Ahh, springtime. Slowly but surely the Midwest is emerging from the dark abyss of the polar vortex. People are wearing shorts in 40 degree weather because, hey, 40 degrees is better than 15. Once or twice a week, when we’re not getting pounded with rain, the sun will decide to be nice, and come out of hibernation. Maybe the Midwest has toughened my skin, or maybe I’ve developed cabin fever, but any time the weather is even slightly better than arctic conditions you will see me outside enjoying the brief moments of mild warmth the sun provides. I’m not alone in this- nowadays South quad is teeming with students eager to breathe in some fresh air. I even witnessed a guy in shorts and flip flops walking to the lakes, fishing pole in hand (keep in mind, it was 50 degrees that day. I can sense sun-starvation bringing out the crazy in people). Kudos to those of you who have taken advantage of the few nice days we’ve had since October. Anyone who’s still in a state of denial, what are you waiting for?! The birds are chirping and the sun is shining (well, sort of). Get outside and let that translucent skin we’ve all been sporting since winter break see the light of day!
Since I feel it is my civic duty to encourage you sun-starved Domers to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, I’ve compiled a list of fun activities for those who like to break a sweat (and those who don’t).
Picnic on the Quad
This one’s a no-brainer, folks. Dig up a towel or blanket from the back of your closet and enjoy a sunny day with some Grab-n-Go and friends. Homework on the quad is also an attractive option.
Run the Lakes
They might be muddy now, but once we get through monsoon season this is the perfect opportunity to start training for next year’s Holy Half (yeah, I said it- never too early to start!). Walking is also an option for those who don’t like to sweat.
Spikeball
This game came out a few years ago and has since swept the nation. Shout out to the guys outside of Fisher who played this religiously during football season- it looks like a ton of fun and a great workout.
Bike Ride
A large majority of us ride bikes to class every day. Why not use them to go for a leisurely ride around the lakes or through campus? Take advantage of the sunlight and enjoy how pretty our school is while you’re not high-speed pedaling to O’Shag for your 9:25 that you’re already late for (which is what you’ll see me doing every MWF).
Visit the Dunes
A hidden treasure of the lower Lake-Michigan area are the sand dunes found on local beaches. Less than an hour away, the Indiana Dunes provide beautiful scenery and beaches for those super-warm days we’ve all been dreaming of. For those of you with cars and a Saturday to spare, this is the perfect pre-finals destressor.
Play an Intramural Sport
RecSports offers softball, sand volleyball, and much more. Use this nice(r) weather to get outside and relive those fall semester flag football days!
NEWS: The Shirt Unveiling is scheduled for this Friday, April 11th, from 4-7 at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. Join Brian Kelly for an evening of events leading up to the unveiling of The Shirt for the 2014 football season!