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Spring break is finally here! All of us at the Archives hope you take some time out to rest and have some fun (like the Mount Holyoke students in the picture above)!
Four Outing Club members on a bicycle trip in the countryside, pausing to pet a dog near a pasture :: Mount Holyoke Digital Collections :: circa 1945 - 1950
Penn State Outing Club Needs Your Help
Penn State Outing Club Needs Your Help
If you have not been watching the news, you might not know that the Penn State Outing clubs have been restricted to Campus. They are not allowed to go outdoors. 100 Years of Helping students, relax, learn, grow, explore and graduate have been eliminated by a group of old scared board members, their attorneys and risk managers. You can read more about the issues here. Read the article and then…
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Penn State Disbands Outing Club Because of "Risk."
Penn State Disbands Outing Club Because of “Risk.”
A 98 year old outdoor club at Penn State has been disbanded because of the “risk” to students who participate. You know, hiking, kayaking, backpacking…it’s just to “risky” for students to do it. After all, going outdoors is just not what the nanny state wants students to do. “This is a result of an assessment of risk management by the university that determined that the types of activities in…
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How easy is it to get to hiking trails from Smith? Or just get outdoors? (beside paradise pond activities) Thanks!
Hey! There are gorgeous trails behind the athletic fields that allow you to walk along the other side of the Mill River (which connects to Paradise Pond). The Cross Country team I know uses these frequently but they are also great for walking, showshoeing, etc. There is also a path that goes down the Mill River connecting from the side of Paradise Pond that is closest to the Quad, which is nice, too. Smith is also conveniently located next to the Norwottock Rail Trail, which, if you like biking, is a lengthy bike path that allows you to bike all over! This is one of my favorite activities to do at Smith. Besides this, I highly encourage you to check out the Smith College Outing Club-- they regularly lead hiking, skiing, and other types of outdoor excursions. In addition, you can join the UMass Outing Club which is a popular option among students, and they run excursions to the White Mountains in New Hampshire! I hope this helps!
- Anna C
Join MHC’s Outing Club for local hiking trips to take in and enjoy the beautiful nature we seek to protect and defend. The Outing Club seeks to cultivate and enrich Mount Holyoke students' appreciation for nature by providing accessible trips, leadership training, and community outreach in the outdoors!
I spent so long thinking that the only place to travel was abroad. I made goals of visiting a new country every year--something I find reasonable and still aspire to. However, it was only this semester that I realized how much there is to do in my own backyard. Adventures don’t have to be grand or international--they can be here and now.
This February I had the opportunity to spend a week camping and kayaking on a small island in the Florida Everglades. I was afraid to go--I had never camped before and I definitely wasn’t ready to spend a week without indoor plumbing. It was only after Maya spoke about her wonderful experience the year prior that I made peace with the idea. However, with white sand beaches and mangrove forests, spending the week on Lulu island was nothing short of a magical experience.
[Leaving for a day trip--just look at all that ocean and sky! I’m at the very right.]
I spent my days swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, sketching my surroundings, reading for pleasure, and going on long walks. Nights were spent around a blazing campfire, telling stories, eating sweets, finding constellations, and playing rounds of Mafia.
The whole trip was organized through our Outing Club and after getting back, I made a goal to do one outdoor activity every week until graduation. I’ve held to it so far: just this past month, I’ve been skydiving, caving, paddle boarding, camping, rappelling, and hiking. Spending all this time outdoors has made me truly appreciate the Blue Ridge and our part of Virginia.
I went to this talk a few weeks ago by an environmental ethicist who commented on how getting outdoors is such a high-tech and high-adrenaline pursuit nowadays. When you think of people who enjoy being outside, you think of intense mountaineers or alpine skiers with all the latest gadgets and gear. However, as I realized, the outdoors really are for everyone--all ages, all skill levels, and all walks of life.
I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to participate in Outing Club activities sooner. I am a second-semester senior after all and I could have been outside for all these years! But it is better late than never and I am so happy that I now know how accessible the outdoors really can be.
College goes fast! Get outside.
No offense Lex, but I prefer sunshine on my Saturdays... ☀️
