
[00:13:45] Speaker C: Yeah. So talking about that, what do you enjoy most about your role here at the Capstone?
[00:13:51] Speaker D: Yeah, I have really enjoyed our students. I think we have a fantastic student population. They are so excited to get involved and have an opinion on things and make positive change. And I think that's absolutely wonderful.
I' also just really enjoyed the. The campus is beautiful, the people are awesome, and it's just been a really great experience. Like I said, I started in January. It's been super easy to make friends here, which is really nice. So I think this, this has been a great move for my family.
[00:14:18] Speaker B: So nice.
[00:14:19] Speaker C: Yeah. What about you, Zach?
[00:14:20] Speaker A: I. I too, really love the community here at the Capstone. I think it's a really great collaborative environment to just be in. And I really also just enjoy the. The outdoor recreation opportunities that are both on campus and, like off campus here.
There's plenty of. Plenty of things to do if you just get out there and kind of search for it.
[00:14:39] Speaker B: Yeah. And I know that we'll be talking about this later in the show, but I feel like I tell students all the time. And then anytime we have interview candidates that are come and checking out Tuscaloosa, I'm like, look, you know, our PR for Alabama is not as sexy as Colorado. But y', all, we've got. We've got beaches and lakes and mountains.
[00:14:59] Speaker C: Dismal canyon. Yeah, we've got.
[00:15:02] Speaker B: We've got all of these things. And so I'm looking forward to us talking more about this on the flip side of the break. But, y', all, we gotta take a quick break. You are listening to Fit to Be tied with Sheena and Na on 90.7 the Capstone.
[00:15:20] Speaker A: WVUA FM Tuscaloosa.
[00:15:30] Speaker C: Happy Sunday. You are listening to Fit to be Tired with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the Cat Capstone. And we are joined today with our guests Shelly Scott and Zachary Cox, who work for the University of Alabama's outdoor recreation program.
[00:15:43] Speaker B: That's right. And y', all, if you are just now joining in, you've got to go back and listen to our last segment.
Just to hear the background for both Shelly and Zach is amazing. And, you know, I think just to hear the path to where they are now, really incredible.
Again, you know, we have so many questions about the lives that they had before they were here at ua, but now we definitely want to talk about outdoor recreation here at ua. And so how do you guys think most students learn about outdoor rec on campus?
[00:16:20] Speaker D: I'd say there's a lot of different ways. One of the. So we just got back from a three night backpacking trip and I asked all of the participants on that. I was like, how'd you, How'd you guys figure out about us? Some of them learned because they participate in the climbing wall. So they do some activities that we're already a part of.
We've got posters at the climbing wall. And then our staff do a great job of just sharing what's coming up, which is awesome.
Some of them said they just went straight to our website. And so I, I actually am really surprised at how many people are like, yes, website is the way to go and are actively looking for ways to get outdoors and active.
But we definitely do participate also in like, tabling things with Bama Bound and orientations and get on board day and things like that. So we want people to get active. It's not just for students. It' faculty and staff too. So we set up at the.
What's the health fair called?
[00:17:13] Speaker A: Quad Emotion.
[00:17:14] Speaker D: Yeah. Thank you.
[00:17:14] Speaker C: Oh, nice.
[00:17:15] Speaker D: We set up at Quad Motion and just kind of talk a little bit about gear rental that faculty and staff can. Can participate in and things like that. So word of mouth is huge. The website also seems to be doing really well.
We also have social media so people can follow us on Instagram and Facebook and very occasionally, YouTube.
[00:17:34] Speaker B: Oh, okay, very nice. We'll have to check out all of the things for sure.
[00:17:39] Speaker C: So where was this recent trip?
[00:17:42] Speaker D: Yeah, so we were in Panthertown Valley in western North Carolina.
Super cool. Lots of beautiful overlooks, lots of waterfalls. I think I've lost count of how many waterfalls we saw.
It was a great time. It was a little chilly, but it was really fun and we ate good too. We like to feed people really well on our trips.
[00:18:00] Speaker B: So that is awesome. So, you know, and so I love that. That was like a great first example because it's not like y' all are just, you know, driving to, you know, somewhere in county and that's as far as you go. Like, you guys are going out of state. So for that particular trip to North Carolina, how long did that take? And what's the mode of transportation? Like, what does. What did the logistics of that, that specific travel look like?
[00:18:25] Speaker D: Yeah. So we got. Participants got to the rental center at 7 o' clock in the morning. We took a little bit to load up the van, pack up our bags and everything. You know, you got to carry all your food on these backpacking trips.
[00:18:37] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:38] Speaker D: So then we. We loaded up the 12 passenger van with 12 people in it. We were. We're a little snug, but, you know, we're best friends now, so it's all good. And then about a six hour drive later, we land at the trailhead and take off on our journey. It took about like five minutes to get to the first awesome overlook.
[00:18:59] Speaker B: And it was great, man.
[00:19:01] Speaker C: Nico, is that.
[00:19:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:04] Speaker C: So for listeners out there that want to get involved, do you have to have some kind of experience? Like, so let's say I decided I wanted to be one of those 12 passengers. Do I need to know, like, how to survive in the wilderness, or am I relying on y' all for that?
[00:19:21] Speaker D: I'm expecting you to be Bear Grylls.
No. Every single person that went on that trip, actually, this was their first time backpacking. It was amazing. And they all did so good. It was. It was incredible.
[00:19:31] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So along those lines, do y' all typically have, you know, y' all were talking about this, those students being first timers, but do y' all have any frequent flyers, Zach, that kind of come through the program and they are just trip junkies and they're all about it all the time.
[00:19:47] Speaker A: Yeah. So we do have a. Pretty much just about every semester, there's one or two. Typically they're international students, more than kind of more domestic students, but they sign up pretty regularly for all of our trips. I believe this semester alone, there was like, what, one guy that signed up for four or five trips in a row, so his weekends were pretty filled. But he really enjoyed every single one of them. From my understanding.
[00:20:12] Speaker D: Yeah. He said, I just want to get out of my comfort zone and just experience some new things.
[00:20:17] Speaker B: I love that he's having his own little Eat, Pray, love.
[00:20:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:21] Speaker C: When you said he signed up for four or five, about how many trips do y' all typically offer each semester?
[00:20:27] Speaker D: So last semester we had 10.
[00:20:30] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:20:30] Speaker D: This semester we have.
[00:20:31] Speaker A: I think we're going up to 14 or 15 this semester.
[00:20:34] Speaker D: Wow. Okay. So this coming semester, we backpack, and.
[00:20:36] Speaker C: Then what else do we do?
[00:20:37] Speaker D: Yeah, we're backpacking. We're canoeing. We are with manatees. We are going to Big Bend national park in Texas. That's going to be pretty exciting.
[00:20:47] Speaker A: Mountain biking, there's rock climbing. All caving even. So there's all different types of areas, like an activity, specific things.
[00:20:56] Speaker D: Wow.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: So in the time frame that the two of y' all have been on staff, what is the furthest distance or furthest planned distance coming up?
[00:21:07] Speaker D: I think probably our biggest one has been Florida. So we last spring break, did a swimming with manatees excursion. And so we just kind of added a few extra things to that. So we went stand up paddle boarding through the mangrove tunnels near Tampa, I think. Tampa.
We did collecting shark's teeth at Venice Beach. We went to the sunken gardens and then looped back around and went swimming with manatees. And it's a long drive, but a lot of fun.
[00:21:35] Speaker B: Well, I remember seeing the digital sign for manatee trip. Now, I will say that. So your advertising is because I was like, manatees.
[00:21:44] Speaker C: So this is kind of random to ask, but, you know, on this campus, we have so many opportunities to. To get involved or do things that an otherwise outsider would not get the opportunity to do.
So to put it in perspective, if I am a newbie and I want to go on this trip up, that's not university recreation. Like, I decide I want to go somewhere and sign up and go paddle boarding, swimming with manatees and all. Like, what is that costing, you know, in the outside world as compared to, like, what you get to do here for? Probably pennies on the dollar.
Yeah.
[00:22:24] Speaker D: I mean, we make our trips as inexpensive as we possibly can. We are not looking to make a profit.
Some of our trips you could do by yourself, but a lot of our students on campus don't have cars, so that part of it. So when we're budgeting for a trip, we're budgeting for transportation. We're budgeting for outfitter fees and all that stuff. So if somebody went, like, swimming with manatees on their own, they're going to have the outfit or fee just the same. They're still going to have to pay for transportation just the same. So.
[00:22:52] Speaker C: But they're gonna. I mean, I can't imagine me going solo and having to rent a paddle board and then pay someone to guide me and teach me how to do that. I mean, I'm just thinking about, like, the amazing package deal that students and faculty and staff would get by going trips.
[00:23:09] Speaker D: Yeah, it's. It's really a great opportunity and a great experience because you. You really just get the whole thing planned for you, and all you have to do is show up.
[00:23:17] Speaker C: That's what I'm thinking. Yeah.
[00:23:18] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:19] Speaker C: Like, rent the gear individually and like, you know, you're just.
[00:23:23] Speaker D: Although we do have a gear rental program.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: Well, yeah, I know, and I can't wait to talk about that piece too. And, you know, as. As we're thinking more about these guided trips that you all offer, I'm kind of curious. Have you noticed friendships bud from these trips, too? Because you kind of like bonding in the elements, you know?
[00:23:44] Speaker A: Yeah. So I was just about to say, like, I think not only is it the extrinsic value that you. The students get, but it's also the intrinsic value of those friendships that really is what I think is beautiful because they are spending that time together, not only in the van. You know, the van rides are kind of long, but also, like on trip. It's like on trip, they are actually engaged in this activity. They're putting down their phones, they're engaged in what they're doing, and they're having these conversations with each other and bonding. Bonding over this activity.
[00:24:14] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:24:15] Speaker D: I've definitely had trip participants, too, that, like, they started out, met on a trip after college. They're married now.
We're also in the business of love.
[00:24:25] Speaker C: Who knew, you know, swimming with manatees would do that? I would think, bond some bonding.
[00:24:33] Speaker B: I mean, truly. Or just being in a van with strange.
[00:24:36] Speaker D: That's.
[00:24:37] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:37] Speaker B: There's so many scenarios and, you know, and then the types of, like, conversation games that people have in a. In a van to try to get to know each other. So all of the things.
[00:24:48] Speaker C: I mean, that is so much fun, though, because think about it like, if you went on a vacation and you're like, I think I want to do an excursion.
You know, like, you show up, you don't know the person next to you. You pay money, you do it. But on these trips, it's truly like a vacation. It's in a little experience, and it's like you're pushing yourself outside your limits, like you said, the student does. But then you're. You're learning all these new, I would think, survival skills.
[00:25:14] Speaker D: That depends on the trip. I mean, some of our trip, like. Like backpacking, maybe you learn a Little bit.
[00:25:19] Speaker C: But, like, I had to survive without a shower outside for three days.
[00:25:24] Speaker B: Yeah, that.
[00:25:24] Speaker C: I'm putting that on my resume.
[00:25:25] Speaker D: Yeah. Now, that was the. That was the panther town trip. I tell you. We were really excited to come back to warm beds and warm showers.
[00:25:31] Speaker B: I'm sure, like, some of the students like, like leading up to that trip, they're, you know, that had these illusions of grandeur. Like, it's going to be like naked and afraid. Like, what am I going to have to do? Like, all of the things.
[00:25:42] Speaker C: But here, want to add them?
[00:25:45] Speaker B: Yep. Gosh, this conversation is so good. But y', all, we have to take a break and we are gonna visit more of what we're currently talking about and then talk even more about renting gear and doing things on your own. But you are listening to Fit to Be Tied with sheena nika on 90.7 the capstone. And we will catch you on the flip side.
[00:26:06] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloos.
[00:26:15] Speaker C: Welcome back, listeners. You are listening to Fit to Be Tied with Shayna and Mika on 90.7 the Capstone.
[00:26:21] Speaker B: That's right. And if you are just now joining us, we have had the best time talking to Shelly Scott and Zach Cox, both from outdoor recreation here at the University of Alabama. We were talking about swimming with manatees, finding love, you know, just doing all of the things. And so I want to go back just briefly lastly regarding the guided trips. So are there any protocols that y' all have to do in regards to the students completing any safety trainings before a trip? And if not for certain trips, what kinds of things do the two of y' all do as staff to ensure safety ahead of time?
[00:27:02] Speaker A: Yeah. So all of our, all of our student trip leaders go. Have to go on what's called trip staff training. And so it's a weekend that we typically spend outdoors and typically it's backpacking, but it's very light backpacking.
At least this time it was. So hopefully we're going to try to improve upon it a little bit more, but it's very, very teaching heavy and making sure that their student trip leaders are prepared to lead trips and for other participants that are paying to go on these trips. So yeah, and then for us, we really try to maintain specific certifications. So both of us have our wilderness first responder, which is a very high level, 10 day intensive course that we have to take. It's like going back to school almost.
And it's solely regarded around if something was to go wrong in the wilderness. What do you have what would you do?
And then our students also kind of go through that as well, a lighter version of it called wilderness first aid. Wilderness and remote first aid.
And it's. It's a more of a weekend long course.
[00:28:03] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:28:03] Speaker A: But it still covers the basic information that they would need to.
[00:28:07] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:28:08] Speaker D: On it.
[00:28:08] Speaker B: Well, I'm assuming. Sorry. N. I just have to get this out because I have this visual. So in that 10 day training that y' all do, I am assuming that y' all both go through a simulated fight with a bear. Correct. And you know how to survive a bear attack?
[00:28:21] Speaker C: Correct.
[00:28:22] Speaker D: Oh, for sure. We're. We're 100% be ready.
[00:28:24] Speaker B: Okay. That's what I thought. Sorry, I just had to get that.
[00:28:26] Speaker C: You're good. Because I have to go back to the naked and afraid. Do you ever watch it and think, okay, I would have done that. I would have not done that. You should do this?
[00:28:33] Speaker D: I've never been much of a naked and afraid person, but I've seen a couple and I'm like, man, these people are kind of dumb sometimes. So. Yeah, I mean, there's definitely things I think I would do differently. One, I wouldn't be naked on public television like that. So that. That's step number one.
[00:28:48] Speaker B: I was a lot of things happening.
[00:28:50] Speaker C: I would love to sit and watch an episode with you guys and y' all like live critique it and.
[00:28:57] Speaker B: Oh, man.
[00:28:57] Speaker C: I mean, so like, if we put you out in the middle of nowhere with like a match and said, survive for 10 days.
[00:29:03] Speaker D: Yeah, you could do it. I mean, if there's the summer and a lot of blackberries around then. Then we'll make it. Make it work.
[00:29:09] Speaker A: I give it a try. Why not?
[00:29:10] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:29:11] Speaker A: Yeah, man.
[00:29:12] Speaker B: Challenging.
[00:29:12] Speaker C: And I can.
I can't go without the shower.
[00:29:15] Speaker B: No, I'm just scared of bug bites. That's my main concern.
[00:29:19] Speaker C: So do you know how to fight a snake?
[00:29:21] Speaker D: I mean, I don't want to. The best course of action. Back away.
[00:29:24] Speaker C: Yeah, she said a bear. So my fear snakes.
[00:29:28] Speaker B: But.
[00:29:30] Speaker C: Speaking of snakes and bears, what do y' all enjoy the most about being outdoors? I'm assuming it's not the bears and snakes and bugs bites.
[00:29:38] Speaker D: You want to take this first one?
[00:29:40] Speaker A: Sure. Yeah. For me, I really love the adventure of it. As you were talking about. I enjoy just kind of being outside and you never really know what I'm going to get into. Sometimes the weather might not be great. Sometimes things may change. I may forget a piece of equipment at home or so I really love the adventure of just being outside.
It gets me active too.
[00:30:01] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:30:01] Speaker A: It's my gym. Gym of sorts. So it keeps me active and keeps me moving.
[00:30:07] Speaker B: So yeah, yeah.
[00:30:08] Speaker D: For me, I think it's just a refresh of my mind.
I am working all week. I've got kids that keep me busy. They are wonderful and a joy for me, but they do keep me really busy. And so when I can get my family and myself just outdoors and active, I think it just refreshes me. And that's what I love the most about it. I mean, it doesn't matter really where I am, but if I can just go and take a walk and feel the sun on skin and just soak up that vitamin D, like, I just feel like a whole new person after and just a lot. A lot more ready for the day ahead.
[00:30:45] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, and just thinking, of course, you know, we are at a, at an institution of higher learning and, you know, there are different stakeholders involved. We're within student affairs, student life here at the capstone. And so if your supervisors were to say, like, okay, Shelly, Zach, we have these stakeholders coming in, like, what. What can you tell these people about the value of your programming here at UA when it comes to student development or them just being more well rounded or performing better academically, like, what kind of thing, what kind of stats do y' all usually drop or facts do you usually drop in regards to that?
[00:31:25] Speaker D: Yeah. Not having specific numbers in front of me right now, but what I can tell you is that being out in nature has scientifically been proven to improve outcomes for a life time for people. So you see less weight gain overall as people are outdoors. Like Zach said, that's their fitness. And they get outdoors and active, you see less depression.
For me, this is like my reset period. And so that's how a lot of people use it.
There's just nothing but benefit, really, to getting outdoors and active.
[00:32:01] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. Self care.
[00:32:03] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely.
[00:32:05] Speaker C: Anxiety and like you mentioned earlier, friendships. So that social aspect, yeah, you find.
[00:32:11] Speaker D: People that enjoy doing the same things that you do, and that's just such a great way to connect. I mean, think about like your best friends in life, y'. All. I'm sure you bonded over some mutual interest in something and that's what connected you. And like, you love each other now. And I think that's, that's honestly, that's how I met my husband. We were both working at a weight loss adventure camp and we met there and just bonded over our mutual interest.
[00:32:35] Speaker C: You didn't mention that, the water part.
[00:32:41] Speaker B: But.
[00:32:42] Speaker C: And also Like Zach said with the international student that wants to push himself, that's your intellectual. I mean, that's self efficacy. You're building those skills that are going to be transferable to like. Well, I've survived outside for three days with an acorn and no shower, so I can do, I can do this job interview. Yeah.
[00:33:01] Speaker B: I can attack my dissertation now. Here we go. Yeah. Now, Zach, while Shelly was talking, you know, you were nodding your head and smiling and you looked. You had some additional things to kind of add to that too.
[00:33:12] Speaker A: Yeah. So my.
For those of you that don't know, my office is over at the Wit center. So I'm over, primarily over the climbing wall and I just wanted to touch on that. I see for me the community that even though it's not technically outside the climbing wall, still provides like this really awesome community that people are in every, every day.
Um, they, we have regulars over there that they go there every single day and they've just become really good friends and then they take that friendship outside. They like want to challenge each other to go to specific rock climbing, locate locations here in Alabama and then they use that opportunity to like just bond over that. And so I, I don't know. The community aspect of it is also really something I would hit on.
[00:33:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: With the stakeholders is just showing them the, the quantitative side, but also the qualitative side.
[00:34:02] Speaker B: Hey, dude, if somebody has community, we have better retention, Right?
[00:34:05] Speaker C: Right.
[00:34:06] Speaker D: Correct.
[00:34:07] Speaker B: Now, I would be remiss if we did not mention this, but y' all teased this a little bit earlier with having gear available for individuals to rent to go on their own trip. So what does that look like for students or faculty staff in terms of renting gear? You know, them getting information on going on a trip on their own.
What do you have?
[00:34:29] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, we definitely have people that come into the rental center and have a goal in mind, like they want to go camping at Talladega or something. That's a, that's a little example. But some people want help planning their own full trip and so they want trail recommendations, they want location recommendations, or they have a specific activity in mind and they just want some, some beta is what we call it, just advice on, on how to do that on their own.
If you name a piece of equipment to rent, we probably have it. So we do have stand up paddle boards, the kayaks, the mountain bikes, the road bikes, the slee, sleeping bags, the tents, the this, the that, and the other.
[00:35:08] Speaker B: I will say it's. It's been a minute. I think this was prior to Covid. I have been a renter of the stand up paddle boards before I took them to Dauphin Island, I think over a Labor Day weekend. And I was like, wow, paddle. Stand up paddle boarding is so much different in the Gulf compared to a lake.
But you know, but hey, I wouldn't have known the difference until I had done it. So I was really glad that you gu had an affordable experiment for me.
[00:35:38] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:35:40] Speaker C: Yeah. So is there any kind of special skill that if there's a trip planned, you're like, oh, that one's mine, that one's mine. Like, yeah, stand up paddle boarding or kayaking or rock climbing.
So something like can you specialize in and it just really excites you.
[00:36:00] Speaker A: There's. It kind of depends also on not only the, the specialization of like the activity but also the, the location. So like I'm from.
So for this upcoming spring break trip that we're going to be doing in Texas, more than likely I know the area really well, so probably it's going to be more likely me to be leading that trip.
But I mean I'm always trying to challenge myself with new activities as well. So I try to get on as many trips as I can as well. Whether those are personal trips or they're professional trips.
[00:36:31] Speaker B: Now y' all are, you know, looks like a two person show in terms of professional staff.
For all of the guided trips that you all have. Does at least one of you have to be on that trip? Is there ever a situation where it's like the student leaders kind of take the full lead?
[00:36:48] Speaker D: Yeah. So like Zach said earlier, we train our staff and we trust them to make good decisions for a lot of the opportunities that they have before them. So they do a trip preference form and complete that and kind of get to decide what interests them the most and what aligns best with their skills. And then we make some decisions past that about who's most qualified to really be leading the trip based on those same factors. And so a lot of our like day trips are student led. Some of our overnight trips are student led.
The really the main times that it's going to be one of the two of us also on a trip is if it's going to be a multi night or if it's way in the back country and there's no.
No service or access to advanced medical or if it's just a really far distance away then, then one of us might go, yeah.
[00:37:40] Speaker B: Or bears are involved and y' all can clearly wrestle a bear. Yeah, well, okay. I have like, oh, my gosh, I wish this conversation could go forever. But, y', all, we've got to take a quick break. Hopefully Shelly and Zach, y' all are down for staying with us for our last five minute segment. But you guys, grab something to drink, run to the restroom, do what you got to do. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Nika on 90.7 the Capstone.
[00:38:10] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa.
[00:38:19] Speaker C: Welcome back, listeners. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Mika on 90.7 the capstone. And I urge you to go back and listen to our earlier segments because we have had two fantastic guest on the show today. Shelly Scott, who is the assistant director, and Zach Cox, who is the coordinator of the university's outdoor recreation program.
[00:38:40] Speaker B: That's right. And, you know, it just. It's been such a great conversation. I'm already thinking, like, we have to have them back on again, you know, and so hopefully we didn't scare you guys during this experience and you will come back. But now this is the part of the show where we go a little bit rogue, but it's dicey because we go rogue with our guests. So I think the question that I would like to ask y' all today, if you had to pick a. A celebrity to play you in your biopic or whatever, but, like, who. Who would be your preferred celebrity to play you? There could be. There doesn't have to be any rhyme or reason to it.
[00:39:18] Speaker C: Hold on.
[00:39:18] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:39:19] Speaker C: Liberty has to know how to fight a bear.
[00:39:20] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:39:22] Speaker C: Or look like you imagine you fighting a bear.
[00:39:25] Speaker D: Yeah, obviously it's Bear Grylls. Yeah.
[00:39:30] Speaker A: I. I'm gonna go. Sam Elliott. I feel like that man could fight a bear.
[00:39:33] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:39:34] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, That's a good choice.
Do you think he.
[00:39:38] Speaker D: Your.
[00:39:38] Speaker C: Your character very well?
[00:39:40] Speaker A: Yeah. I think you would. We're. We're completely on the opposite ends of the age spectrum, but I love it.
[00:39:45] Speaker B: Okay, we'll take it.
[00:39:46] Speaker C: Future.
[00:39:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:47] Speaker C: Gotcha.
[00:39:48] Speaker B: Okay, I got it.
[00:39:49] Speaker D: You ask me this question, and my mind is coming to a complete blank about every single celebrity. Pretty much.
[00:39:54] Speaker B: You know, I show my age whenever, like. Because if you were to be like, sheena, what about you? I would be like, I don't know.
[00:40:01] Speaker C: You know? Yeah. Right.
[00:40:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:06] Speaker C: Who do you feel like you remember?
[00:40:09] Speaker D: Like, doppelgangers used to be a really big thing, and they used to be like, the. Who's your celebrity doppelganger?
[00:40:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:15] Speaker D: I don't know if it shows anymore, but at the Time, you know, they my doppelganger or whatever. According to basic AI at the time, Drew Barrymore.
[00:40:25] Speaker C: So I could see that.
[00:40:27] Speaker B: Yeah, no, you guys have the same like mannerisms with, with the way that you talk in the animation there. So I could totally see.
[00:40:36] Speaker C: I could see Drew fighting a bear too.
[00:40:37] Speaker B: Yeah, you know. Oh, for, for sure. I could see her. Yeah, definitely. You know, preparing for a role and having had some legit training with that. For sure.
[00:40:47] Speaker C: Because I mean, if they're playing Yalls lives, they're gonna have to go outside, they're gonna have to get dirty, they're gonna have to get like.
[00:40:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:53] Speaker C: Hungry.
[00:40:55] Speaker D: I mean she was, she was eat.
[00:40:57] Speaker C: Right.
[00:40:57] Speaker B: She was et.
[00:40:58] Speaker D: So like she's already been dealing with aliens.
[00:41:00] Speaker B: Yeah, she was a Charlie's Angel.
[00:41:02] Speaker D: Yeah, clearly she kicks.
[00:41:04] Speaker C: But yeah. Yeah.
[00:41:06] Speaker B: Nika, I feel like your ch.
Reese Witherspoon @ some point in time.
[00:41:09] Speaker C: Yes, yes, yes.
[00:41:10] Speaker B: Probably yes. Yes, yes.
[00:41:14] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
We watched Legally Blonde on TV this weekend and there's a part in there where I'm like, yeah, yeah, that cornbread accent that I know.
[00:41:27] Speaker B: I feel, I feel like you can confidently bend and snap.
[00:41:32] Speaker C: What? Like it's hard. Yeah, yeah.
[00:41:35] Speaker B: What about you, Sheena? I don't know, you know, and again, for listeners that don't know, I am a Filipino woman who is five foot one and you know, sometimes my southern accent, it complicates things so some. So I feel like I have to default to like a Mindy Kaling or you know, I'd have to get some like up and coming person who just hasn't had their claim to fame yet. But they're playing me in, in my biopic on Lifetime because that's probably the, the station that my. The. The genre of movie of my life would be like very dramatic. I don't know. But anyways, we see. So after I do that improv class next week for my birthday and if I decide that I'm just going to change careers and yeah, I'm gonna play myself because I feel so inspired by Shelly and Zach's non linear pathway to their role that I'm like, maybe what I'm doing right now is just a small blip and what's meant to be. I need to tell my husband and kids that. But you know, so we'll see.
[00:42:38] Speaker C: It would be very sad to lazy but.
[00:42:42] Speaker D: But you'll see her all the time in the movies.
[00:42:43] Speaker C: That's what I was gonna say. I mean, we could just take the show on the road.
[00:42:47] Speaker B: Yeah, we'll see. I might be in a traveling group. The little spin off of Whose Line Is It Anyway? You never know. But, you guys, we gotta end the show or else we're just gonna go deeper in the mud. But, Shelly, Zach, thank you both again for being on the show today.
[00:43:00] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:43:01] Speaker B: Yes. Okay, you guys, until next time, you have been listening to Fit to Be Tied with sheena nika on 90.7 the caps stone.
[00:43:14] Speaker A: WVUAFM Tuscaloosa.
