Recreation

St. Mary's College is like no other. Whether you love to be on the water or hanging out with friends, there are activities and sports to suit everyone. You don't have to be a championship athlete to play intramural sports, and you don't have to be a professional sailor to enjoy our waterfront. You do have to like to have fun, and that is what you will find around campus and the surrounding areas. There is so much to do and see we are sure you'll find something that is right for you!

Waterfront

Since the 1950's, the Waterfront at St. Mary's College has been offering recreational and instructional sailing. Constructed in the late 1960's, the current facility includes a 1600 sq/ft sailing center and 400 ft docking pier as well as a large fleet of sailing and recreational boats. Flying Juniors, Collegiate 420s, ocean kayaks and several keelboats are available to St. Mary's students and faculty on a daily basis during the season. The Waterfront is available for recreational use during both fall and spring seasons.

Athletic and Recreation Center

Completed in January 2005, our Athletic and Recreation Center makes athletes, intramural teams and fitness buffs feel like pros from the minute they start to warm up. Every student has access to our amazing athletic and fitness facilities including:

• a 1,200 seat competition arena for basketball and volleyball
• a 50-meter pool designed by Olympic experts (and a 25 yard recreational pool)
• a 3,400-square-foot fitness center outfitted with state-of-the art equipment
• a climbing wall
• a fitness room equipped for aerobics, step, spinning, martial arts, and fencing
• lounges complete with wireless internet access
• 14 locker rooms
• athletic training room complete with hydrotherapy equipment

Additional Recreational Facilities

St. Mary's students have access to the Hawk's Nest baseball stadium, Somerset tennis complex, nine practice fields, and the Seahawk stadium for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey (complete with one of the finest Bermuda grass fields in the nation). Students, also have complete access to miles of paved and wooded running trails in adjacent Historic St. Mary's City

Recreational Sports

The Recreational Sports Office in the Athletics and Recreation Center offers club and intramural sports. From volleyball to basketball, flag football to rock climbing – there is a wide range of sports to choose from. The best part – you don't have to be a professional athlete to participate and have a great time. Look at what is offered, find something you like, sign-up, and get started. It is a great way to meet people who are just like you.

Frisbee Golf

If you hear 'fore' while touring our campus, be sure to watch out for flying frisbees. One of the most popular recreational activities on campus is Frisbee Golf. Students use campus land marks as holes and Frisbees as golf balls in this popular St. Mary's pastime.

Local parks

You don't have to stay on campus to find nature, there are plenty of local parks minutes away from campus.

• Point Lookout

  Recreational opportunities abound on this picturesque peninsula formed by the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. Swimming, fishing, boating and camping are just a few of the activities you might enjoy here. This park's peaceful surroundings belie its history as the location of a prison camp, which imprisoned as many as 52,264 Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. A museum on site recounts this vivid history. A park map is available at park headquarters, the camp office, camp store, and the Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center.

  Learn more about Point Lookout.

• Elms Beach

  The park offers wonderful views of the Chesapeake Bay and unsupervised swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing and environmental interpretation. The park is open from dawn until dusk (except for special evening and night activities). Please call (301) 475-4200 ext. 1800 for more information on reservations or programs; call the Parks Division at (301) 863-6068 for maintenance related issues.

  Learn more about Elms Beach.