Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Red, orange, yellow, green. Anyone else as excited for Fall as I am? We can all tell that fall is here by the brisk morning air that can be felt when walking to our morning classes, and the changing colours of the trees that surround us on our beautiful campus. Fall is one of those seasons that is hard to dislike because of all the fun and exciting opportunities that the season provides us with: pumpkin picking, apple picking, fall hikes, halloween, pumpkin spice lattes and so much more! Luckily for Lakehead, we are fortunate to be near many nature parks that include breathtaking scenery, and on-campus activities that you can participate in in between classes. If you choose to continue reading, I will divulge into some amusing activities to take part in during this stunning season.
Let’s start off with Scout Valley. Scout Valley is a 7 minute walk away from the Lakehead Orillia campus on University Avenue. All you have to do is walk straight down University Avenue, past the OPP station, and you will see it right in front of you. In total, the entirety of Scout Valley stretches across 230 acres. I’ve hiked the trail myself, and there is a diverse selection of plants that grow and wildlife that roam there. It is definitely worth observing if you are interested in getting to know what you can find in nature in our smaller city of Orillia. EDUCATION STUDENTS! If you are looking for some inspiration for incorporating nature into your lesson plans, I highly recommend this place as there are endless possibilities for exploration! Having real life experiences in nature can allow for a greater appreciation and understanding of our role in taking care of our earth, and how the earth can be great for us in return. Also, if any of you enjoy treasure hunting, I believe that there are some geocaching opportunities at Scout Valley. If you find yourself wanting to enjoy the weather outside, take a walk through Scout Valley’s charming trails. Unfortunately, biking of any sorts is not allowed on the trails.
Now, what is Lakehead University (Thunder Bay and Orillia) doing to celebrate this fall season? On October 31st, the University is celebrating Student Appreciation Day. Since it falls on Halloween, the school is encouraging students to come in their best costumes- let’s see what your creative minds come up with. Spooky. Additionally, throughout the day, the school will be hosting some halloween/fall-themed activities around campus and handing out candy and other prizes that can be won at certain points. It is like trick-or-treating for adults! Remember, this day is all about us, the students, appreciating and acknowledging our hard work towards success, so have fun with it… make it your day!
All in all, I hope that some of you consider engaging yourself in some of these activities. Make this fall season a memorable one; those memories you look back on in a year or so with your friends and think… wow… We really had the time of our lives here. Have a great reading week Thunderwolves!