Great ways to enjoy the snow

If there’s one thing that campus has an abundance of these days, it’s snow. Unfortunately, according to Mr. Groundhog, spring is right around the corner. We’ll have to savor and embrace the snow banks while we have it. At least they’ve gotten us a few days off of class. 

Some students have definitely been taking advantage of the snow heaps around campus by making igloos and tunnels. As long as students stay safe and avoid cave-ins, igloos can be a fun trip back to the days of childhood where the larger the snowfall, the larger the snow fort to defend. Some light-hearted snowball fights are sure to provide an afternoon of fun and will liven up a boring afternoon in a dorm room. 

With Valentine’s Day coming up and relatively mild temperatures forecasted, why not take advantage of the snowy landscape for a nice date night? Grab two cups of hot chocolate from any of the campus cafés and try adding a flavor shot to make it original. Some peppermint or caramel can turn your regular Tuesday morning drink into the highs of a Valentine’s date. Bring your hot chocolates to keep your hands warm and head off towards Horsebarn Hill Road for an escape from the bustle of downtown campus. A loop up Route 195 and then down Horsebarn Hill Road provides some of the best views for miles around and you’ll be able to experience the snowy hillsides. 

Horsebarn Hill also proves to be a favorite spot for other winter activities on campus. The open space and long incline provides some of the best sledding routes around. If you forgot to bring your sled with you to campus, get creative and try using garbage bags or even dorm-room mattresses to slide on. If you’re lucky enough to have a shovel that you used as you attempted to dig your car out of the parking lot, sit on the flat side and use the handle as a steering wheel. Just be careful not to wipe out couples walking by. 

If you’re not keen on getting covered and soaked in melting snow, UConn students get free admission for general skate times at the Freitas Ice Forum, which is just a short walk from the center of campus. If you need to rent ice skates it’ll only cost you four dollars and you can skate for over an hour. 

Now that sidewalks are limited around campus, it might be hard to get outside for a run or workout. Shoveling can be great exercise, and with plenty of people that need help after the storm, there are many opportunities for you to help out a neighbor or friend while you get the health benefit. Other ways to burn off some hibernation calories while enjoying the snow are skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. The UConn Outdoors department, located in the Adventure Center has equipment rentals for students at reasonable prices. They have snowshoes with trekking poles for $4 a day and cross-country skis with boots and poles for only $5 a day. Take advantage of the snow cover and get outdoors to shake up your regular workout routine.