Bethany College Hosting Get Outside Day

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College will host its first Get Outside Day on Tuesday.

All classes are canceled for the day, and students are encouraged to participate in a slate of outdoor activities.

The Office of Student Life and Greener Bethany will kick off the morning with a campus cleanup event. Fraternities and sororities should me at the bottom of the Greek Hill steps at 10 a.m. All others are asked to meet in the middle of Campbell Village housing at 10:15. Bags will be provided, and items collected with be recycled.

A walk along the Bethany College Trail System at 1 p.m. will celebrate the landmark publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” on Sept. 27, 1962. Carson, a marine biologist who grew up near Pittsburgh, wrote the book to raise concerns about the use of chemical pesticides and their effects.

During the walk, participants will listen to excerpts of “Silent Spring,” reflect on current environmental justice, share music or poetry, or enjoy quiet moments in the Old Growth Forest.

The walk is organized by Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Tahirah Walker; Chair of the Biology Department Anna Edlund; professor of biology Bill Hicks; assistant professor of social work Kim Lawless; and student Ian Nelson.

McKayla Martin, Sarah Sberna and Sarah Riedel, students in the Junior Honors Seminar led by Harald Menz, will conduct guided trail walks at 2:30, 3 and 3:30 p.m. from the new trailhead. An accompanying photography competition invites students to submit their best photos from along the trails.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the World Language Clubs will sponsor a self-guided Nature Vocabulary Trail Hunt. Each participating language will have 20 nature vocabulary signs placed along the trails. Participating students should take photos of the words for extra credit from their respective language instructors.

From 3 to 5 p.m., the Student Activities Council will host a cornhole tournament on Richardson Lawn and a Kona Ice truck will be parked near the bison statue.

Students in the Education Department are invited to take part in a Bison Nation Scavenger Hunt and to submit photos of “Being Safe & Healthy” to [obfuscate_btn]education@bethanywv.edu[/obfuscate_btn]. Selfies with friends can include washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing. Visit the Hurl Education Building for a scavenger hunt card or more information. Prizes will be awarded.

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.