As your mid-terms drag on and Thanksgiving Break still feels far away, it can be easy to put your head down and power through the next few weeks of autumn. However, we want to encourage students to instead look at this time as an opportunity to engage in some of our favorite fall activities that will become impossible once that first snow settles on the ground.
While consuming high doses of caffeine and hardly sleeping may feel like an activity in itself, that’s not what we’re here to talk about. We’re also not here to tell you that you have to embark on ambitious hikes every weekend to take full advantage of the season. But the end of October and beginning of November presents a number of “uniquely Middlebury” opportunities to help you slow down and reflect. We compiled a list of things to do before the snow begins to fall, right on campus and a little further out.
If you have access to a car, our simplest suggestion is going for a long drive with the windows down and soaking in the brisk air. Turn up your favorite music, and enjoy the scenery around you. Driving in the direction of Cornwall will bless you with some of the best mountain and farmlands views Middlebury has to offer. You can stop at the Hathaway Farm & Corn Maze and get lost with your friends, or wander it solo. You still also have time to drive over to Sunrise Orchards for some fall apple-picking, or, if you are 21, check out Woodchuck Cider Mill for a fall beverage and a tour, or even just to enjoy their cider house tap room.
Some of our favorite fall activities are geared towards taking advantage of the outdoor spaces Middlebury has to offer us right by campus. Take a minute outdoors to reflect on the semester behind you, and the one you have ahead. Before we hit the snow and mud season, make sure to go for a walk down to the Knoll and follow its winding paths demarcated by the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) signage. Put your headphones on, turn up your favorite music and use your time alone as a study break away from the library or BiHall. Even just gazing at our natural fall foliage that covers the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks is an excellent way to slow down and relax.
Given our rural location, our lack of light pollution means that fall stargazing is a fantastic way to enjoy the milder weather fall offers. On Sunday, Oct. 26, walk into town to experience the annual trick-or-treating down Main Street this year as a part of the Halloween spooktacular. A favorite is always the various Día de Los Muertos celebrations that occur across campus, so make sure to look out for the Spanish house and Department of Luso-Hispanic Studies for upcoming events. One may even consider picking up a copy of The Campus and appearing mysterious and academic while holding your pumpkin spiced beverage from Crossroads Café or So-Full Sisters.
Despite the many activities you can try before the fall season is over, we also recognize that fall can be a time when you may just want to slow down and return to the things that comfort you. Watching an old film you love and making a cup of tea away from your homework and extracurriculars or sports is a vital part of experiencing this season. You can be a great student while still taking time to slow down and reflect on your experiences and care for your mental health.
As we think about how to take care of ourselves during the end of the fall season, we can also become more mindful about taking care of those around us. Even if all you want to do is curl up in bed with a warm beverage, check in on those around you that may be doing the same. We all have fall anxiety, and this is a good time to ask others how they are doing. Are they handling their midterm stress well? Are they overwhelmed? Do they just need to talk to someone? Do they want to go for a fall foliage walk with you?
Involving those around you is a good way to ensure your end of fall season at Middlebury is filled with joyful activities that help you regulate your academic stress levels and enjoy what our unique location has to offer us.
