SLIPPERY ROCK — Although classes are adjourned for the summer at Slippery Rock University, the campus is buzzing with camps and conferences.

Lisa Weinzetl, director of conference services, said that not everyone realizes that SRU is available for use by such events.

“It's one of those hidden gems,” Weinzetl said.

This year, she said there are about 40 camps and 11 conferences scheduled at the university.

“It depends year-to-year,” Weinzetl said.

These can be a variety of events, from sports and band camps to large local and national conferences, such as the North Country Trail slated for Aug. 12-17 and the recent Rotary International District 7280 Conference June 7-8.

“It runs the gamut,” Weinzetl said.

This past week, the Universal Cheerleaders Association had a camp at SRU, bringing in more than 300 cheerleaders.

All of the camps are held during the summer.

“We take advantage of the empty residence halls,” Weinzetl said.

However, conferences are held throughout the year.

She said many camps, such as band, sports and art camps, come to SRU every year. Other times, people at SRU talk to her department to try to recruit certain conferences.

Her department also works with the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, and it is a member of Unique Venues, an organization that helps promote venues to attract different events.

“It's a combination of efforts,” Weinzetl said.

Campers can stay in dormitory rooms with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a microwave and a bathroom. People attending conferences get extra amenities, such as linens and a television.

Camps and conferences can rent the academic buildings for use, or use the Russell Wright Alumni House or rooms in the Robert M. Smith Student Center.

Some people make use of the Aebersold Recreation Center.

“We really try to use everything on campus,” Weinzetl said.

She added, “We try to make it as user friendly as possible.”

Weinzetl also said many people take advantage of the expertise of SRU professors or SRU's leadership development staff.

“We're more than bricks and mortar,” she said.

Although these camps and conferences make money, that money goes to a good cause.

“The money we generate goes to scholarships,” Weinzetl said.

But she said her department does not publicize the amount of money camps and conferences bring in.

In addition to scholarship money, these events also attract more attention to the university itself.

Weinzetl said her department, as well as other departments, look at everyone who visits the campus as potential students or parents of potential students.

“It's a good chance to showcase the university,” Weinzetl said. “We're always trying to promote the university.”

She said that based on numbers from the tourism bureau, people who stay for one night at SRU or in the county spend $125 at local businesses.

“It's far-reaching,” Weinzetl said.

Borough Mayor Ken Harris said he is not sure about how much conferences affect the local economy because so many services are available on SRU's campus.

“It's hard to say,” Harris said.

Bill Sonntag, president of Slippery Rock Development, said he recently spoke to families that attended a soccer camp at SRU. He said they stayed at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in the borough and ate at local restaurants.

“I think it definitely helps business in the local community, there's no doubt about that,” Sonntag said.