Hobbies and job duties are one and the same for Outdoor Recreation’s Beth Javener
Many people aspire to have a job doing what they love. Elizabeth “Beth” Javener, outdoor recreation coordinator for the HTC Center, is one of those people. Every day she goes into work, she is surrounded by some of her favorite activities.
“I feel like I am one of those lucky people who gets to [have a job] doing what they love doing,” said Javener, who has been a part of the Coastal Carolina University family for three and a half years.
Javener oversees the services offered by Outdoor Recreation, which include the climbing wall in the HTC Center; renting out gear to students, faculty and staff through the outdoor center; teaching wilderness first aid trainings at CCU; and supervising the Coastal Recycles bike rental program.
Coastal Recycles takes up the majority if her workday, and she considers it her major contribution to student life. The program rents bikes to 3,000 students annually, free of charge. “I think that is very impactful because when you give someone free transportation, they get to take control of where they go,” said Javener. “Having a mode of transportation is having a sense of freedom.”
Directing the outdoor adventure trips for CCU students, faculty and staff is Javener’s favorite part of the job. Nearly every weekend, she leads a group into the great outdoors for hiking or mountain biking trails, paddle boarding or kayaking on the nearby Waccamaw River, camping, and much more. Most of the trips go to sites in the Carolinas because of the countless places to explore in those local and regional areas.
“Taking students off campus and showing them that within a four-hour area, you can do awesome things, like being in the Smokey Mountains, is really neat,” said Javener.
Javener also hires and trains about 30 student workers, who get a unique hands-on experience with the facilities in outdoor recreation. She enjoys helping them gain experience and find a path to a career. “I certainly hope I can help open doors for them by helping them practice interview skills and sending out emails about job openings in the field,” Javener said.
The icing on cake is that she lives close enough to campus to be able to commute to work by bicycle. She credits her father with instilling in her a passion for cycling.
Originally from a small town called Barron, Wis., Javener is the youngest of five siblings. Her father started a bike shop in her hometown when she was 8 years old, and her job is a way for her to get back to her roots, while sharing the benefits of cycling with Coastal Carolina University.
Javener earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and physical education and a master’s degree in athletic administration and physical education from Idaho State University. After working for Idaho State’s recreation and athletic departments for two years, she got a job in public schools back in Wisconsin. Then she decided it was time for a change of pace.
Javener had had her eyes on the Grand Strand area ever since she was 15 years old, when she and her sister took a road trip from Wisconsin to visit several cities in South Carolina.
“When I was here for that week, I remember how everyone was so nice, welcoming and inviting,” said Javener. “I knew if I ever had the chance to get back to the East Coast, I definitely wanted to.”
Not only is she an incredible asset for University Recreation, she is also a champion for Horry County and the state of South Carolina. In 2018, she became a member of the board of directors for Palmetto Cycling Coalition (PCC).
Harriette Louis, administrative specialist for University Recreation, submitted Javener as a Chauncey’s Champion because of a story that exemplifies how the love she has for her job translates into positive impacts for the community.
Earlier this semester, Javener noticed several junk bike parts from Coastal Recycles that were ready to be taken to a recycling center. She had the idea to let her student bike technicians put together a recycled bike from those various parts that were still useable.
The final product was a fully functioning recycled bike that was spray-painted teal, then donated to PCC’s Giving Tuesday Fundraiser. The recycled bike was raffled off, helping raise $420 that PCC will use to raise awareness for cycling laws and infrastructure needs in South Carolina.
On campus, Javener’s good vibes are felt among all staff members in University Recreation.
“Every day, Beth comes into our office with the largest smile and the most positive attitude about her day ahead,” said Louis. “She is open to change, honest, hardworking, cheerful and has a real heart for the work she does and those who she does it with.”
As a PCC board member, Javener has her heart set on continuing to make a difference for the CCU community through the organization. “We’re landlocked by highways 501 and 544, so we need some infrastructure for cyclist and pedestrians in the area,” Javener said.
Chauncey’s Service Excellence Champions are University employees (faculty or staff) who perform service-oriented actions that go above and beyond their job duties and that meet at least one dimension of service quality. These employees are recognized for outstanding performance and embody the Feel the Teal initiative. To nominate someone for Chauncey’s Champion, visit coastal.edu/feeltheteal, fill out the form and submit it. Approved nominees will receive an exclusive Chauncey’s Champion gift as well as consideration for additional recognition. View all the Chauncey’s Champions at coastal.edu/feeltheteal/champions/champs.php.
See a virtual tour of the Outdoor Center at coastal.edu/recreation/outdoorsclimbing.
To learn more about Coastal Recycles, visit coastal.edu/recreation/outdoorsclimbing/coastalcycles.
Outdoor Adventures: coastal.edu/recreation/outdoorsclimbing/outdooradventures
Climbing wall: coastal.edu/recreation/climbingwall.html
