Take a Break

by Maggie Elliot


Tired of spending all week curled over a laptop?
Getting a little bored with your daily route to classes? 


Well, you’re in luck. Students at the University of Idaho have the unique opportunity to explore the diverse regions surrounding the Palouse. Whether you enjoy following a stream in a dense forest, fishing at a lake, or soaking in breathtaking views of golden rolling hills, your outdoor recreational “happy place” may only be a stone’s throw away. 

Some popular places to get you started:

Spring Valley Reservoir is located less than 18 miles east of Moscow, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game maintains an annual fish-stocking program. Trails around the reservoir are also popular birding pathways.

Spring Valley on a sunny afternoon
Photo Credit: Maggie Elliot


Moscow Mountain is a popular venture for hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers, since it's sprawling with a plethora of trails and offers unparalleled views of the Palouse. 


Freshman Lizbeth Bumstead at the summit of Moscow Mountain

At the base of Moscow Mountain, Idler's Rest has moss-covered trails resting under towering trees. 
Idler's Rest
Photo Credit: Maggie Elliot









Can you spot the Sam? Trails are fun for all ages!
Photo Credit: Maggie Elliot



The UI Campus features two arboretums as well as countless locations featuring panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape.

The newest Arboretum sits at the top of Perimeter Drive on campus. 
Photo Credit: Arbnet

A 1.3 mile trail encircles 63 acres of trees, shrubs, and flowers from all around the world. 

Shattuck Abortetum features a denser forest tucked behind the Physical Education Building. 
Shattuck Abortetum and Amphitheater
Photo Credit: University of Idaho
Maybe you have a little more time to get to class than antipicated... a great opportunity to take a detour and check out these gems on campus. 

Elk Creek is located about an hour east of Moscow, but as it's a recreational area packed with a waterfall, river, and countless trails deep into the forest, it is well worth the drive!


Forest surrounding Elk Creek Waterfall
Photo Credit: Maggie Elliot



A study featured in the January publication of National Geographic showed how immersing yourself in nature can revamp cognitive ability and improve creative problem solving capacities by lowering stress. Why? Our species evolved among these natural surroundings, and our brains are hard wired to interpret information about plants and streams, not traffic. Boost your academic performance, and take advantage of the surrounding wildlife.

Still need a reason to enjoy life outside? Learn more at:


http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/call-to-wild-text





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CALS Ireland Study Abroad 2018

From Dublin to Dairies CALS students and faculty toured one of Ireland's agriculture research centers We were at the foot of a castle. Perched on a tall hill, impenetrable walls enclosed a millenium old round tower, cathedral, and chapel. The exposed rock of the castle was mottled and weathered, splotched with white lichen and hardy moss. After a stormy day, swirls of heavy clouds shed curtains of windblown mist across the landscape. Wind and rain lashed around us, but the castle remained still, unmoving, as if part of the earth itself.   “For those who are not faint-hearted” Dr. Ahmadzadeh called, “There is a striking view on the other side.” He pointed to a narrow, water bogged trail weaving around the sharply slanted hill. The ground had withstood hours of pouring rain, and was now saturated and unstable, shifting precariously under our feet. Undaunted, all eight students quickly fell in step behind him. We treaded through the long grass, stepping o...
Read more

Writing Toolbox

Using a Readability Scale  How easy-to-read is your writing? Whether you are designing a lesson plan or penning an article, communicating the complexity of agriculture can be challenging. One way to note the “readability” of a document is by using the Flesh Kincaid Readability Test, which is available through Microsoft Word. The scale assesses the reading ease of your document and indicates the appropriate grade level to read the paper. It takes into account sentence structure, syllables, word length, and vocabulary. With this in mind, as the author you can more accurately tailor your work to best suit the age of your audience. To access the readability statistics, go to Tools, Spelling & Grammar, 1 Click the File tab, and then click Options . 2 Click Proofing . 3 Under When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, make sure the Check grammar with spelling check box is selected. 4 Select Show readability statistics . Once the spell...
Read more

Student Spotlight: Sydney Anderson

Sydney Anderson is a senior studying ASCL in Twin Falls. Growing up in Nampa, Anderson was involved in agriculture in various ways. Her parents enrolled her in 4-H after getting a horse for her older sister and her to share; she continued to do 4-H for 12 years. Anderson got involved in the National FFA Organization because of her grandfather, who was President of the North Miami Chapter in Florida at the time. Her passion for leadership, serving others, and advocating for agriculture grew from then on.  “I chose to study ASCL because of the luxury of distance learning while having the ability to experience all the possible opportunities in the Magic Valley,” Anderson says. She believes that teaching individuals about agriculture and the impact it has on the world is extremely important. Anderson loves public speaking and coordinating events, so studying ASCL has helped her continue to learn about and keep an interest in a future career relating to these passions.  Anderson se...
Read more