Enjoying the Great Outdoors

If you enjoy nature’s playground, the Biddeford Campus of SWAGÊÓƵ is the place to be. Located so close to many outdoor recreation areas, your choices for fun in the great outdoors are endless. Canoeing, kayaking, skiing, sailing, hiking, biking, surfing, camping, rock climbing, or lying on the beach are all ways that SWAGÊÓƵ students have fun on the weekends. Grab your gear, and get going.

A member of the U N E surf club catches a wave

Clubs

Recreation Council

The Recreation Council is made up of the following clubs. The clubs of the Recreation Council encourage new members to .

Outing Club

One of the largest clubs on campus, Outing Club offers members numerous opportunities to explore Maine and New Hampshire — including an annual spring break trip. If you like hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, or camping, then Outing Club is for you.

Sailing Club

The SWAGÊÓƵ Sailing Club offers learn-to-sail clinics throughout the semester in 420 sailboats steps from residence halls. Additional off-campus charters on traditional Maine Schooners and the opportunity to race amongst other collegiate teams keep students involved.

Scuba Club (Under Pressure)

Want to learn to Scuba Dive? Scuba Club hosts PADI certification classes and open-water dives each year. When the water gets too cold, the club moves into the SWAGÊÓƵ pool and enjoys the warm water to practice skills and have fun.

Ski and Board club (Ride 24/7)

Want to spend your winter on the mountain? Ride 24/7 provides rides to local mountains, discounted season passes, and local events that share the love of alpine sports.

Surf Club

With some of the best surfing on the east coast just minutes from the SWAGÊÓƵ campus, Surf Club has a great time teaching students how to surf and getting out on the waves. Join the club and borrow equipment anytime to catch a wave (restrictions apply).

Justin St. Peter

Justin St. Peter ’19

Applied Exercise Science

The best thing about studying Applied Exercise Science at SWAGÊÓƵ is an extremely well-rounded approach to the subject matter and a strong knowledge-base of the human body. Professors have a deep understanding of how the body’s basic physiology changes from things like sickness or exercise, and they really share that with students. You get to learn when the body is at its weakest or at its strongest.

Now, I’m getting my master’s in exercise science. SWAGÊÓƵ helped me get there by preparing me for the rigor of a master’s degree and also by providing a connection to other universities for post-grad.

Beyond the Classroom

After joining my first year and doing some hiking in the Whites — I had never hiked in the White Mountains until my first-year orientation trailblazer trip — I heard about this thing called the 48 4,000-footers. It’s a challenge where you do all 48 of the 4,000-foot mountains in New Hampshire. I decided then that I was going to try to do them all in the four years before I graduated.

Eleven of the 4,000-footers are grouped together there in a 30-mile ring called the Pemigewasset Wilderness. I’ve had some truly amazing moments in that wilderness on those peaks. It’s my favorite place in the world right now. Another thing that’s cool is that the Whites are only about an hour and a half to two hours away from SWAGÊÓƵ so it’s a really doable challenge if you space it out across four years.

These kinds of endurance events are furthered by my studies in AES about learning how the body reacts in those situations — to train the body to take something that seems super hard so that it feels like it was not super hard after the proper training and adaptations.

After joining Outing Club my first year and doing some hiking in the [White Mountains] I heard about a challenge where you do all 48 of the 4,000-foot mountains in New Hampshire. I decided that I was going to try to do them all in the four years before I graduated. The White Mountains are only about an hour and a half to two hours away from SWAGÊÓƵ so it’s a really doable challenge if you space it out across four years.

Applied Exercise Science

Equipment Room

The Equipment Room is fully stocked for your next outdoor adventure. Check out our offerings in the Campus Center, including:

  • Backpacks
  • XC skis and boots
  • Wetsuits
  • Camping equipment such as sleeping bags, rain guards, cooking items, and more
  • Bike and ski/snowboard repair and tuning
  • Maps and guidebooks

Hours

Outdoor Recreation equipment is available for rent Thursday through Sunday each week. To ask about equipment availability email the Equipment Room at equipmentrentals@une.edu. For questions, consultation on available equipment, or to request equipment outside standard reservation times email Mira D’Amato, coordinator of Outdoor Recreation and Education at mdamato1@une.edu

Nor’Easter Bike Share

No bike, no problem — SWAGÊÓƵ’s Nor’easter Bike Share is designed to make your life on campus more mobile and enjoyable. Whether you want to ride across campus or to the beach, this opportunity was made for you. It’s free for students to use and bikes are available at three locations, Campus Center, Alfond Forum, and Padua Residence Hall.

To register for SWAGÊÓƵ Nor’easter Bike Share
  1. Download the On-Bike Share App to your Android or Apple phone. 
  2. Register for the SWAGÊÓƵ Nor'Easter Bike Share program using your SWAGÊÓƵ email address. Accept waiver and terms of program use. 
  3. Verification will go to your SWAGÊÓƵ email. Complete the steps outlined in this email. 
     
To check out a bike
  • Open the On-Bike Share App. 
  • Click on Available Bikes and wait for bikes to load. 
  • Use your phone’s Bluetooth. Select the number of the bike you want to rent. 
  • Bike will electronically unlock from the rack.
  • Inspect bike prior to ride. Report any issue in the On-Bike Share App. Bikes must be returned to a docking station.
     
To return a bike
  • Dock bike to the pin on the rack. 
  • Ensure bike securely locked to rack. 
  • The rental will end automatically. 
     
Biddeford Campus bike rack locations
Building Location
Morgane Hall  Main entrance
Decary Hall Main and  admissions entrances
Pickus Hall  Main entrance
Ketchum Library  Main entrance
Leonard Hall Main entrance
Featherman Hall Front and back of the building
Avila Hall End of the building closest to Assisi Hall
Padua Hall End of the building closest to Siena Hall
Siena Hall Left side of the building
Alfond Science Building Main entrance near Stella Maris Hall
Assisi Hall Backside of the building, near laundry entrance
East Hall Riverside entrance
West Hall Riverside entrance
Freddie Hall  End of the building, towards Hills Beach Rd.
Champlain Hall Main entrance
Marine Science Building Main entrance
Petts Health Center Main entrance
Sokokis Hall  Pond side of the building
Creative Arts Building Behind the building, near the parking lot
Program rules
  • Rental periods are 4 hours long and only occur from 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in suspension of usage.  
  • Secure your bike properly when not in use during your reservation period to avoid your rental being stolen. Stolen, unreturned, or damaged bikes are the responsibility of the renter and may be charged to your student account. The bike replacement cost is $875.
  • When on campus, please use any available bike rack to secure your rental. Securing your rental to a tree or post is not permitted.
  • Bikes may be taken off campus and transported on buses. Plan accordingly to return your bike within the 4-hour time limit and/or by 11 p.m. 

Watch: Bike Share Tutorial