Summit Photo by Jake Zabski
Juniors Chloe Landry and Molly Cannon walk through the woods in the snow.
Summit Photo by Jake Zabski
By Jake Zabski
As campus life has come to a halt amidst campus restrictions, students are finding ways to still enjoy being on campus while following the guidelines set in place.
While the weather may not allow on-campus residents to be outside much recently, this did not stop junior Molly Cannon from exploring the trails of her own campus backyard during the lockdown.
Cannon said that she lives in Notre Dame Du Lac, a residential building that is next to several trails leading to other spots on campus including Pilgrim Heights and Donahue Hall.
“I enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with walking the trails on campus. They offer a place where you can get lost in nature, and it is beautiful in every season,” Cannon said.
Cannon said that the trails are full of surprises which, to her, makes going for a walk satisfying. From seeing animals like deer or snakes in the summer to a rusted old car behind Lot 17 to the remains of fire pits and stone walls deep in the forest, Cannon said there is always something to be seen.
Cannon said she especially enjoys the trails in the winter when the fresh snow covers the ground. She said it offers a scenic escape to everyday life.
Cannon said walking on the trails has been beneficial for her mental health, especially during the most recent campus-wide lockdown.
“Fresh air has always been a wonderful outlet for me as I maintain good mental health habits. I noticed that I feel refreshed after a walk, even if it’s cold out,” she said. “Even though it is winter, it is still extremely important that you get outside and feel the sun on your face. Breathing the fresh air is a welcomed change from the stuffy dorm rooms during the lockdown.”
The current guidelines from the College suggest that students who are exercising outdoors must maintain six feet from other people and wear a mask. The College also encourages students to limit the number of people in a group as much as possible if they choose to exercise with others.
Susan Mooney, a professor for the Environmental Science department also said that finding ways to be outside during the current pandemic situation is beneficial for students’ mental health.
“Much research and many people’s personal experience is that time in nature helps relieve stress and improve mental and physical health. A trail walk can be like a walking meditation, taking your mind off the chaos and uncertainty of our pandemic lives,” Mooney said.
She said that while the winter weather might be a deterrent for some students to leave their rooms, students should “just do it.”
“Dress appropriately for the weather, and in layers. Be sure your boots have slip-resistant soles. Even on the wooded trails, have your mask on. If you are concerned about being in the woods alone, arrange for a socially distanced walk with a friend, and definitely keep your mask on,” Mooney said.
The Recreational Sports and Health & Wellness Departments on campus have also been finding ways to encourage students to leave their rooms and explore the outdoor spaces that Stonehill has to offer.
Jessica Greene is the head Health & Wellness Educator of the Health & Wellness department and said that activities like geocaching could be fun on campus, something she has done with her son for Boy Scouts.
Geocaching is an activity done through the app “Geocaching” where people can track and find “caches” which are generally small containers filled with journals and other trinkets where you can sign your name and mark off the pin in your collection of caches.
Greene said that the Health & Wellness department had already planned on setting up the trails for geocaching before the lockdown was announced and that it has now been made a higher priority as students are looking for more socially distant things to do post-lockdown.
In collaboration with the president of the hiking club, sophomore Ethan Penn, the department is setting up various geocaching points on the trails.
In the future, the trails will be officially mapped and made available for students to explore, according to Greene.
She said that an interactive feature on an app called “Goose Chase” will also be added, where students will be able to send in any walking routes they have made on campus, and users will be able to interact with other students and use their walking routes.
“I really wanted people to be able to meet other people, get outside, and learn something,” Greene said.
Aside from the trails, the Recreational Sports Department has organized other safe outdoor activities for students.
Sarah MacHugh, Recreation Sports Manager & Sports Camp Coordinator, said she also set up activities on “Goose Chase.” MacHugh said these activities consist of group exercise challenges, snow angel challenges, and other outdoor things for students to take part in with more to come in the future.
MacHugh said that finding the time to enjoy the outdoors though can be tricky. She said that even with a normal semester, the schedule of a college student can be hectic. Greene and MacHugh both suggested treating going outside and exercising as a sort of appointment.
“Build in your personal wellness like any other meeting,” Greene said.
MacHugh said that something else to consider was looking at the weather and deciding what type of activity to do on a specific day. She said that some days might be perfect for the gym, while others might be perfect for an outdoor workout.
“Look at the week on the weather app and see what days will be good for a hike or a long walk. In the winter, it could be a walk to see the snow,” said MacHugh.
Students who are interested in finding out more about the Recreation and Health & Wellness departments and their upcoming activities are encouraged to follow the Health & Wellness Instagram @Stonehillhealthandwellness and Facebook (Stonehill College Health and Wellness Office) as well as the Recreation’s Instagram @stonehill_recsports.
Yorumlar