“Think about the things, places, or people that connect us.” I like this idea as it relates to the theme of Bridge.
I share several angles of the Guy West Bridge that spans the American River from the Sacramento State Campus to the community of University Village/ Campus Commons. This bridge is also right off the American River Bike Trail.
Built in 1966 to link the campus with the then-new, Campus Commons college-community development, the 1,144-foot-long, 16-foot-wide pedestrian bridge is officially known as the Guy A. West Memorial Bridge. Dr. West was the first president of then Sacramento State College.
I teach a general education course on Friday mornings called “Leisure Lifestyle Development.” Taught in a large lecture hall seating 80-plus students, I keep them busy learning how recreation and leisure are essential in their lives.
Each semester, after a lecture on various play theories, I take the class outdoors where we walk the short distance to the Guy West Bridge and blow bubbles.
We get a few quizzical stares, but my favorite question from a man on a bicycle was, “What class is this?!” Of course, I’m happy to tell him!
A bridge that is a mini-replica of the Famed Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco indeed connects university students with the surrounding communities and a sense of fitness and leisure through walking and cycling.
How do bridges in your hometown connect the community?
Discover more from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
Wow, now that’s a class I would have enjoyed “back in the day”! How fun 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tina! It’s a big class with lots of students, but one of my faves! The department offered the class 20+ years ago to expose students to the Rec and Parks major. Something is working now as there are 30 part-time lecturers like me and over 500 students in the major.
LikeLike
What a fun way to teach, Terri!! Bridges connect us kinda like blogs do!!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also like the symbolism of bridges. When I taught high school art, one assignment was to paint a bridge and describe the connection possibilities. The student paintings were wonderful; better were their developing understandings of how people bridge differences or to history. Would love to walk this bridge with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so cool, Sharon! People don’t always think of the connections other than “why did the chicken cross the road…” I read this bridge was the longest pedestrian bridge of its kind in the country when it was built in the 60s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a big fan of bridges! I have never heard of the Guy West Bridge, but have been over the Golden Gate Bridge many times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read there is a really cool footbridge there in San diego that spans one of those canyons. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed hearing about your class and the campus, Terri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have three bridges in Brisbane, Terri that link the CBD with our Southbank Parklands. I love running over them each week and feeling the connection between work and recreation. Thanks for linking up at #BloggersPitStop
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would LOVE to take that class…and walk across that bridge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Donna, it’s a fun class to teach!
LikeLike
[…] Second Wind Leisure Perspectives How a Bridge Connects Us […]
LikeLike
You sound like such a fun and creative teacher, Terri, I love the idea of blowing the bubbles on the bridge! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Judy!! After 20+ years of others teaching this course, I’m the first to offer bubble blowing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that is what makes you unique and memorable, not to mention fun! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blush!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blowing bubbles sounds great fun, Terri. When I lived in Earls Court in Central London (1987 – 1989), I lived next door to a house that had a bubble blowing machine that constantly blew bubbles across the street from a downstairs window. It certainly made people smile, even on wet cold mornings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, how cool was that! Someone had some imagination and humor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strangely enough, I never saw who lived next door. That’s one thing about living in London. You rarely meet or get to see your neighbours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am picturing you and your class blowing bubbles on the bridge. I love it! I don’t love bridges- they used to scare me as a kid. I never feel safe on a bridge, and I drove across the bridge from Wisconsin to Iowa every day for 20 years! Maybe if I had experienced some fun on a bridge….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just had a flash of you blowing bubbles out of your car window on that bridge 🙂
LikeLike
What a fabulous idea! A class on leisure. I think Americans can use that more than ever. I love the Sacramento area, but have never seen ‘your’ bridge. I lived in the SF bay area for 20 years, and the last five of them had a gorgeous view of the GG Bridge. I have a love/love relationship with the Golden Gate, and even see it in my dreams at times, particularly now that I live in the Boston area. ;-0
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! The Guy West bridge is just a little gut compared to the golden gate, but we like it.
LikeLike