At UW–Madison, Recreation and Wellbeing (RecWell) is on a mission to “move Badgers to play hard, get fit, and live well” — and the organization is doing just that all around campus. Operating from the Nicholas Recreation Center (the Nick), Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center, and Nielsen Tennis Stadium, plus outdoor areas like recreation fields and the Union Pier, RecWell is creating spaces for students to improve their physical and mental well-being and, more importantly, have fun.
The Nick, which opened in 2020, is a central campus fitness hub. It features the Power House, a 7,200-square-foot strength space with a specialized turf area and an indoor training hill, as well as the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center, which houses an Olympic-sized competition pool, a 10-meter diving well, and 1,000 spectator seats.
The UW’s newest recreation facility, the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center, opened in 2023 alongside the scenic Lakeshore Nature Preserve’s Howard Temin Path. The comprehensive center has four floors and 270,000 square feet. It features a wide range of amenities, including hundreds of exercise machines, group fitness studios, a permanent rock-climbing wall (Mt. Mendota), sports simulators, and a dedicated cycling studio. But, just as its name suggests, Bakke is more than just a fitness center — it’s also a hub for whole-body wellness. Students can take cooking classes at the Wolf Teaching Kitchen or join an Chimera self-defense class to gain awareness, assertiveness, and physical protection skills. The well-being suite houses three distinct areas: the Rejuvenation room with three nap pods; Serenity, a studio for mind-body classes like yoga and meditation; and Thrive, a suite of massage therapy rooms.
For students who need extra recovery after a challenging workout — or simply after trekking up Bascom Hill — both the Nick and Bakke offer free athletic training services like injury evaluation, treatment planning, and rehabilitation. RecWell also hosts special events throughout the year, such as Ready, Sett, Bowl at Union South’s Sett, or drop-in wellness coaching at residence halls.
Through the UW’s intramural sports leagues, RecWell fosters community among students with recreational offerings that range from basketball and dodgeball to cribbage and Just Dance. Whether students are focused on physical fitness, mental wellness, or social connection, RecWell’s diverse programs and state-of-the-art facilities provide support for every aspect of student well-being.
Jillian Prescott climbs Mt. Mendota during a Top Rope Belay class at the Bakke. Photo by MK Denton/UW–Madison.
Sleep is an important component of overall well-being. Students can reserve pods in the Bakke’s Rejuvenation room for a midday mood boost. Photo by Bryce Richter/UW–Madison.
Colin Lu x’25 takes part in RecWell’s Ready, Sett, Bowl event in Union South’s Sett Recreation Center. Photo by MK Denton/UW–Madison.
Rain or shine, students have a space to run incline sprints in the Nick. Photo by Jeff Miller/UW–Madison.
Students playing in Recwell’s Intramural Sports Floorball tournament at the Nick. Photo by Colton Mansavage/UW–Madison.
The Bakke features four floors of fitness equipment, plus an e-sports room and three stalls of sports simulators. Photo by Althea Dotzour/UW–Madison.
Students play a pick-up game of cricket on the Near West Fields. Photo by Jeff Miller/UW–Madison.
