November can be a busy time on the Hill. With Thanksgiving approaching, classes wrapping up and the weather changing, it can be hard to take time to enjoy the season. Luckily, St. Olaf offers a multitude of autumnal activities for students.
Go apple picking: a short four miles from the St. Olaf College campus lies Fireside Apple Orchard, where the public is welcome to pick apples from the trees to take home. The hardest part is deciding which is better: picking the apples or eating them. Fireside also has gardens and a shop with fresh homemade apple donuts, apple cider, gifts and, of course, bags of apples.
Get outside: with December on the horizon, it is safe to say that this will be the last month of above-freezing temperatures in Minnesota for quite some time. That being said, there are plenty of opportunities on campus and in Northfield to enjoy the last days of nice weather. Try going for a walk in the natural lands, or check out Ole Touring; the student-led recreational bike club offers fun, 10-25 mile rides around Northfield and the surrounding area three times per week. Contact millerh@stolaf.edu or bransky@stolaf.edu for more information.
Get moving: this month is called “Movember” by some exercise enthusiasts. Exercise is a great way to avoid stress and maintain health. If you can’t get outside, no worries; St. Olaf offers plenty of other opportunities to get moving. From the rock climbing wall to the swimming pool not to mention the two weight rooms and tracks, Skoglund provides easy and fun ways to stay fit. If you prefer group workouts, try an intramural sport, Zumba or yoga.
Attend concerts, plays and sports games: with campus musicians gearing up for Christmas Fest, there will be multiple concerts held in the later part of the month details can be found on the stolaf.edu Events Calendar. Deep End APO will also be putting on “Clybourne Park” on Nov. 7 through Nov. 9 in the Mellby lounge. Additionaly, the St. Olaf Department of Theater will present “The Love of Three Oranges,” which will open on Nov. 14.
November also means the conclusion of the fall sports seasons and the start of winter sports. There will be many opportunities to cheer on a variety of St. Olaf teams, from football to basketball to hockey.
Have a Pinterest party: November is a great time to take advantage of fall’s seasonal flavors. Grab some friends and whip up a pumpkin pie, apple crisp or sweet potato casserole. Alternatively, look online for creative ways to use leaves to make great dorm decorations.
Write Blog, Novel: November is also National Novel Writing Month and National Blog Writing month. NaNoWriMo offers a Web site with help planning and writing a novel over the span of November. The Creative Learnings Community holds weekly Writing and Creating Groups on Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. in the Art Barn, and welcomes all who want to work on a writing or any creative project. The Manitou Messenger also welcomes new writers to submit articles or original pieces.
Whatever you choose to do this month, be sure to take a break from classes to spend time with friends and enjoy the transition into winter.
meeder@stolaf.edu
Photo Credit: ASHLEY BELISLE/MANITOU MESSENGER
