A TSA(Technology Student Association) member created a website for the club as his CAS project. The website contains basic information about the Club and about the gym. The website is a requirement by the SBG but it is also another measure to advertise the gym. So far we have increase the amount of people attending the gym after school and I have been helping people from a variety of grades to start their workout routines. Many of them have already noticed changes in their bodies and behaviors and have started recommending the gym to their friends and classmates. The fitness club is starting to advertise itself and more people now have knowledge of the gym's existence.
Club Fair
This club fair we were able to successfully attend and advertise the club. We had missed the club fair last semester so we made this one count double. We took a barbell from the gym and had a small lifting competition in front of our booth. We had a mass of people waiting to try their best at the lift and others just wanting to cheer them on.
We had a sign up sheet and got around 15 names which we later then invited to the gym to talk about rules and training. Andrew and I created workout plans according to how many times they would come a week and what their end goal would be. We also took the chance to take a club picture to document progress.
New additions to the Gym
We have finally gotten the stickers for the gym designed by Andrew and then printed by Mr. Mott. The stickers went through a long design process in which we tested various font types and designs. In the end we picked a typical varsity type face which includes the schools color pallet(red, white).
The reason for the need of a big sticker/poster like this is to make the gym a more open environment. It allows people to feel like they are part of something so they keep up the work and reach their goals. It also gives the bland gym some color which it is dearly in need of.
Redesigning the gym
First of all, Andrew and I immediately went to the gym to take pictures and measure every single piece of equipment….
Upon reviewing the current layout of the gym, we thought it would be good to make a plan or map showing where each item currently was located. So, we took measurements of all the walls and equipment, and made a simple map of the current layout. Original Layout:
As seen in the map, everything seems to be cluttered, and equipment is scattered in random places. All the cardio machines take up the North wall, which is where the big mirror is, while all the free weight and benches are in the center of the gym, making everything feel cramped and uncomfortable. This setup doesn't allow for the free weight users to see themselves in the mirror, which is very important for them to use proper form to not mess up their backs. The great thing about making this map is that it is very easy to move things around, and as each item is the exact size, we know perfectly how much space there will be. With that being said, we made a more organized new layout using information about what users desired. New Layout:
With this new layout, walking into the gym makes you feel like your in a much spacier room, as well as organized into sections. As you can see, the North wall opens up when all the cardio is pushed on the East wall, making more mirror space for more comfortable work out sessions. As well, free weights are all in one area, legs are in one area, and cardio are all in one area. There just becomes more space to walk around with no one blocking your mirror or bumping right next to you. The extra space is also very usable for the people who use mats for their workouts. We sent the proposal to Chris Mott, the athletics director, and he approved of it. Rearrangement started shortly after and with the help of janitors we got it done efficiently.
Preperation Stage:
Planning: There are 4 main tasks that Andrew and I need to do in order to make this project a success. They are…
Become an official club by talking to the SBG
Create basic ideas for redesigns of the gym
Talk to NAHS to create murals for some white walls in the gym
Create cool stickers for gym with quotes
Go to club fairs to advertise the club
Making a step by step plan for the club was very difficult since it involved the collaboration with a lot of people and some things had to happen before others, so we decided to prioritize on the top ones. Since we couldn't do much without being a official club we set that at the very top and worked towards that not considering the other tasks. Then after that came the redesign of the gym and the reorganization of the equipment. This would then help us to advertise the club more effectively.
A very rough schedule is that during the month of February, Andrew and I will reorganize the fitness room, as both of us are free and the janitors are too. In the month of March, we’ll start the process of becoming a club, as school starts and SBG is accepting new clubs during that time. The stickers should be designed by early April, and be hung up by late April or early June, depending on the production time. The murals should be painted next semester, in September, as there will be no time to fully organize a complete team that will be able to design and paint the murals. Also since we want to include another club into this we will have to communicate with the NAHS and see when they have time.
August we will be present at the club fair and advertise. We will talk to the new activities commissioner and talk to head of activities: Mr. Mott.
Investigation Stage:
Why this project?
I am very passionate about the gym and it is very important to me. I feel like the gym is overlooked as a kind of therapy for over worked and over stressed IB students. With this club I want to advertise the gym to help fellow classmates and the community in general. The gym is place to get stronger and place to make new friends.
What CAS categories does this fit in?
This CAS project fits perfectly into all three categories. There is Creativity, because with goal of making it more open to outside people, we are trying to make the inside more attractive with murals on the walls. Activity is a huge part because everything done in the gym is exercise and trying to help people get into shape. Service because the goal of the club is to make the gym more accessible to everyone make everyone feel accepted in it.
What is my project's objective?
I joined forces with a fellow gym buddy to work on this project. We both value our time at the gym both for socializing and for exercise. With this club we are trying to advertise the gym to high school students so the gym is not left unused. We will make the gym more attractive to be open to different social groups and make everyone feel accepted.
Perseverance:
We will work through not being accepted as a club since we are the new ones in the ball park. We will not expect any first success since no one knows about us but we are hoping to get quick traction through club fairs and booths. Also through daily announcements we will try to spread the word. From experience I know clubs are hard to jump start but once they are up it gets a little simpler.
Collaboration:
I am working with my workout partner Andrew on this project. We are both very passionate about fitness and together we decided to start this club to share our passion. We will both help new members who enter the gym and collaborate on getting them integrated. Adding to that we will collaborate closely with Mr. Mott to get new equipment and stickers to make the gym more open to more age groups.