Northland . . . Dunbar, Wisconsin. A unique place to be! What do students do during their free time? If you consider the location and the terrain, you might conclude that students must really love studying and going to church (and, of course, they do love to study and go to church; click here to find out how students get involved in Extension). But, as the old adage goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy.” So, what do students do for fun at Northland?
Following the Crowd
There’s “organized” fun . . . like the singspiration and fireworks that open each new school year, movie nights in the gym, late-night dodgeball and volleyball tournaments, snow tubing on our tubing hill (complete with a tow rope to pull you back up when you are tired), rooting for Northland’s intercollegiate teams, society* trips to Green Bay Packers or Milwaukee Brewers games, bonfires, cookouts, and much, much, more. Julia Lindquist thought of society when we asked her about fun: “Society activities are always fun—we have cookouts, the skeet shoot, and even chapels are so much fun! We tend to keep it unique . . . and something crazy inevitably happens every time.” David McKeown mentioned sporting events as one of his favorite things to do: “I get to see all the talent of Northland and cheer for all the Northland players. The fans usually have interesting events like ‘sea of green’ night where we all wear our green Northland t-shirts and yell like crazy.”
*Societies are student groups on campus that promote service activities and school spirit.
Going “Green”
There’s “getting close to nature” fun . . . we’re in the middle of an outdoorsman’s paradise! Hiking, canoeing, watching wildlife—all right here on campus. Then, you don’t have far to go to find white-water rafting, waterfalls, snowmobile trails, or cross-country skiing. “I like to go for a run around Reflection Lake after I am done with all my classes. It gets my mind off the books for a while, and the run is very relaxing,” says David McKeown. Nature was also what was on Kristy Legg’s mind when asked what she enjoys: “I like to go on walks with friends around the campus on all the trails we have. There are some beautiful places all within walking distance. It is a good time to reflect on God's greatness and goodness in His creation.”
Do-It-Yourself
But there’s also just “hanging around” fun . . . coffee at the Daily Grind (completely rebuilt this summer), meeting friends in the Rec Hall (includes a huge fireplace, foosball, ping-pong, snack shop, and free WiFi), and, well, whatever students might dream up. Like Zach Wickman who finds ways to entertain himself and friends in the boys’ dorm: “Although I'm not sure how much the ‘victims’ enjoy it, launching Nerf-type projectiles out of our room at unsuspecting friends who are walking down the hall provides hours of entertainment. It may sound boring to others, but trust me, it is fun.” Chad Childs chooses, well, shall we say more mature fun (or maybe it was selective revelation when he answered these questions). He enjoys hanging out in the homes of faculty or staff members, meeting friends in the Rec Hall, and working out in the gym with friends—“It is really all about relationships with other Christians who are serious about their walk with God but enjoy hanging out and having fun too.” And since we really are all about life-touching-life here at Northland, it’s not surprising that Molly Whitmire thought first of the relationships she has built with faculty and staff members: “One of my favorite fun things to do is hang out with the faculty and staff families off campus. They invite us into their homes and let us become like one of their family members. It is one of the best things here at Northland because I miss my family so much, and these families up here love you and take you in like one of their own.”
Loving What You Do
We can’t rule out the fun that can be had when getting involved in your field of study or extra-curricular activities. Julia Lindquist had this ranked near the top of her list: “I also loved being in the spring drama. So many funny memories were made spending time with the same people almost every day for more than a month while rehearsing, and, of course, acting is super fun, too.”
What do you like to do in your free time? Get connected with an admissions counselor, and you can find out what it’s really like to be a student at Northland. Contact us at 1.888.4.NORTHLAND!