UBC Gyms and Recreation: Rec North, ARC, Aquatic Centre and Birdcoop

Rec North opened in July 2025. It has 101,000 square feet of indoor space, including a four-level fitness centre, three wood-floor gym courts and an elevated 200-metre indoor track. The ARC opened in February 2018 in the lower level of the UBC Life Building. It's smaller, and UBC pitches it at people new to training. One fitness membership covers both.

If an older guide or upper-year student sends you to the Birdcoop, check first. UBC Recreation is turning the former BirdCoop space in the Student Recreation Centre into a dedicated bouldering facility with 207 linear feet of climbing terrain. It's due to open in fall 2026, and the fitness membership includes it. One UBC facility page still describes the Birdcoop as a fitness centre, but that page is out of date.

Every full-time undergraduate pays UBC's Athletics and Recreation Fee of $259.74 a year, or $14.43 a credit part time. That fee doesn't buy a gym membership. It makes you eligible for student rates. Log in to UBC Recreation with your CWL so the system can check your eligibility; for Winter Term 1 that check started on August 31, 2026. Linking your CWL can take up to 24 hours.

Fall memberships run September 1 to December 30. You don't need a reservation for the fitness centres. Group fitness classes open for booking 24 hours before they start.

The UBC Aquatic Centre is at 6080 Student Union Blvd. It has a 25-metre recreation pool, a 50-metre competition pool, and a leisure pool with a lazy river. There's also a 34-person hot tub, a steam room and a sauna. The pool hall holds nearly 1,000 swimmers.

A single visit is free for UBC students who've paid the athletics fee. In fall 2026, Thursday nights from 8 PM are for UBC students only, starting September 17. There's no Student Night on October 15 because of Water Wars.

The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre has three rinks: Thunderbird Arena, Father David Bauer Arena and Protrans Arena. Public skating is free for students. Drop-in hockey, stick and puck, and figure skating cost $3.50, and a helmet or skate rental is $4.50. Book online up to 48 hours before a session.

The UBC Tennis Centre has 12 indoor courts and one outdoor court. For September 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, UBC lists student court rates of $34.35 in the main building and $25.75 in the Tennis Bubble. You can book up to 24 hours ahead.

UBC Athletics says students get free admission to all gated Thunderbirds games in 2026-27 with a valid UBC student card. The same page lists paid student tickets for some festival games, so check the game before you go.

UBC Recreation runs fall and winter leagues in badminton, cross volleyball, dodgeball, soccer (Handley Cup), basketball (Nitobe), flag football (Point Grey Cup), pickleball, roundnet, futsal, ice hockey and ultimate. Winter term registration opens November 24, 2026. Team prices appear in the registration portal.

Day of the Longboat, a voyageur canoe race at the Jericho Sailing Centre, runs October 3 and 4, 2026; registration closed September 20. Storm the Wall, a swim, sprint, bike and run relay, ran in March in 2026; 2027 dates aren't posted yet.