Gathering student opinions on the Association

CA (Columbia Association) has been a cornerstone of Columbian culture and even the wider Howard County community ever since its launch in 1967 alongside the establishment of Columbia itself. Courtesy of the ambition and drive of James Rouse and his “Howard Research and Development Company,” to this very day, CA continues to act as a crucial part of maintaining our towns’ first-rate amenities, community centers, and recreational offerings.

There are individual, two-member, and family packages available, with significantly heightened pricing for out-of-town non-residents. The packages in question include “Play” membership, with year-round indoor and outdoor swimming, ice skating rinks, tennis and pickleball courts situated both indoors and outdoors, as well as the sole mini-golfing course in the entirety of Columbia. It wouldn’t break the bank at the expense of parting with $25-$40 per month for renewing singles and family packages alike. 

 On a sliding scale of most affordable to priciest, the options start at the “1Fit” and “CA Fit & Play” geared towards those who have a preference for socializing and seek personal fitness trainers and fitness classes. The priciest ones include the “Golf Fit & Play” and “7 Day Golf,” both of which individually command monthly payments in the hundreds of dollars. In addition, there also are separately packaged and often pay-per-session disciplines such as equestrian one-on-one, summer camps, before and after school care, exchange programs, martial arts, and more. Columbia Association also offers a sliding-scale financial aid and payment program for families that may need assistance.

 I’ve also sought the firsthand experiences of patrons and former employees of the association, by interviewing OM students. 

“The sites themselves can get crowded at times, yet it’s still an enjoyable experience… they gave us an annual trial free membership for the whole family, one single year free for the whole family… We went sometimes when we had time… not regularly though,” stated junior Abdiell Marin, conveying his conflicted appreciation for CA. The pricing, ranging from the low teens to the lower-mid hundreds for a family every month, “was steep,” added Marin, though “the benefits at the end of the day outweighed the negatives” in his eyes.

 When asked about his routine and regularity, Sean Hillary, another junior OM student, said as much, “I lift, I go in there, I go on the treadmill, and then, sometimes I play basketball, the whole nine yards and all that. Leg day and upper body day,” Hillary explained about his experience at the Supreme location. He added that “Supreme’s kinda old and aging, dated, but it’s cool… it’s there for me when the time calls for it.” In regards to the membership options, packages, and pricing, Hillary said pricing is “…kinda a steep barrier, but on the other hand, it’s fair because there’s much included with the package.”

 Olivia Mayhew, who’s actually worked for the Association, casually mentioned how she used to clock in and out for extremely long round-the-clock shifts. However, this was all out of her own will and eagerness to cop as much money as possible. She started at about $15 an hour which steadily rose as time went on. “I worked at Stevens’ Forest for about 2 years, I was certified in CPR and first aid, and basically operating a pool as a contributing team member in general… The schedule could be accommodated to work around your needs with your own reshuffling, you could just pick up shifts whenever you felt like it,” she stated. 

 CA is the exact opposite of a one-trick pony, competing in so many fields and realms of recreation, entertainment, sporting, and self-workouts. For the most part, CA enjoys a positive reputation and reception from many of Columbia’s residents. 

Image Collage Courtesy of Columbia Association