Your first year at college can be really overwhelming. Trust me, I’ve been there. Thankfully, Kenyon College has a lot of wonderful things to offer! Here are five tips for activities you should do and places you should visit during your first year on the hill. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!
1. Go Down to the KAC
Go to the KAC! Not just so that you can avoid the “Freshman 15,” but because the KAC is one of the nicest facilities at Kenyon and has been ranked as one of the best gyms for athlete and non-athletes in college. That includes D1 schools! The KAC has a sauna and a steam shower in the locker rooms as well as a hot tub. Plus the KAC has many free classes from kickboxing to yoga. It also has a mini-market where you can use your K-Card to buy sushi, wraps, and smoothies. So even if you are not athletic, going down and looking at everything the KAC has to offer is a must in your first semester.
2. Visit the Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC)
Another beautiful facility that Kenyon has to offer! I know someone who did not go to the Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) until their senior year—don’t let that be you! The BFEC is a great way to spend time outdoors. Ohio doesn’t have too many beautiful days in the year, so take advantage while they last. The BFEC has a beautiful garden, a house with animals, and trail hikes. You can even volunteer to lead field trips of children on nature hikes! So before the weather turns wintery and cold, go down to the BFEC and enjoy the beauty of nature.
3. Have Brunch at the Gambier Deli
The Deli is delicious. In fact, the first time I went there as a freshman, I almost cried. Or I probably did. Okay, honestly, I don’t really remember my first Deli experience but I am sure it was amazing because the Deli is amazing. In all seriousness, the Deli is a pretty delicious part of Gambier. If you haven’t explored that part of Kenyon it is definitely necessary. Along the same lines, you should get ice cream at the bookstore, get a coffee at Wiggin’s and eat a dinner at the Village Inn (VI)!
4. Don’t Go to an Old K Party
Now, Old K parties can be fun, but they can also be repetitive. You will have four years to go to Old K parties. Instead of trekking all the way to Old K every Friday and Saturday night, try to find something else fun and creative that you can do you’re your friends! It can be as simple as a movie night or going to a concert (on or off campus). Anything works as long as it changes up the pace! Over the next four years you will get bored of doing the same thing every weekend so this is a great time to discover other awesome things around campus. There are usually tons of movie showings and sometimes lectures and just a variety of events going on each week that are just as fun as an Old K Party.
5. Get Off Campus
Even if it is just to go to Wal-Mart, getting off campus and exploring the surrounding areas of Kenyon is super important. You are going to live here for the next four years, so now is a great time as any to discover Mount Vernon and even Columbus! Besides the usual Wal-Mart/Rite-Aide/Kroger trips, there are a ton of great things to do in Mount Vernon. My favorite off-campus restaurants are Hunan for Chinese food and Southside Diner for delicious brunch (and amazing milkshakes), but there are tons of other restaurants as well. Remember, if you do not have a car or a friend who has one, there is always a shuttle in Mount Vernon! If you have a longer time to get off campus, Columbus is a great city to check out. When I was a freshman, some friends and I went rock-climbing in Columbus. High Street (the main street in Columbus) is also a great place to walk around and explore.
Those are my suggestions for what to do during your first year—let me know if you try any of them!
Image credits: Southside Diner, Gambier Deli, BFEC, Kenyon College, foodtravelsofacoffeesnob.com, Lexi Bollis