Kate Hoehn, Special to The Denisonian–
Any Denison student looking to clear their mind and enjoy relaxing conversations are invited to Thursday Trails and Thoughts, a weekly event hosted through the Hoaglin Wellness Center.
Students meet at Hoaglin before heading down the hill and beginning an hour-long walk through Denison’s Bio Reserve. There, students are exposed to the beauty of Ohio’s native flora and fauna.
Some attendees use this opportunity to branch out of their usual routine.
“It gave me a chance to be out in nature, which isn’t something I usually do,” said Cailyn Skiles, ‘29. “I enjoy getting out of campus.”
Courtesy of the Wellness Center, participants are given paper handouts containing conversation starters, ranging from favorite vacation spots to fun facts about health. Conversation comes easy along the trail, aided by sights of flower fields and the occasional Denison deer.
Leading the walk is Maaike Snider, a Wellness Ambassador for Hoaglin Wellness Center.
“[Nature] helps people to be mindful,” Snider said. “We’re always so go go go, we forget how important being present is, and being outside helps people to be present.”
Maintaining mental and physical wellness as a college student can be challenging, but the Hoaglin Wellness Center and its ambassadors strive to provide programs that help students regulate their overall well-being. In addition to Thursday Trails and Thoughts, the center offers pilates classes, journaling, yoga, and mindfulness workshops. As a Student Wellness Ambassador, Snider wanted to focus her programs on physical and mental wellness. She realized that a group hike would meet these goals.
“Walking outside combines both physical and mental health. It helps relieve stress and boost endorphins- happy hormones!” Snider said.
The trail guides students along the Bio Reserve’s natural beauty, and students can even see the expansive solar field, which contributes to the 15% of Denison’s energy that comes from solar panels, according to Denison’s website.
The trail lasts about an hour before it circles back towards Denison. This provides ample time for students to interact with both nature and fellow attendees. Most agreed that time seemed to fly by.
“It’s nice to see all the greenery before winter kicks in,” Skiles said.
However, Thursday Trails and Thoughts will continue throughout the school year, including the winter. Snider even reflected on the value of being outdoors during the winter season, “Winter may be the most important time to get outside!” she said.
This program gives students space to reflect on the week, leave troubles behind, and explore a new area of campus. All students are invited to join in on this event, held 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.