Longboarding, anyone? Student clubs offer chances to get outside, be active

It’s spring. The sun is shining. It’s time to get outdoors and get active.

For Lawrence University students, the opportunities to do so as part of organized clubs are plentiful.

Longboarding or other skateboarding? Rock climbing? Biking? Rowing? Take your pick of those and many more.

Lawrence makes it incredibly easy for students to come together and pursue their passions. To start a club on campus, all you need is an idea and two friends, and your idea can become a Lawrence official club. 

As an official club on campus, you can easily pursue your interests with help from campus coordinators, and potentially funding assistance from the university.  A lot of students take advantage of how efficient it is to start something on campus, making it pretty easy for students to find something fun to do. Everything from the Baking and Cooking Club to Sailing Lawrence will give students the opportunity to try something new. 

For a directory of student organizations at Lawrence, click here.

As the weather warms up, students can take advantage of the long list of activities to partake in while enjoying the great outdoors.  

The Women’s Longboarding Club is an example of just one such opportunity.  

“I love riding with other people,” said Angela Caraballo ’21. “It’s fun to see others enjoying something that I also enjoy.”  

With meetings every Sunday afternoon, the Women’s Longboarding Club gives newcomers the chance to learn longboarding and gives experienced riders a chance to connect with other Lawrentians who share their interests. 

“The thrill of riding around so freely, feeling the wind rush around me, is exhilarating,” said Jailene Rodriguez ’21. 

There are plenty of other opportunities to enjoy being outside both on and off campus. With clubs such as the Rock Climbers Club and Rowing Club, students are able to explore parts of Wisconsin they may have never seen.  And there’s a Badminton Club, a Slacklining Club, a Flag Football Club, a Bike Club, among others.

Rowing Club gives students the opportunity to row in various parts of Wisconsin and compete against other schools.  

In a similar fashion, the Rock Climbers Club gives students the opportunity to go to different hiking sites or rock climbing walls throughout the Midwest.  

“My favorite thing about Rock Climbers Club is that everyone starts out on the same level and folks are welcoming to newcomers,” said Spencer Washington ’21. “You don’t need much experience but rather openness and a willingness to trust your own movement.” 

That goes for almost all of the student clubs. You don’t have to have any experience to join. You can be anywhere from novice to intermediate and still be able to participate in any of the clubs offered on Lawrence’s campus.  

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get active. 

(Photos above are Rebecca Minkus ’20 and Earl Simons ’22)

Awa Badiane ’21 is a student writer in the Communications office.