In these short, dreary days, it may be difficult to find an activity to keep you occupied other than studying for your classes or working outside of school. Fortunately, there are many activities to engage in as the current winter storm has provided a tremendous amount of snow here in Washington. From many exciting outdoor adventures to relaxing art activities, there is an abundance of activities to choose from.
1. Sledding
A timeless winter activity that will most certainly bring you excitement this winter! As there is currently a whole lot of snow here in Ellensburg, now is your chance to bring out your best sled and to find that perfect hill to sled down. Places in Ellensburg that I would recommend for sledding are the hills on the Ellensburg Golf Course and Craig’s Hill.
Whether you are by yourself or with friends, you will, without a doubt, enjoy sledding as you take time off from studying.
2. Skiing/Snowboarding
If you are an experienced skier or snowboarder or are interested in either skiing or snowboarding, then this activity is the one for you. Whether you prefer downhill skiing, cross country skiing or snowboarding, the state of Washington has you covered. As Washington is home to a myriad of wondrous mountains, there are many ski resorts and cross-country ski trails with a range of difficulties to choose from depending on your experience level in either activity.
Additionally, if you don’t know how to ski or snowboard, there are plenty of opportunities to learn how to do either, especially through the ski resorts including Mission Ridge, Snoqualmie and White Pass.
On another note, CWU’s own Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals (OPR) provides opportunities throughout the winter quarter for students to travel to different ski resorts for a day of either skiing or snowboarding and for any additional winter activities (e.g. ice skating, snowshoeing). So be sure to check out their website for details regarding dates and times if interested.
3. Snow Creations
What better way to take a break from studying than to make creations out of snow? From building a snowman to building a snow fort, the opportunities for snow creations are endless. So, find the one that you love and have fun with it!
4. Shoveling for Others
As it is always considerate to think of the people around you, especially during these frigid, snowy months, it is important to help in any way you can. Since Ellensburg has experienced a recent, but rare, case of heavy snowfall, volunteering to shovel for your fellow neighbors’ driveway or to even help unbury the cars that are covered in snow all throughout Ellensburg may make someone’s day a little brighter this winter.
5. Snowshoeing
For all you hikers who have a desire to do some hiking this winter, look no further as snowshoeing will have you covered. For those who have never done snowshoeing, it involves hiking through any snowy trail while wearing snowshoes which will keep you from sinking into the snow and while using poles that will help to guide you as you navigate the trail.
As the Pacific Northwest provides an abundance of trails to choose from, you should have no trouble finding a trail to snowshoe on. If you are living on-campus or off-campus and have no snowshoe equipment, you can rent the appropriate gear through OPR and can even take advantage of any OPR opportunities to snowshoe this quarter.
So bring your hiking friends along, dress warm, and most importantly, have fun!
6. Sip and Paint
One of the best ways to relax after a long day of studying for classes is through painting a masterpiece while drinking any beverage of your choice and spending this time socializing with others. Whether you are painting on an outlined canvas or a blank canvas, you can enjoy this relaxing activity regardless of your artistic ability.
As CWU provides many enjoyable activities throughout each quarter, it is likely that a sip and paint could be one of them, especially since it is winter, or you could even host your own sip and paint with your friends or family.
7. Ice Skating
If your ideal study break consists of skating and taking Instagram-worthy pictures with friends and family, then ice skating is for you. A well-known ice-skating rink in Washington is Suncadia resort in Cle Elum which is about 30 minutes away from Ellensburg. Also, CWU’s OPR even hosts trips up there for the day if you are interested or if unable to get up there yourself. So, bring your friends or family along and have fun skating.
As winter has just begun here in Washington, there is plenty of time to engage in these exciting activities and to have excitement during these dreary months. So, choose the activity you wish to engage in and let the winter fun begin!
XOXO Her Campus