Teddy Time at Tanglewood

It's amazing what a college campus can do to a person. Beyond the iron arches, past the heart of the city, and through the pathways of cobblestone and rows of labeled buildings lies a whole new world. While often frightening at first, the entirety of the college campus quickly sweeps freshman off of their feet, carrying them, transforming them, shaping them, embedding them into the college culture.

Students spend nine months living in this new society, that at times, can overwhelm the existence of the rest of the world. The daily routine of class in large lecture halls, eating in cafeterias, living in a dormitory, and seeing only the faces of young adult students and middle-aged professors can become quite dull, rather fast. While many college students choose to spend their weekends breaking up this routine going to campus sporting events, having movie marathons in their dorm rooms, and binge drinking to a point of sheer silliness throughout campus, I think it is important to take some of this time and spend it off campus.

This past weekend I had the joy of going hiking at Tanglewood Nature Center with three friends and my roommate's seven-year-old brother Teddy. There were two aspects of my trip that completely re-energized me and gave me some new perspective before returning to the brick and cobblestone world of Elmira: seeing a young face and connecting with nature.

On a sunny, cool, March day, we hiked twelve miles of snowy cross-country trail at Tanglewood. Well, according to Teddy it was twelve miles, according to any working speedometer it was about three quarters of a mile. Watching Teddy's excitement in reading the nature signs, shouting out the colors of trail markers, and tiptoeing to see a rabbit in the woods refueled my childish side of adventure, curiosity, and enthusiasm for the little things in life. These were all it took, in combination with his wide blue eyes and adorable speech impediment to give me what was missing after weeks on the same campus.

Walking outside on the trails, with the blinding white snow, crunch beneath my feet, and slight sting in my nose, I felt instantly refreshed. There's just something about the natural world that gives me the energy to move, think, and live that despite their beauty, all of the castle-like buildings at Elmira College could not replace. It seemed almost as if the buildings were forces harboring stress, anxiety, and boredom that the open air swept away, clearing my mind of any of these crowded thoughts.

As life continues, and I find a job and house in any location, I will always be reminded of this day. Children and nature possess certain qualities that I think are essential to life. Adventure, curiosity, enthusiasm, relaxation, and refreshment can save anyone from a "concrete jungle."

So when you're really stressed out and need a break from your current college or neighborhood society, I encourage you to put down the beer and buy yourself some Teddy time at Tanglewood.