Serena Goldstein

Forays into the Forest and Other Ways to Create Your Own Wellness at Dartmouth

I love Dartmouth's proximity to nature: Trees. Stars. Grass. Dirt. Flowers. Sky. Clouds. Sunsets. Sunrises. Mountains. Leaves. Lakes. Trees. More trees. Even more trees. 

You name it; I love it. 

I chose Dartmouth because its campus and culture seemed so intertwined with nature, and I'm happy to confirm this now that I'm halfway through my first term here. As a city kid, I am constantly enamored by all the trees and stars, and I hope those feelings never go away. It feels so right and natural to reset in nature, so I thought I'd share some of my forays into the forest (and other wellness things) with you all!

Nature: 

• Walking in nature, right on the edge of campus: I take this time to call a family member or friend, listen to music, or simply listen to the sounds of nature around me! My personal favorites are Woccoms (walks around Occom Pond) and meanders through Pine Park. 
  
  
• Swimming: I LOVE being able to swim outside in the Connecticut River! I am so grateful that I can take a short walk and be in an actual body of water!! My favorite river memory is walking down to the river with my friends and swimming at sunset! 
  
  
• Utilizing the DOC: The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC), the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the country, is also a great place to become one with nature and get involved with the outdoors. My friends and I love signing up for free trips such as "Chill Afternoon Paddle" where we canoed on the Connecticut River one Friday evening. 
• Relaxing on the Green: I love hanging out on the Green, our central quad, with friends. We are trying to soak up the last of the sunny, warm weather!
• Going on self-led hikes: My friends and I have taken the (free!) campus connector bus—Dartmouth's bus service on and around campus—to go hiking. I love being so intertwined with the natural world around me!
  
  
• Last but certainly not least, going on First-Year Trips: Camping and hiking outside for four nights and days was so magical!!! The views and the people made this, one of my very first memories at Dartmouth, the absolute best. 
  
  

Spiritual life:

• It's really nice to make new connections and meet people within the Jewish community! I love going to Hillel and Chabad. Check out one of my recent blog posts to learn about Rosh Hashana at Dartmouth!
• I have also connected with my spirituality through meditation!

Late night at Foco:

• I love that our dining hall, known among students as "Foco," is always open for a late-night snack! Whenever we go to "Late Night," my friends and I always see people we know and start conversations; it is a great time to catch up with people you don't see as frequently. And, as you might know from one of my earlier blog posts, I love ice cream! There are always such cool flavors to try at Late Night: pumpkin pie, caramel, maple, and, of course, chocolate or vanilla.

I hope this blog post gave you a sense of more unstructured ways I've found enjoyment and relaxation at Dartmouth. My last post focuses on the Student Wellness Center (SWC) and talks about Dartmouth-run programs that have helped me reset and relax. I hope you will check it out!